Buddhism

Enjoying a long history of presence and thriving in Japan under the Shogunate, after the Meiji Restoration, a policy of "Haibutsu kishaku" or "Abolish Buddhism" was enacted. The Shinto state wished to unify Japan under a single religion, meaning Buddhism was a competitor and obstacle. In effect these efforts failed to scrub the religion from the country, and many people including those holding positions of power, were greatly influenced if not devout believers in Buddhism, and the religion was able to largely coexist with Shinto without much issue.