Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, Meiji-Jingu is the largest and most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo. The Meiji Emperor was the first emperor of modern Japan and transformed the feudal, pre-industrial country into the world power that it became at the time of his death in 1912. Meiji-Jingu shrine was dedicated on November 1, 1920, and though the buildings were burnt down in World War II, they were rebuilt afterwards with public donations, and the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken were transfered to their new buildings on October 31, 1958.