The Allied occupation ended on 28 April 1952, when the terms of the Treaty of San Francisco went into effect. By the terms of the treaty, Japan regained its sovereignty, but lost many of its possessions from before World War … See more

Despite its central position in the world economy, Japan has played a modest role in global politics for much of the postwar period.
The 1950s were largely marked by Japan re-establishing relations to numerous nations and … See more

• 1945: Surrender of Japan to the Allies and Allied occupation starts (September 2)
• 1946: Emperor Hirohito renounces his own divinity (January 1)
• 1947: … See more

• Allinson, Gary D. Japan's Postwar History (Cornell University Press, 2004)
• Cooney, Kevin J. Japan's Foreign Policy Since 1945 (2006) See more

The early post-war years were devoted to rebuilding lost industrial capacity: major investments were made in electric power, coal, steel, and chemicals. By the mid-1950s, production … See more

Japan continued to experience Westernization in the postwar era, much of which came about during the occupation, when American soldiers were a common sight in many parts of … See more

• 1980s in Japan
• 1990s in Japan See more