The Home Ministry was one of the most senior ministries in the Japanese government from 1873 until it was abolished during the Allied Occupation in 1947. This ministry was in charge of local government administration, the police, religious affairs, health, factory legislation, public works and elections. Control of the police and of local government gave the ministry so much potential for abuse of power (and many documented cases of such abuse) that it was quickly broken down into several ministries by the Allies.
