Shrine Consolidation Policy
In 1906, the Japanese Minister of the Interior, Takashi Hara, created a policy called the "shrine ritual policy." This policy aimed to regulate how people used shrines in Japan. At first, it was not strictly enforced, but later, the Minister of Interior of the Second Katsura Cabinet, Tosuke Hirata, made it stronger. Consequently, many shrines were demolished, especially in Mie, Wakayama, and Ehime prefectures. However, the degree of implementation varied in different regions, and some areas, like Kyoto, did not see significant changes. By 1914, about 200,000 shrines were affected nationwide, as 70,000 of them were destroyed.