WWII: Religions other than Shinto

[gwendy85]

Hi guys! I need to ask for something (still related to my novel if anyone can remember)
I know that back in WWII, Shinto was Japan's state religion, but I also know that there were other religions such as Buddhism and even Christianity (still ostracized by then, I believe). What I'd like to know is, being that Shinto promotes worship of the emperor, did other religions, Buddhists in particular, believe the same thing as the WWII Shintoists? I kind of get the feel that the reason so much lives were sacrificed was because they truly believed the emperor as a living god but what of the other religions? What did they think of it? Were they given the right to believe or not?
Hope you guys can clear me up on this. Thank you very much! :p

[Mars Man]

It's good that you posted now. I had meant to get with you. I ran into some difficulty with that Christianity during WWII subject. At the moment I got some info from a translation of some paper that had very little on it. It's over in the dozo, and I'll get back with you on the title and page numbers and such, but it really doesn't have much information.

From government pressure the several Chrisitian denominations combined into one group--United Chruch of Christ--and they were pretty much left alone, but watched carefully. On the non-governmental level, it seems there was the occasional local prosecution brought up by those who tried to enforce the emperior worship at local shrines--and somewhat like in the first century, Japanese Christians often refused to do so.

That's all I can get at the moment. I am still looking when I get the time, and I may be able to find something else, and if and when I do, I'll let you know. Sorry to the little and late, but am still in process. As for this question, I will also keep my attention to that point open, but will not make any promises. Thanks gwendy85 san, for your patience.:-)

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

The Shinto was not a state religion.
In the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, it is the interpretation "Shintoism is not religion."
The organization "国家神道(State Shinto)" is made after Meiji.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E7%A5%9E%E9%81%93
http://school.phippy.com/shinto/state.html