Which 1951 treaty ended the Allied occupation of Japan when it took effect in 1952?

The Treaty of San Francisco ended the Allied occupation of Japan when it took effect in 1952. Also called the Treaty of Peace with Japan, it was signed on September 8, 1951, and entered into force on April 28, 1952.

The treaty restored Japan’s sovereignty and formally ended the legal state of war between Japan and many Allied powers. It also required Japan to renounce claims to several territories and addressed reparations and postwar responsibilities. The United States and 48 other Allied countries signed it, although some wartime participants were not included.

The treaty should not be confused with the 1945 surrender instrument. Japan surrendered militarily in September 1945, but the occupation and broader legal settlement continued for nearly seven years. A separate U.S.-Japan security treaty was signed alongside the peace treaty.