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The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present 
Japanese Surrender Documents of World War 2 (1945)
Following the Atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered to the forces of the United Nations, led by the United States. Below are transcriptions of various documents of surrender. The first, and best known of these is the famous surrender on the deck of the U.S.S Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. The second document on this page is of the Japanese surrender in the Philippine Islands. The third document covers the American takeover of southern Korea from the Japanese Army. The final section of this page contains the text of the surrender of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia, signed in Singapore.
THE JAPANESE SURRENDER DOCUMENTS - WWII:
TRANSLATION of Foreign Minister Shiegemitsu's credentials
TRANSLATION
H I R O H I T O ,
By the Grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the
Throne occupied by the same Dynasty changeless through ages
eternal,
To all who these Presents shall come, Greeting!
We do hereby authorise Mamoru Shigemitsu, Zyosanmi, First
Class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun to attach his
signature by command and in behalf of Ourselves and Our
Government unto the Instrument of Surrender which is required
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be signed.
In witness whereof, We have hereunto set Our signature and
caused the Great Seal of the Empire to be affixed.
Given at Our Palace in Tokyo, this first day of the ninth
month of the twentieth year of Syowa, being the two thousand
six hundred and fifth year from the Accession of the Emperor
Zinmu.
..
| Seal of |
| the | Signed: H I R O H I T O
| Empire |
!!
Countersigned: Naruhiko-o
Prime Minister
---------------------------------------
TRANSLATION of General Umezu's credentials
TRANSLATION
H I R O H I T O ,
By the Grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the
Throne occupied by the same Dynasty changeless through ages
eternal,
To all who these Presents shall come, Greeting!
We do hereby authorise Yoshijiro Umezu, Zyosanmi, First
Class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun to attach his
signature by command and in behalf of Ourselves and Our
Government unto the Instrument of Surrender which is required
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be signed.
In witness whereof, We have hereunto set Our signature and
caused the Great Seal of the Empire to be affixed.
Given at Our Palace in Tokyo, this first day of the ninth
month of the twentieth year of Syowa, being the two thousand
six hundred and fifth year from the Accession of the Emperor
Zinmu.
..
| Seal of |
| the | Signed: H I R O H I T O
| Empire |
!!
Countersigned: Yoshijiro Umezu
Chief of the General
Staff of the Imperial
Japanese Army
Soemu Toyoda
Chief of the General
Staff of the Imperial
Japanese Army
---------------------------------------
I N S T R U M E N T O F S U R R E N D E R
We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of
Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General
Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the
declaration issued by the heads of the Governments of the United
States, China, and Great Britain on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and
subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied
Powers.
We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied
Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all
Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under the Japanese
control wherever situated.
We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated and
the Japanese people to cease hostilites forthwith, to preserve
and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil
property and to comply with all requirements which my be imposed
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by agencies of
the Japanese Government at his direction.
We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Headquarters to issue
at once orders to the Commanders of all Japanese forces and all
forces under Japanese control wherever situated to surrender un-
conditionally themselves and all forces under their control.
We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to
obey and enforce all proclamations, and orders and directives deemed
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to ef-
fectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority
and we direct all such officials to remain at their posts and to
continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless specifically
relieved by him or under his authority.
We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government
and their successors to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam
Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and take
whatever actions may be required by the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Poers or by any other designated representative of the
Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that Declaration.
We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the
Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all
allied prisoners of war and civilian internees now under Japanese
control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and
immediate transportation to places as directed.
The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to
rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to ef-
fectuate these terms of surrender.
Signed at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0904 I
on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER, 1945
MAMORU SHIGMITSU
By Command and in behalf of the Emperor
of Japan and the Japanese Government
YOSHIJIRO UMEZU
By Command and in behalf of the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters
Accepted at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0903 I
on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER, 1945,
for the United States, Republic of China, United Kingdom and the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of the
other United Nations at war with Japan.
