On 8 September 1951, in San Francisco, Japan and 48 Allied powers sign the Treaty of Peace with Japan — the document formally ending the Pacific war state and restoring Japanese sovereignty.

The treaty (UNTS No. 1832) provides for Japan’s renunciation of Korea, Formosa/Pescadores, the Kurile Islands and other territories, acceptance of the UN Charter and a reparations framework. The USSR, China and India did not sign; Poland and Czechoslovakia refused.

On the same day Japan and the United States also signed the bilateral Security Treaty. The peace treaty entered into force on 28 April 1952.

The San Francisco Conference cemented postwar Japan’s alignment with the Western bloc.

For the Asia-Pacific, 8 September 1951 marks the peace signature.

The text is registered in the United Nations Treaty Series and published by the State Department.

The Treaty of San Francisco of 8 September 1951 remains the peace-with-Japan milestone.

Image: San Francisco; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Treaty of San Francisco. Treaty text: UNTS — Treaty of Peace with Japan (No. 1832).