Restoration of Sovereignty Day is observed in Japan every April 28, commemorating the end of the Allied occupation following World War II. The event was first officially celebrated in 2013, inspired by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's initiative to honor the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco, which restored Japanese independence on April 28, 1952. The inaugural celebration took place at Kensei Kinenkan Hall in Tokyo, attended by Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, and approximately 300 guests. However, the observance is controversial, particularly in Okinawa Prefecture, where many residents view it as a day of disgrace due to the prolonged U.S. control over the Ryukyu Islands until 1972. Citizens in Okinawa often hold rallies to protest the sovereignty ceremony, highlighting the differing perspectives on this significant date in Japan's history.