DOUGLAS MAC ARTHUR
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
C.W. NIMITZ
United States Representative
HSU YUNG-CH'ANG
Republic of China Representative
BRUCE FRASER
United Kingdom Representative
KUZMA DEREVYANKO
Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics Representative
THOMAS BLAMEY
Commonwealth of Australia
Representative
L. MOORE COSGRAVE
Dominion of Canada Representative
JACQUES LE CLERC
Provisional Government of the French
Republic Representative
C.E.L. HELFRICH
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Representative
LEONARD M. ISITT
Dominion of New Zealand Representative
---------------------------------------
Translation of Emperor Hirohito's Receipt of the Surrender
documents
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Accepting the terms set forth in the Declaration issued
by the heads of the Governments of the United States, Great
Britain, and China on July 26th, 1945 at Potsdam and subse-
quently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
We have commanded the Japanese Imperial Government and the
Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to sign on Our behalf
the Instrument of Surrender presented by the Supreme Commander
for the Allied Powers and to issue General Orders to the Military
and Naval Forces in accordance with the direction of the
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. We command all Our
people forthwith to cease hostilities, to lay down their arms
and faithfully to carry out all the provisions of Instrument
of Surrender and the General Orders issued by the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters hereunder.
This second day of the ninth month of the twentieth
year of Syowa
..
| Seal of |
| the | Signed: H I R O H I T O
| Emperor |
!!
Countersigned: Naruhiko-o
Prime Minister
Mamoru Shigemitsu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Iwao Yamazaki
Minister of Home Affairs
Juichi Tsushima
Minister of Finance
Sadamu Shimomura
Minister of War
Mitsumasa Yonai
Minister of Navy
Chuzo Iwata
Minister of Justice
Tamon Maeda
Minister of Education
Kenzo Matsumura
Minister of Welfare
Kotaro Sengoku
Minister of Agriculture
and Forestry
Chikuhei Nakajima
Minister of Commerce
and Industry
Naoto Kobiyama
Minister of Transportation
Fumimaro Konoe
Minister without Portfolio
Taketora Ogata
Minister without Portfolio
Binshiro Obata
Minister without Portfolio
---------------------------------------
INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER
of the
Japanese and Japanese-Controlled Armed Forces
in the Philippine Islands
to the
Commanding General
United States Army Forces, Western Pacific
Camp John Hay
Baguio, Mountain Province,
Luzon, Philippine, Islands
3 September, 1945
Pursuant to and in accordance with the proclamation of the
Emperor of Japan accepting the terms set forth in the declaration
issued by the heads of the Governments of the United States,
Great Britain, and China on 26 July 1945; at Potsdam and sub-
sequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;
and to the formal instrument of surrender of the Japanese Imperial
Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters signed
at Toyko Bay at 0908 on 2 September 1945:
1. Acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of
Japan, the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial
General Headquarters, We hereby surrender unconditionally to the
Commanding General, United States Army Forces, Western Pacific,
all Japanese and Japanese-controlled armed forces, air, sea, ground
and auxiliary, in the Philippine Islands.
2. We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated in
the Philippine Islands to cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve
and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil
property, and to comply with all requirements which may be imposed
by the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, Western
Pacific, or his authorized representatives.
3. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces
in the Philippine Islands to issue at once to all forces under their
command to surrender unconditionally themselves and all forces under
their control, as prisoners of war, to the nearest United States
Force Commander.
4. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces
in the Philippine Islands to surrender intact and in good order
to the nearest United States Army Force Commander, at times and
at places directed by him, all equipment and supplies of whatever
nature under their control.
5. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in
the Philippine Islands at once to liberate all Allied prisoners of
war and civilian internees under their control, and to provide for
their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to
places as directed by the nearest United States Army Force Commander.
6. We hereby undertake to transmit the directives given in
Paragraphs 1 through 5, above, to all Japanese forces in the Philip-
pine Islands immediatlely by all means within our power, and further
to furnish to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces,
Western Pacific, all necessary Japanese emissaries fully empowered
to bring about the surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippine
Islands with whom we are not in contact.
7. We hereby undertake to furnish immediatly to the Commanding
General, United States Army Forces, Western Pacific, a statement of
the designation, numbers, loacations, and commanders of all Japanese
armed forces, ground, sea, or air, in the Philippine Islands.
8. We hereby undertake faithfully to obey all further pro-
clamation, orders and directives deemed by the Commanding General,
United States Armed Forces, Western Pacific, to be proper to ef-
fecuate this surrender.
Signed at Camp John Hay, Baguio, Mountain Province, Luzon,
Philippine Islands, at 1210 hours 3 September 1945:
TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA, DENHICI OKOCHI,
General, Imperial Japanese Vice Admiral, Imperial Japanese
Army Highest Commander, Navy, Highest Commander,
Imperial Japanese Army in Imperial Japanese Navy in the
the Philippines. Philippines.
