This book examines the legal situation which arises during periods of occupation in respect of private property which is temporarily used, annexed, or destroyed by occupying forces. It asks what happens to that property after occupation ceases, and addresses the issues of restitution and compensation which may sometimes arise.;The author focuses upon the post-war occupation of Japan by American forces as the principle example around which to develop his arguments, and makes extensive use of documents from this period.;Relatively little has been written about this period of Japanese history, and the successful linking of the historical and legal aspects in this study will make this book of considerable interest to international lawyers and modern historians.