Honouring those who died for the empire, this Shinto shrine, adjacent museum and cherry blossom garden holds the memories of the nation.
Japan’s wartime past gives way to hope for a peaceful future at the Yasukuni Shrine, set in a garden in central Tokyo. According to Shinto religious beliefs, this is a permanent place of rest for the people enshrined and gives their spirits a home for all eternity. Yasukuni was built to commemorate all people who died in serving the empire, and now lists the names of almost 2.5 million men, women and children.The green-roofed Yasukuni Shrine was built by Emperor Meiji in 1869 for those who had supported him during the Meiji Restoration, a series of battles that led to the re-installation of the Emperor. For the next century, the names of thousands of people who fought for Japan in other wars were added to the lists. Admirably, the shrine commemorates ordinary people alongside soldiers, treating equally all who lost their lives in the service of the empire. Factory workers, mothers who had to raise children single-handedly and even animals who died during wars are all named together. In the grounds of the shrine, there is even a statue commemorating the carrier pigeons used by the military. However, at a small number of declared war criminals are listed among the honoured at the shrine and this continues to cause some political tension if world leaders visit this site.Nearby, the Yushukan Military Museum displays wartime relics and documents from the Meiji Restoration to the Pacific War. However, some visitors may find the museum overly patriotic.The grounds at the shrine are astoundingly beautiful throughout the year. One special tree in the gardens is watched intently by all of Tokyo every spring for the first hint of a blossom petal. When it flowers, the national cherry blossom season, Sakura, officially begins. Whatever the time of year, Yasukuni remains a thought-provoking place to visit. There are special festivals at the shrine throughout the year, with Sumo wrestling and impressive lantern parades among the highlights.
