Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo, is a memorial and Shinto shrine that honors the names of those who died for their country. The shrine was first visited by Emperor Meiji in 1874, who vowed that the names of those who died for their country would live there forever.

History and Controversy

More than 2.4 million people are now honored at Yasukuni, including 14 war criminals who are also commemorated each August 15, when Japan’s surrender ended World War II. The shrine provides spiritual comfort for some who mourn relatives and others who visit to express gratitude.

However, for Asian countries that endured Japanese imperial rule and expansion, Yasukuni remains a symbol of Japan’s militarism. Visits by Japanese leaders frequently draw criticism from China and South Korea, which see them as a sign of insufficient remorse for Japan’s wartime aggression.

Religious Background

Yasukuni’s foundation followed a historic transformation in Japan, with the restoration of imperial rule in the 19th century. The shrine was initially conceived as a way to send a message to the Japanese people, with the emperor as the one who could bestow the highest honor on those who died fighting for the empire.

Japan’s emperors have long been regarded as descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu under Shinto beliefs. However, the notion of the emperor’s divine origins strengthened during the Meiji era, when the concept of State Shinto arose.

The separation of religion and state came after Japan’s surrender in WWII, with the abolition of State Shinto in 1945. Yasukuni subsequently became a private religious corporation, with official visits raising questions about the constitutional separation of religion and government.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.