Institute of Divinities

The Institute of Divinities (神祇院, Jingi-in)^[1], used to be a government agency in Japan. It was part of the Ministry of the Interior's foreign bureau.^[2][1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Basic Terms of Shinto: J". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
3. ↑ 阪本是丸 『明治維新と国学者』 大明堂、1993年、193頁
4. ↑ 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。