Where was the Japanese surrender signed on Okinawa in June 1945?

Question

On the 21st of June, Japanese defences on the southern fringe of Okinawa collapsed. The following day General Mitsuru Ushijima and chief of staff Isamu Chō committed suicide. Colonel Yahara was denied permission to commit suicide and presumably negotiated surrender terms with allied forces:

If you die there will be no one left who knows the truth about the battle of Okinawa. Bear the temporary shame but endure it. This is an order from your army Commander.

Where and when (latitude and longitude if possible) was the surrender signed?

Answer 1

The Japanese surrendered formally on Okinawa on September 7th, 1945 at the Tenth Army Headquarters. There is relatively little concrete detail about exactly where the 10th Army was headquartered at the time but given that their initial landing was near Yomitan and their current headquarters is in the vicinity, I'd expect them to be one in the same. The GPS coordinates since you asked are roughly N26° 22' 47" by E127° 44' 05".

Answer 2

I have had what I thought was the original surrender document. I know there will be doubt on this one, but bought it at a rummage sale, and it was in an old picture frame. It is signed by 4 individuals, including Gen. Stillwell. I am convinced it is the original, and I know there will be doubters out there, but what can I say.

It does have boundaries on it, but some numbers are faded. The numbers are: 30 North 126 East, thence 24 North 122 East, thence 24 North 133 East, thence 29 North 131 East, thence, (faded writing) 131 30 East, thence to point of origin.

The signatures on it are raised, and has X on top of the document.

It is signed by JW Stilwell (Vinegar Joe).

I am too lazy to put down the Japanese names, but they are or look very authentic.

It is basically all calligraphy.

It is dated 7 September 1945.

Answer 3

So my assumptions about Yahara signing the surrender terms soon after the collapse were unsound. Reading the interrogation report included as an appendix of his book it is clear that instead Yahara managed to evade capture for several days before being picked up by local CIC agents. He remained a prisoner until January 1946 when he was repatriated to Japan and was not involved in surrender ceremonies on the 7th of September.