<P> In 1949 , MacArthur made a sweeping change in the SCAP power structure that greatly increased the power of Japan 's native rulers , and the occupation began to draw to a close . The Treaty of San Francisco , which was to end the occupation , was signed on September 8 , 1951 . It came into effect on April 28 , 1952 , formally ending all occupation powers of the Allied forces and restoring full sovereignty to Japan , except for the island chains of Iwo Jima and Okinawa , which the United States continued to hold . Iwo Jima was returned to Japan in 1968 , and most of Okinawa was returned in 1972 . </P>
<P> In 1949 , MacArthur made a sweeping change in the SCAP power structure that greatly increased the power of Japan 's native rulers , and the occupation began to draw to a close . The Treaty of San Francisco , which was to end the occupation , was signed on September 8 , 1951 . It came into effect on April 28 , 1952 , formally ending all occupation powers of the Allied forces and restoring full sovereignty to Japan , except for the island chains of Iwo Jima and Okinawa , which the United States continued to hold . Iwo Jima was returned to Japan in 1968 , and most of Okinawa was returned in 1972 . </P>
when did the allied occupation of japan end
when did the allied occupation of japan end
April 28 , 1952
April 28 , 1952