On a forward deck of the battleship USS Missouri , Foreign Minister Shigemitsu on behalf of Emperor Hirohito affixes his signature to the historic document by which Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Nations . Behind him stand other members of the Japanese delegation . At the right ( back to camera ) is General Douglas MacArthur , who commanded all Pacific forces , and at the left are members of the Allied delegations . The scene which marked the dawn of peace , took place on September 1st in Tokyo Bay . By the terms of the surrender the Emperor , as spiritual leader of Japan , must remain untouched .