We visited Yasukuni Shrine, located in Kudan, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. I do not hold any political beliefs.
The nearest station to Yasukuni Shrine is Kudanshita Station, which is served by both the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and the Toei Subway Shinjuku Line. From Kudanshita Station, it takes about 10 minutes on foot along Yasukuni Street, and it is located near the Nippon Budokan.
Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869 by Emperor Meiji, and it is said to enshrine the spirits of 2.466 million individuals, including those who died in the Meiji Restoration, the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War II. Technically, it is the only shrine that enshrines the souls of war dead who died not for the nation, but for the Emperor. In the past, the rallying cry for Japanese soldiers facing death on the battlefield was, “We will meet at Yasukuni Shrine.”
The name “Yasukuni” given by Emperor Meiji means “to pacify (or secure) the nation,” and the shrine embodies a wish for the establishment of a peaceful state. While it is often written as “Yasukuni Shrine” in English, it was at one time referred to as “war shrine” in some contexts. At the end of World War II, Yasukuni Shrine was seen by the Allied forces as a symbol of ultranationalism and militarism and faced the threat of dissolution. However, the Allied forces concluded that no repressive action should be taken against a shrine dedicated to war dead, and it was allowed to remain as a religious corporation.
Yasukuni Shrine is also known as a famous cherry blossom spot and is one of the few shrines where the large torii gate faces east, rather than south.
The Yushukan, a museum located on the shrine grounds, displays weapons and soldiers’ relics used in Japan’s modern wars. The concept for its establishment was proposed after the Satsuma Rebellion, and it was completed in 1882. It continues to play a role in transmitting the memory of war to future generations.
I hope a peaceful world without war comes soon.
See you again.