Institute of Divinities

The , used to be a government agency in Japan. It was part of the Ministry of the Interior's foreign bureau. The institute's main goal was to make Shintoism more respected in the Empire of Japan. It was responsible for managing shrines and was the center of Shintoism until the end of World War II.

During the early years of the Showa era, there was a revival movement of the Department of Divinities and a push to establish special divine offices in Japan.阪本是丸 『明治維新と国学者』 大明堂、1993年、193頁 In 1940, on the occasion of the 2600th anniversary of the accession of Jimmu, the Institue of Divinities was created. 

Six years later, after Japan's defeat in World War II, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ) issued the Shinto Directive, which led to the termination of the movement on January 31, 1946. As a result, the special office was abolished on the same day.行政整理実施ノ為ニスル内務省官制中改正等ノ件（昭和21年勅令第59号）、『官報』第5713号、昭和21年1月31日。

 Establishment of the Institute of Divinities 

According to the Government Regulations of the Institute of Shinto Religion (Imperial Ordinance No. 736 of 1940), the Bureau of Shrines of the Home Ministry was given a higher status and became an external bureau of the Ministry on November 9, 1940. The bureau is situated at 1-2, Kasumigaseki, Kojimachi-ku, Tokyo, which is also the location of the Ministry of Home Affairs Office Building.官報. 1940年11月09日 内務省告示第五百八十九號 昭和十五年一月九日

The president of the Bureau of Shrines was appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs. Eiji Yasui, who was the Minister of Home Affairs at that time, was the first president. The Vice President of the bureau was Ichisho Inuma, who was also the Director General of the Bureau of Shrines. Inuma served in this position until the JCG was abolished.

To manage various matters related to shrines, various organizations were established by the Institute.

 Shinto Directive and Abolition of the Institute of Divinities 
After the end of WWII the GHQ issued a memorandum to the government on December 15, 1945, called "Regarding the Abolition of the Government's Guarantee, Support, Preservation, Supervision, and Supervision of National Shinto and Shinto Shrines and the Abolition of Kobu" (SCAPIN-448). This memorandum led to the abolition of the Institute of Divinities.

The Institute of Divinities was abolished on January 31, 1946, in accordance with the Imperial Ordinance No. 59 of 1946, which concerned the revision of government regulations for administrative reorganization.. 

 Related pages 

 State Shinto
 Shrine Shinto
 Department of Divinities
 Ministry of Divinities

 References 

 Literature 

 国立国会図書館　デジタルコレクション　神社祭式行事作法　内務省神祇院教務局祭務課編集　昭和17年　書誌ID　000000664653　P15　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1040190/1
 国立国会図書館　デジタルコレクション　告示 / 内務省 / 第76号 / 神社祭式行事作法　明治40年　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2950545
 国立国会図書館　デジタルコレクション　神社局時代を語る　神祇院教務局調査課　昭和17年　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1057614
 国立国会図書館　デジタルコレクション　神社本義　神祇院編集　昭和19年　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1040153
 国立国会図書館　デジタルコレクション　神奈川県内政部 / 神社祭式行事作法解説　昭和18年　P21　22　23　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1097500

Category:Pages with unreviewed translations
Category:State Shinto
Category:Home Ministry (Japan)