What title did General Douglas MacArthur hold while overseeing Japan’s postwar occupation after its 1945 surrender?

General Douglas MacArthur held the title Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers while overseeing Japan’s postwar occupation.

The position was created in August 1945, as Allied leaders prepared to administer Japan after its surrender. President Harry S. Truman appointed MacArthur to supervise the surrender process and direct the occupation. The title is commonly abbreviated as SCAP.

SCAP referred both to MacArthur’s position and, in many contexts, to the headquarters and occupation authorities operating under his direction. Although Japan retained its government institutions, SCAP exercised ultimate authority over major political, military, and administrative decisions.

MacArthur served as SCAP until April 1951, when President Truman relieved him during the Korean War. General Matthew Ridgway then took over. The occupation ended when the Treaty of San Francisco entered into force on April 28, 1952.