Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo, originated from an 1869 order by Emperor Meiji to honor those who died defending the imperial cause. The shrine’s name derives from Japanese characters meaning “peaceful country,” and it was initially designed to convey messages about the emperor and the new Japanese nation being established during the Meiji era. Over 2.4 million people are now remembered at the site, which functions as both a memorial and a Shinto religious institution.
Under Shinto beliefs, those honored at Yasukuni are enshrined as “kami,” or sacred spirits, rather than buried as in traditional cemeteries. The commemorated include soldiers, support workers, students mobilized for wartime production, and foreign nationals who served Japan. The shrine’s most contentious aspect involves 14 individuals designated as Class-A war criminals, individuals accused of “crimes against peace” for planning and waging World War II. These individuals were secretly enshrined in 1978, after which Emperor Hirohito ceased visiting the shrine personally. His successors have sent representatives to key annual ceremonies but have not visited in person as emperor.
For some Japanese families, particularly those who never recovered remains of deceased relatives, Yasukuni holds deep spiritual significance. The Japan War-Bereaved Families Association reports that many bereaved families believe the spirits of the war dead reside at the shrine, with members visiting multiple times annually for ceremonies, death anniversaries, and to report family milestones. Some visitors characterize their visits as opportunities for spiritual reflection and gratitude rather than endorsement of war.
However, the shrine remains controversial in neighboring Asian countries that experienced Japanese imperial rule. China and South Korea view official visits by Japanese leaders as indicative of insufficient remorse for wartime aggression. The adjacent Yushukan Museum has drawn scholarly criticism for its presentation of Japan’s military history, which scholars note omits perspectives of nations that experienced Japanese occupation. Additionally, some individuals have been enshrined without their families’ consent, though Japanese courts have rejected legal efforts to have relatives removed from the shrine.
The separation of religion and state following Japan’s 1945 surrender transformed Yasukuni from a state-controlled institution into a private religious corporation, raising ongoing constitutional questions about official visits to the site.
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