Japan formally surrendered, marking the end of World War II, on September 2, 1945. This surrender followed the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 and came during the Potsdam Conference's reaffirmation of unconditional surrender demands. The formal signing took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the instrument of surrender in the presence of Allied forces. This event marked the end of years of intense conflict in the Pacific and led to significant changes in Japan's political landscape, including the establishment of a democratic government.