Japanese Instrument of Surrender
일본 항복문서
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the document signed at Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 by representatives of the Japanese government and Imperial General Headquarters, recording Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers. It placed the Emperor’s authority under the direction of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and required Imperial General Headquarters to order Japanese and Japanese-controlled forces to cease hostilities, disarm, and surrender to designated Allied commanders. The instrument thereby formalized both Japan’s military capitulation and the command structure of the postwar occupation.
In depth
Command structure
The Japanese signatories acted for the Japanese government and Imperial General Headquarters, while Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Japan surrendered by command of the Emperor, but the instrument stipulated that the Emperor and the Imperial General Headquarters would execute the Supreme Commander’s orders.
Imperial General Headquarters was required to direct every Japanese commander at home and abroad to cease hostilities, lay down arms, remain in place, and surrender unconditionally to designated Allied commanders. General Order No. 1 then assigned regional Japanese forces, including those in Manchuria and northern Korea, to specific Allied commands and required the disclosure of military information. The document was therefore not merely ceremonial: it initiated the legal and military incorporation of Japan’s armed forces into the Allied occupation command.
Sources
- Wikipedia (EN) 1945년 9월 2일 도쿄만 USS 미주리호에서 문서가 서명되어 일본의 항복을 공식화한 사실과 서명 주체를 지원
- history.state.gov 천황의 지시에 따른 제국총사령부의 명령, 일본군과 일본 통제군의 즉각적 무장해제·항복 의무, 연합군 최고사령관의 지시에 대한 복종을 지원
- nationalarchives.gov.uk 1945년 9월 항복문서의 기록 맥락과 지역별 일본군의 무조건 항복을 지원