Occupied Japan - History

The United States (with assistance from other Allied Powers such as the United Kingdom, occupied Japan from the end of World War II in 1945 until April 1952, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty signed in 1951 came into force.

World War II ended in August of 1945, shortly after the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria and the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagaski.  On August 15th, the Emporor of Japan announced acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, and on September 2, Japan and the Allied Powers signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

The Potsdam Declaration called for, among other things, the unconditional surrender of Japan, the elimination of the authority of those who led Japan to war, the disarm of Japan's military, and democratic principles for the people of Japan.  It also allowed Japan to maintain industries to support its economy and cover just reparations.

President Harry Truman appointed General Douglas MacArthur to supervise the occupation of Japan.  MacArthur was given control over the main islands of Japan, while other islands were divided up among the Allies.  Among the most critical missions of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was to address the food shortage in Japan which followed the collapse of the government and the destruction of many of its cities.  Other issues included the repatriation of Japanese soldiers, disarmament of the military, rebuilding Japan's cities and economy, interactions between the U.S. military troops stationed in Japan and Japanese civilians (including prostitution and rape), and the issues related to a change in culture of the Japanese people following the devastation in their country.

The occupation of Japan by the United States and Allied Powers ended on April 28, 1952, though even today the U.S. military maintains a small presence in Japan as a result of a treaty during the Cold War.  The end of Occupied Japan occured under the terms of the Treaty of San Francisco (technically, the Treaty of Peace with Japan), signed on September 8, 1951.  It settled issues of compensation by Japan to its victims and the status of Japan's overseas territories.