How would state Shintoism influence World War II?

Question

Its a discussion question for my Understanding Religious Traditions class.

Answer 1

Excellent question! State-sponsored Shintoism influenced WWII by providing the ideological foundation for Japanese militarism and imperial expansion. Shintoism elevated the emperor to the status of a divine figure and framed loyalty to the state as a sort of 'sacred duty.' It thus encouraged both citizens and soldiers to embrace self-sacrifice and unquestioning obedience. One might also argue that the state-controlled version of Shintoism influenced education, public rituals, and even national policy, with the belief that Japan held a unique divine mission to lead Asia, which could, in turn, have helped justify territorial conquest and extreme wartime behavior.