Shrine Consolidation Policy
The "Shrine merger" policy aimed to decrease the number of shrines in Japan and focus resources on those remaining. This was done to ensure that the remaining shrines had facilities and properties that met a certain standard, and to maintain their dignity while establishing their continuous management. Additionally, the Meiji government recognized sect Shinto as a religion, but considered shrines as "national religious ceremonies" rather than religious. The policy of reducing the number of shrines was also implemented to make it financially possible for local governments to provide public funds to prefectural shrines and smaller shrines, according to the Ministry of the Interior.