The Bureau of Religions (宗教局, Shūkyō kyoku) is one of the Internal departments [ja] of the Ministry of the Interior during the pre-World War I period and later the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture in Japan.
[3] The first and second divisions were set up with jurisdictions over Shinto, Buddhist, and other religious affairs, as well as monks' and teachers' affairs.
[4] On June 13, 1913, the Bureau of Religion was transferred from the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry to the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture.
[4][5] It was in charge of denominations, sects, associations, priests, teachers, and other matters related to religion, such as Buddhist temples and the preservation of old shrines and temples.
[9] In 1942 it was abolished and went through a few successor institutions until complete abolition after the end of World War II.