But, while I am still logged on and motivated, I wanted to share my experience visiting Yasukuni Jinja in Tokyo. One lazy Saturday, my friend suggested we go visit this shrine. I had never heard of Yasukuni Shrine and was very intrigued, so we made the drive up to Tokyo.
While in the car, I did some research about the shrine. This shrine was built in 1869 to honor and remember soldiers who died fighting for Japan. The word "Yasukuni" means "peaceful country." and over the years, it has become a symbol of national pride. The shrine houses the spirits of around 2.5 million people, including soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for Japan, dating back to the Boshin War in the late 1800s. However, Yasukuni Shrine is also a source of controversy, especially for neighboring countries like China and South Korea, because some of the individuals enshrined there were involved in wars that caused suffering to their people. Despite this, many Japanese people continue to visit Yasukuni to pay their respects and honor those who died for their country.
As an American, I did feel a little "off" at first about visiting, as there were political trucks parked outside, and as a foreigner in Japan, it is often not hard to detect xenophobia at times. I found myself having the same feeling when I saw a Confederate flag in the States. But, I pushed through and tried to show my respect because the name “Yasukuni,” was bestowed by Emperor Meiji, and is a means to preserve peace for the entire nation. Therefore, Yasukuni Jinja is intended as a shrine to “bring peace to the homeland” or “build a peaceful nation.”
Also, as an American, especially as a parent of a Japanese child, I felt that it was a good opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and history. Yasukuni Shrine is not only a place of remembrance for those who died in wars, but it also serves as a symbol of Japanese identity and nationalism, which is a very important key to understanding Japanese people.
Additionally, visiting Yasukuni Shrine, could offer an opportunity for me to reflect and offer empathy. While the shrine's history may be controversial, it also represents the human cost of war and the profound impact it has on individuals and societies. My friend's grandfather, who fought in the war, told his comrades that when they died, they would meet again at the shrine. I felt that this shrine is important to Japanese people despite the perspective they hold about the war. Therefore, by paying respects at Yasukuni Shrine, I could express solidarity with the universal desire for peace and reconciliation.
When we pulled up, it seemed like there was a graduation nearby, so there were hundreds of students in suits and kimonos. It was very festive, but I was a bit intimidated by the large metal Torii gate. It seemed militaristic indeed.
After praying, we visited the Yushukan, a military and war museum. We saw some old artifacts of war, and it was very interesting to read about history from another point of view. I think this blog here has a wonderful write-up about the shrine.
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After obtaining a goshuin or shrine stamp, we walked along grounds, which were lined with food trucks but also cherry blossoms. There are over 400 cherry blossom trees of varying species, but there is also one special cherry blossom tree of the Somei yoshino species, which has been designated by the Japanese meteorological agency to mark the beginning of Spring and chery blossom season! Once this tree blooms at least five flowers, it is the start of cherry blossom season. This tree is not hard to miss because it has a live cam pointing at it and is fenced off!
After eating and enjoying the mild weather, I left with a sense of having learned something and I hope to visit again one day cherryto see the cherry blossoms in full bloom!
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