A look at the history and beliefs behind Japan’s controversial shrine to the war dead
Summary
Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo honors over 2.4 million people who died for Japan, including 14 war criminals. The shrine is both a place for mourning and a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression, causing tension with countries like China and South Korea.Key Facts
- Emperor Meiji ordered the creation of the shrine in 1869.
- The shrine’s name means “peaceful country” in Japanese.
- It honors those who died fighting for the imperial cause.
- More than 2.4 million people are commemorated at Yasukuni Shrine.
- Fourteen convicted war criminals are among those honored there.
- Visits by Japanese leaders to the shrine often cause diplomatic criticism from China and South Korea.
- Yasukuni Shrine represents both religious beliefs tied to Shinto and Japan’s government during the Meiji era.
- The shrine blurs the line between patriotism and religion by linking loyalty to the emperor with spiritual beliefs.
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