Kamikaze Souls "Meet Again at Yasukuni"

Yusakuni Shrine

Yesterday Japan celebrated National Foundation Day, formerly called Emperor's Day.    As one of the nation's four official holidays, schools and businesses closed.  Families took outings or simply stayed home to rest.  Like Memorial Day, it is a cherished time away from work.  But unlike Americans who visit cemeteries of fallen soldiers on this holiday (including Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers), some pious Japanese make the annual trip to the Shinto shrine, Yusakuni, to worship the spirits of those who died in the service of the Empire.

First, a little history...
One day each year was set aside to celebrate the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.  According to legend, Emperor Jimmu ascended to the throne in 660 AD.  No historically reliable records can verify his dates or reign since the oldest historical records come from ca. 720 AD.    According to Japanese mythology and Shinto beliefs, Jimmu is the direct descendant of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and the universe.   The current Emperor is said to directly descend from this "great god who shines in the heavens." 

After years of feudal rule under the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo (now Tokyo), when the Imperial family again returned to power, the Emperor needed to legitimize his rightful rule.  To unify the nation and boost its claim to power, the new Meiji government declared "Emperor's Day" an official national holiday.  In 1869 it also built the Yusakuni Shrine to commemoration the souls of those who died in defense of the Emperor.  And so the holiday continued until after the end of World War II when it was renamed "Foundation Day."   

Thousands of Japanese still visit the Yasukuni Shrine.  It now commemorates over 2,466,000 souls who died in the service of the Empire.   And it is this very shrine that Prime Minister Abe visited last year creating, in effect, a great international disturbance.  This greatly disturbed China and other countries in the region that suffered Japanese invasions and atrocities.  It is this shrine that has served to unify the people of Japan and lift morale during times of war and conflict.  To better understand the situation, Doug and I paid a visit to the shrine.  Not to worship the spirits of the deceased, of course, but to study and observe.

Mitsubishi Zero Carrier-Based Fighter

Controversy surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine...
Located in central Tokyo, this shrine has a long, combined sacred-secular tradition.     Over time the role of the shrine expanded to commemorate all those who died in military service, beginning with the Boshin War of 1868 and continuing through the end of World War II.  The shrine holds great significance for soldiers and civilians alike.  In fact, military soldiers believed that they would gain the status of a national hero if they gave their lives for the Empire.  And so Kamikaze pilots preparing for suicide missions commonly said "meet again at Yasukuni."   

The original main gate (Otorii), presumably also made of steel, was taken down in 1943 to be used in the war effort.

But the post-war U.S.-led occupation of Japan did not look favorably upon this shrine nor its role in society.  So it insisted that the shrine become either a religious institution or a secular one.  Not both!   A complete separation of church and state was demanded.  Actually, the Occupation's preference was to burn the shrine down and put a dog race park in its place but Roman Catholic Church leaders intervened, arguing that every nation has the duty to honor its war dead.  So the shrine continued but it was placed under the supervision of an independent religious corporation.   However, this newly independent administration could not guarantee freedom from political pressures.

Making Peace with Two Imperial Soldiers

Initially, convicted World War II criminals were excluded from enshrinement at Yasukuni.   However, the Japanese government gradually pushed for inclusion of World War II Class B and C criminals.  Finally, in 1978, in a secret ceremony, fourteen supreme Class A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni.  These fourteen souls included the top World War II generals and prime ministers.  Since this event the emperor has not visited the shrine though several prime ministers have made visits to worship the spirits of Japan's war dead.   

What is your view on visits by public officials to this site?  This will make a lively history class discussion!