Yasukuni Shrine (Yasukuni Jinja) is located in Kudansaka, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Japan. It is a Shinto shrine with significant historical and religious meaning. It originated as one of several “soul-summoning shrines” established by Emperor Meiji in the mid-19th century to honor Japanese soldiers and military personnel who died in wars since the Meiji Restoration. To date, the shrine enshrines the spirits of over 2.46 million individuals, primarily those who died in the Russo-Japanese War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Pacific War.
Yasukuni Shrine has played a unique role in Japanese history. Since the Meiji era, it has been regarded as a national symbol of mourning for the war dead. Before World War II, it was directly managed by the Japanese military and was closely linked to the then State Shinto system, serving as a reflection of militaristic and national ideology. After the war, in line with Japan’s postwar constitution that mandates the separation of religion and state, the shrine was redefined as a religious institution managed by a private religious corporation, formally severing direct ties with the government.
However, Yasukuni Shrine remains a source of controversy, particularly regarding whom it enshrines and how history is interpreted. In 1978, the enshrinement of 14 Class-A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, provoked widespread domestic and international criticism and has since remained a politically sensitive issue. Additionally, the shrine includes the spirits of many soldiers originally from Taiwan and Korea, some of whom were enshrined without the consent of their families, leading to protests from related countries and bereaved relatives.
Since 1978, successive Japanese emperors have refrained from visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Although some political figures continue to make regular visits, these acts often provoke criticism from neighboring Asian countries, questioning Japan's understanding and reflection on its wartime past.
Beyond its religious function, the shrine grounds also house the Yūshūkan Museum, which exhibits historical materials and military artifacts related to Japan’s modern wars. It is considered an important place to learn about Japanese military history.