By command and in behalf
of the Japanese Imperial
General Headquarters
Accepted at Camp John Hay, Baguio, Mountain Province Luzon
Philippine Islands, at 1210 hours 3 September 1945:
For the Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific:
EDMOND H. LEAVY,
Major General, USA
Deputy Commander, United States Army Forces,
Western Pacific.
---------------------------------------
UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA
HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 235 c/o POSTMASTER
SAN FRANSICO, CALIFORNIA
FORMAL SURRENDER BY THE SENIOR JAPANESE GROUND,
SEA, AIR AND AUXILIARY FORCES COMMANDS WITHIN
KOREA SOUTH OF 38 NORTH LATITUDE TO THE COM-
MANDING GENERAL, UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN
KOREA, FOR AND IN BEHALF OF THE COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES, PAFIFIC
WHEREAS an Instrument of Surrender was on the 2d day of
September 1945 by command of and behalf of the Emperor of
Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial Head-
quarters signed by Foreign Minister Mamouru Shigemitsu by com-
mand and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese
Government and by Yoshijiro Umezu by command of and in behalf
of the Japanese Imperial Headquaters and
WHEREAS the terms of the Instrument of Surrender were
subsequently as follows:
"1. We, acting by command of an in behalf of the Emperor of
Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General
Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the
declaration issued by the heads of the Governments of the United
States, China, and Great Britian on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and
subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied
Powers.
"2. We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the
Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and
of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under the
Japanese control wherever situated.
"3. We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated
and the Japanese people to cease hostilites forthwith, to preserve
and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil
property and to comply with all requirements which my be imposed
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by agencies of
the Japanese Government at his direction.
"4. We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Headquarters to
issue at once orders to the Commanders of all Japanese forces and
all forces under Japanese control wherever situated to surrender
unconditionally themselves and all forces under their control.
"5. We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to
obey and enforce all proclamations, and orders and directives deemed
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to ef-
fectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority
and we direct all such officials to remain at their posts and to
continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless specifically
relieved by him or under his authority.
"6. We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government
and their successors to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam
Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and take
whatever actions may be required by the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers or by any other designated representative of the
Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that Declaration.
"7. We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the
Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all
allied prisoners of war and civilian internees now under Japanese
control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and
immediate transportation to places as directed.
"8. The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to
rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to ef-
fectuate these terms of surrender.
WHEREAS the terms of surrender were, on the 2d day of September
1945 as given by the United States, the Republic of China, the
United Kingdom, the Soviet Union of Socialist Republics and other
allied powers, accepted by the Imperial Japanese Government, and
WHEREAS on the 2d day of September 1945 the Imperial General
Headquarters by direction of the Emperor has ordered all its
commanders in Japan and abroad to cause the Japanese Armed Forces
and Japanese controlled forces under their command to cease
hostilities at once, to lay down their arms and remain in their
present locations and to surrender unconditionally to commanders
acting in behalf of the United States, the Republic of China, the
United Kingdom, the British Empire and the Union of Socialist Rep-
ublics, and
WHEREAS the Imperial General Headquarters, its senior commanders
and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in the main islands
of Japan, minor islands adjacent thereto, Korea south of 38 north
latitude and the Philippines were directed to surrender to the
Commmander-in-Chief of the United States Army Forces, Pacific and
WHEREAS the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army
Forces, Pacific has appointed the Commanding General, XXIV
Corps as the Command General, United States Army Forces in
Korea, and has directed him as such to act for the Commander-
in-Chief United States Army Forces, Pacific in the reception of
the surrender of the senior Japanese commanders of all Japanese
ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in Korea south of 38
north latitude and all islands adjacent thereto. Now therefor
We, the undersigned, senior Japanese commanders of all
Japanese ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in Korea south
of 38 north latitude, do hereby acknowledge:
a. That we have been duly advised and fully informed of
the contents of the Proclamation by the Emperor of Japan, the
Instrument of Surrender and the orders herein above referred to.
b. That we accept our duties and obligations under said
instruments and orders and recognize the necessity for our strict
compliance therewith and adherence thereto.
c. The the Commanding General, United States Army Forces
in Korea, is the duly authorized representative of the Com-
mander-in-Chief United States Army Forces, Pacific and that
we will completely and immediately carry out and put into ef-
fect his instructions.
Finally, we do hereby formally and unconditionally sur-
render to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces
in Korea, all persons in Korea south of 38 degrees North
Latitude who are in the Armed Forces of Japan, and all military
installations, ordnance, ships, aircraft, and other military
equipment or property of every kind or description in Korea,
including all islands adjacent thereto, south of 38 degrees
North Latitude over which we exercise jurisdiction or control.
