Editing Occupation of Japan (section)

===Purge of wartime public officials===
{{Main|Purge (occupied Japan)}}

In January 1946, SCAP issued directives calling for the purge of wartime officials from public offices. Individuals targeted in the purge included accused [[War crime|war criminals]], military officers, leaders of ultranationalist societies, leaders in the [[Imperial Rule Assistance Association]], business leaders involved in Japanese overseas economic expansion, governors of former Japanese colonies, and national leaders involved in the decisions leading Japan into war.{{sfn|Takemae|2002|p=267}} Ultimately, SCAP screened a total of 717,415 possible purgees, and wound up excluding 201,815 of them from holding public office.{{sfn|Takemae|2002|p=269}} However, as part of the "[[Reverse Course]]" in Occupation policy, most of the purgees would be de-purged and allowed to return to public life by 1951.