Background After Japan was defeated in World War II, its government and policy changed radically during
occupation by Allied troops. The official status of
State Shinto was abolished, and Shinto shrines became religious organizations, losing government protection and financial support. Although the
Occupation Army (GHQ) practiced censorship of all types of organizations, specific suppression of ended. GHQ invited many Christian missionaries from the United States to Japan, through
Douglas MacArthur's famous call for 1,000 missionaries. Missionaries arrived not only from traditional churches, but also from some modern denominations, such as
Jehovah's Witnesses. The Jehovah's Witnesses missionaries were so successful that they have become the second largest Christian denomination in Japan, with over 210,000 members (the largest is
Catholicism with about 500,000 members). In Japan, Jehovah's Witnesses tend to be considered a Christianity-based , not only because they were founded in the 19th century (as were other major ), but also because of their missionary practices, which involve door-to-door visiting and frequent meetings. Despite the influx of Christian missionaries, the majority of are Buddhist- or Shinto-related sects. Major sects include
Risshō Kōsei Kai and
Shinnyo-en. Major goals of include spiritual healing, individual prosperity, and social harmony. Many also hold a belief in
Apocalypticism, that is in the imminent
end of the world or at least its radical transformation. Most of those who joined in this period were women from lower-middle-class backgrounds. A few Shinto-based , such as
Tenrikyo and
Konkokyo, refer to themselves in English as churches rather than as temples or shrines. In both Tenrikyo and Konkokyo, some branches abroad are known as missions.
Soka Gakkai has a particular influence on politics since 1964, due to their affiliated party Komeito, later
New Komeito. In 1999, it was estimated that 10 to 20 per cent of the Japanese population were members of a .
Influence After World War II, the structure of the state was changed radically. Prior to WWII, the
National Diet was restricted and the real power lay with the executive branch, in which the prime minister was appointed by the emperor. Under the new
Constitution of Japan, the Diet had the supreme authority for decision making in state affairs and all its members were elected by the people. Especially in the
House of Councillors, one third of whose members were elected through nationwide vote, nationwide organizations found they could influence national policy by supporting certain candidates. Major became one of the so-called "vote-gathering machines" in Japan, especially for the conservative parties which merged into the
Liberal Democratic Party in 1955. == Other nations ==