What did the acronym SCAP stand for during the Allied occupation of Japan after 1945?

SCAP stood for Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers during the Allied occupation of Japan after 1945.

The title was held by General Douglas MacArthur, who oversaw Japan’s surrender and the occupation under a United States-led Allied administration. In practice, SCAP referred both to MacArthur’s office and to the occupation headquarters and organization operating under his authority.

SCAP issued directives to Japan’s government, including orders addressing demilitarization, political reform, education, labor, and civil liberties. The Japanese government continued to operate formally, but it did so under the ultimate authority of the occupation command.

The title is sometimes confused with GHQ, meaning General Headquarters. In Japan, GHQ was a common term for the occupation headquarters, while SCAP identified the supreme commander and the broader administrative structure. MacArthur held the role until 1951, when President Harry S. Truman relieved him during the Korean War.