[1][2] In 1900, the Shrine Bureau (Jinja kyoku) was created as a branch of the Home Ministry, and it was this organ that was responsible for the implementation of the policy.
[2] The aim of the policy was to reduce the political influence of Shinto, bringing the remaining shrines under government jurisdiction and making them easier to control.
[3][1][4] The policy remained in effect until the end of World War II, although its greatest impact occurred in the first six years after its implementation in 1906; by 1912, the rate at which shrines were closed had fallen considerably.
[1] However it was accused of corruption and attempting to seize land for financial gain [citation needed] An imperial edict in 1906 entitled "With Regard to the Provision of Offerings to Shrines of Prefectural Rank and Below" was the beginning of this.
[1]Local authorities in Wakayama and Mie prefectures in particular forced through a rigorous program of mergers, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of shrines by 1914.
The shrine ritual policy was promoted by the edict issued by the Minister of the Interior, Takashi Hara, in the 1st Saionji Cabinet in 1906 (Meiji 39), and initially it was given a considerable range according to the actual situation of the region.
However, 70,000 shrines, which were about 200,000 by 1914 (Taisho 3), were demolished nationwide because Tosuke Hirata, the Minister of Interior of the Second Katsura Cabinet, ordered that the instruction be strongly promoted.
However, it was already too late, and this policy of Shrine merging had left a large impact, resulting in the disappearance of many rituals and customs, and damaging religious beliefs.