The article examines the nature of the relationship between Shinto, Buddhist and Christian organizations with the Japanese government in the period 1867-1945. The main focus is on the study of the history of Japanese nationalism and militarism and the role that religion played in this. The article provides a brief description of a number of religious schools, sects, movements and other associations for the specified period. The question of the transformation of the teachings of these associations under the influence of nationalist tendencies is considered. Textological and historiographic analysis showed that the ideology of Japanese nationalism was constructed from above and was based on the Shinto ideas of the divine origin of the Japanese monarchy. However, the internal heterogeneity of Shinto forced the government to actively involve representatives of the Buddhist and even Christian clergy in the Pro-Paganda activities.