This summer I went to Yaukuni Shrine for the first time, which is much discussed about its history issues among Japan and its neighboring countries
Yasukuni Shrine is located in Chiyoda Ward, the east part of Tokyo, established in the Meiji era (1869) for praying for the war dead who fought inside and outside Japan. The huge, over 20 meters tall torii rises up at the entrance of the shrine. From there, apparently over 30 meter-wide approach extend straight to the main hall of Yasukuni. I saw many visitors regardless of age and sex there, such as uniformed school girls, junior high-school boys, young mothers with a child, and oｌｄ men with white hair, also foreign tourists here and there. It seems not to be unlike a view of other tourist spot.
After looking at a main hall and grounds of the shrine, I went to Yushu-kan.
(遊就館)This is a Japanese war museum, which belongs to the shrine, often criticized by the countries concerned.
As I entered the front door, there was a real zero fighter and a cannon which were displayed in a soaring lobby. The museum also has some exhibit rooms arranged in chronological order-the Edo period, Meiji, Taisho and Showa on the second floor. I went to the room with exhibits from the turbulent Showa era. There, people quietly gazed at military uniforms and swords which soldiers would have used or young soldiers’ wills for their mother.
Contrary to my expectation, as a whole the shrine didn’ｔ look like a nest of demoniac far-right. Most of Japanese visitors had a carefree or calm look, and seem to come here just for returning thanks to soldiers died for their country or praying for long peace, with a more light heart than the neighboring countries’ people think. Now it is only a peaceful place of prayer for Japanese people, however critical role the shrine serve in WW2. Incidentally, for many years in the postwar era, a lot of foreign troops or foreign VIPｓ have visited the shrine. It was nothing special then. Of course no country have raised an objection against it. Their protest has only just begun.
Many foreign troops visited Yasukuni Shrine
The country whose military has the most frequency visited Yasukuni formally is the USA, the second is Germany…amesho161616.wordpress.com
From any angle, Japan neither trend towards militarism nor intend to invade any country unlike a tone of article that some Western media wrote. It is out of the question that PM Abe is second coming of Hitler. While the Japanese think themselves as a little small animal, the rest of the world think the Japanese as a monster? I feel like that there's a big misunderstanding between Japan and those who point a finger at Japan.
The big torii(鳥居) represents the entrance of the Kekkai. Kekkai(結界) is a symbolic barrier that can be considered to be a representation of taboo in a certain space in Shinto(神道). Shintoism is an indigenous religion of Japan from ancient times.
I saw many foreign tourists on the lane leading to the main halｌ of the shrine.
Ladles are placed by the water basin、and visitors use it to wash their hands before visiting main shrine.
The big gate leading to the shrine. It is decorated the Emperor’s family crest, “the chrysanthemum Throne”.
The front garden of Yushu-kan.
This is Ema（絵馬）. “Ema” is a wooden board which is dedicated to a temple or a shrine when making a wish, or when showing gratitude for the granted wish. Some Emas are praying for happiness of an entertainer she/he loves.
Old persons on wheelchairs might be a brother/sister or a wife of those who died in the WW2.
Main shrine of Yasukuni. We can see a young mother with a child and the boys who put their hands together in front of the main hall.
The real zero Fighter which was repainted beautifulｌy. Hmm.. I want to see a little more natural one.
The cannon which was used in a real battle field. It is also made up by paint.
