Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo, serves as a memorial and Shinto shrine honoring more than 2.4 million people who died in service to Japan. Established in 1874 by Emperor Meiji, who vowed that the names of those who died for their country would live there forever, the shrine has become one of Japan's most divisive sites.
While the shrine offers spiritual comfort to some mourning relatives and others who wish to express gratitude, it remains a symbol of Japan's militarism for many Asian countries that experienced Japanese imperial rule and expansion. Visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni frequently draw criticism from China and South Korea, which view such acts as a sign of insufficient remorse for Japan's wartime aggression.
Origins and State Shinto
The shrine's name, Yasukuni, can be translated as "peaceful country." Its initial purpose was to honor those who died defending the imperial cause during the Meiji era, a period of modernization and imperial restoration following centuries of military government. Emperor Meiji intended the shrine to convey a message about the emperor and a new Japan, where sacrifice for the emperor was considered the highest honor.
Under the concept of State Shinto, which strengthened during the Meiji era, the government exercised control over the shrine's practices and finances, blurring the lines between patriotism and religion. Emperor Hirohito's successors have sent emissaries to Yasukuni for key annual rites, but neither has visited the shrine in person as emperor.
Following Japan's surrender in World War II, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's December 1945 order abolished State Shinto, effectively cutting off government funding for shrines and removing Shinto practices from public institutions. Yasukuni subsequently became a private religious corporation, leading to ongoing questions about the constitutional separation of religion and government when officials visit.
Honoring the War Dead
Yasukuni is not a cemetery; instead, those remembered there are enshrined as "kami"—divinities or sacred spirits in the Shinto tradition. This includes soldiers, women who provided battlefield relief, students mobilized for wartime production, and foreign nationals who died while serving Japan.
The shrine's most controversial honorees are 14 Class-A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who were accused of "crimes against peace." Their enshrinement occurred in 1978 by Yasukuni's head priest, three years after Emperor Hirohito's last visit. Emperor Hirohito reportedly ceased visiting after learning of their inclusion.
Some families of Koreans and Taiwanese who served Japan have also raised objections, stating their relatives were enshroned without consent. Despite legal efforts, Japanese courts have rejected attempts to remove individuals from the shrine.
The Yushukan Museum and Visitor Perspectives
Adjacent to the shrine is the Yushukan Museum, which displays wartime artifacts. Scholars note that the museum's historical accounts often omit the experiences of China and Korea under Japanese imperialism, presenting a narrative of a "glorious" war.
Some visitors, however, view paying respects at Yasukuni as a spiritual act separate from endorsing war. Kana Shindo, a member of Tokyo's Minato City Assembly, described the shrine as a place for spiritual purification, gratitude, and self-reflection, asserting that politicians have freedom of religion and conscience. She visits to honor the sacrifices of those who lived before, enabling Japan's current peace.
For many bereaved families, the shrine is a vital connection to lost loved ones. Before departing for war, soldiers were told they would be enshrined at Yasukuni. More than 2.4 million Japanese soldiers died overseas in World War II, and the remains of approximately 1 million have not been recovered. Relatives like Toshiei Mizuochi, president of the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association, visit Yasukuni multiple times a year to pray and remember his father, who died days before the war's end. Many families believe the spirits of the war dead reside at Yasukuni, especially those who never received remains or personal belongings.