The Allied occupation of Japan at the end of World War II was led by General Douglas MacArthur; the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers; with support from the British Commonwealth. Unlike in the occupation of Germany; the Soviet Union was allowed little to no influence over Japan.

This foreign presence marked the only time in Japan's history that it had been occupied by a foreign power. It transformed the country into a parliamentary democracy that recalled American 'New Deal' priorities of the 1930s politics by Roosevelt.

The occupation; codenamed Operation Blacklist; was ended by the San Francisco Peace Treaty; signed on September 8; 1951 and effective from April 28; 1952; after which Japan's independence - with the exception; until 1972; of the Ryukyu Islands - was restored.