When did the Japanese officially surrender in World War II?

The Japanese officially surrendered in World War II on September 2, 1945. This date marks when the formal instrument of surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, officially bringing an end to the hostilities of the war in the Pacific.

The surrender followed Japan's announcement of its intent to surrender on August 15, 1945, but it was not until September 2 that the surrender was formalized and recognized by the Allied powers. This signing ceremony involved key military and political leaders from various Allied nations, symbolizing the culmination of the conflict and leading to the subsequent occupation and reconstruction of Japan.

The other dates provided in the options do not represent the formal end to the war. August 14, 1945, was when Japan announced its surrender, but it was not the official signing. The date of September 1, 1946, is after the war had ended and pertains to a later period in Japan's post-war history, while September 10, 1945, does not correspond to any significant military or political event regarding Japan's surrender.