Japanese Surrender - Gen. MacArthur's Arrival

After Japan agreed to Allied surrender terms, President Truman put General MacArthur in charge of occupations forces. This photo depicts his arrival in the country on August 30, 1945.

The U.S. Naval Historical Center provides more background about this event:

When President Truman announced Japan's capitulation, he placed General of the Army Douglas MacArthur in charge of the surrender and occupation of Japan, under the title Supreme Commander Allied Powers (SCAP).

Though the first two weeks of this mission were directed from Manila, on 30 August MacArthur flew to Japan. Arriving at Atsugi airfield, he established temporary headquarters some twenty miles away, at the Tokyo Bay city of Yokohama. Arrangements for the formal surrender ceremonies were made there.

SCAP headquarters moved to Tokyo on 8 September, beginning six years of occupation government from the Japanese capital city.