Allied Occupation of Japan

Japan's defeat brought foreign occupiers to its shores for the first time in its long history. Under the direction of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, the occupation force carried out a sweeping set of reforms inspired by American ideals. The Japanese government served only to carry out MacArthur's orders.

Under the occupation, more than 5 million Japanese troops were disarmed. The Allies tried 25 Japanese leaders for war crimes. Seven of the leaders, including former Prime Minister Tojo, were executed. The rest were sent to prison.

The Allied occupation force began reforms in 1946, when MacArthur and his advisers drew up a new Japanese Constitution. Under this document, the emperor lost all real power and became merely a symbol of the state. The two-part legislature became Japan's supreme lawmaking body. A civilian prime minister, chosen by majority vote in the legislature, became head of the government. The rights of the people increased dramatically compared with those granted by the Meiji Constitution.

The American occupiers also began economic and social reforms. They redistributed farmland, legalized labor unions, and encouraged new laws giving women and children greater rights. The Americans also reorganized Japan's educational system to make it more democratic.

In 1951, Japan signed a peace treaty with 48 nations that went into effect on Aug. 28, 1952. The Allied occupation officially ended on that day.