In case of conflict or ambiguity between the English text
of this document and any translation thereof, the English shall
prevail.
Signed at SEOUL, KOREA at 1630 hours on the 9th day of
September 1945.
YOSHIO SOZUKI
Senior Japanese commander of all
Japanese ground and air forces
in Korea south of 38 north
latitude.
GISABURO YAMAGUCHI
Senior Japanese commander of all
Japanese naval forces in Korea
south of 38 north latitude.
I, Nobuyuki Abe, the duly appointed, qualified and acting
Governor General of KOREA do hereby certify that I have read
and fully understand the contents of the foregoing Instrument
of Surrender, and of all documents referred to therein.
I hereby acknowledge the duties and obligations imposed
upon me by said documents, insofar as they apply to all matters
within my jurisdiction or control as Governor General of Korea,
and recognize the necessity of my strict compliance therewith
and adherence thereto.
In particular do I reconize that the Commanding General,
UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA, is the duly authorized
representative of the Commander-in-Chief, UNITED STATES ARMY
FORCES, PACIFIC, and that I am completely and immediately to
carry out and put into effect his instructions.
Signed at SEOUL, KOREA, at 1630 hours on the 9th day of
September 1945.
NOBUYUKI ABE
(Governor General of KOREA)
Accepted at SEOUL, KOREA, at 1630 hours on the 9th day of
September 1945 for and in behalf of the Commander-in-Chief
of the United States Army Forces, Pacific.
JOHN R. HODGE
JOHN R. HODGE
Lieutenant General U.S. Army
Commanding General
United States Army Forces in Korea
THOMAS C. KINCAID
T. C. KINCAID
Admiral, U. S. Navy
Representative of the United States Navy
---------------------------------------
SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
SOUTH EAST ASIA
INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER OF JAPANESE FORCES UNDER
THE COMMAND OR CONTROL OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER,
JAPANESE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, SOUTHERN REGIONS,
WITHIN THE OPERATIONAL THEATRE OF THE SUPREME
ALLIED COMMANDER, SOUTH EAST ASIA
1. In pursuance of and in compliance with:
(a) the Instrument of Surrender signed by the Japanese
plenipotentiaries by command and on behalf of the
Emperor of Japan, the Japanese Government and the
Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at Toyko on
2 September, 1945;
(b) General Order No. 1, promulgated at the same place
and on the same date;
(c) the Local Agreement made by the Supreme Commander,
Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, with
the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia at
Rangoon on 27 August, 1945;
to all of which Instrument of Surrender, General Order and Local
Agreement this present Instrument is complementary and which it in
no way supersedes, the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary
Forces, Southern Regions (Field Marshall Count Terauchi) does
hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Allied Commander,
South East Asia (Admiral The Lord Louis Mountbatten) himself and
all Japanese sea, ground, air and auxiliary forces under his
command or control and within the operational theatre of the
Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia.
2. The Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern
Regions, undertakes to ensure that all orders and instructions that
may be issued from time to time by the Supreme Allied Commander,
South East Asia, or by any of his subordinate Naval, Military, or
Air-Force Commanders of whatever rank acting in his name, are
scrupulously and promptly obeyed by all Japanese sea, ground, air
and auxiliary forces under the command or control of the Supreme
Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, and
within the operational theatre of the Supreme Allied Commander,
South East Asia.
3. Any disobediance of, or delay or failure to comply with, orders
or instructions issued by the Supreme Allied Commander, South East
Asia, or issued on his behalf by any of his subordinate Naval,
Military, or Air Force Commanders of whatever rank, and any
action which the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, or
his subordinate Commanders action on his behalf, may determine to
be detrimental to the Allied Powers, will be dealt with as the
Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia may decide.
4. This Instrument takes effect from the time and date of signing.
5. This Instrument is drawn up in the English Language, which is
the only authentic version. In any case of doubt to intention or
meaning, the decision of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East
Asia is final. It is the responsibility of the Supreme Commander,
Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, to make such
translations into Japanese as he may require.
Signed at Singapore at 0341 hours (G.M.T.) on 12 September, 1945.
SEISHIRO ITAGAKI LOUIS MOUNTBATTAN
(for) SUPREME COMMANDER SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
JAPANESE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, SOUTH EAST ASIA
SOUTHERN REGIONS
-------------------------------------
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