Yasukuni: Japan's controversial war shrine

Key questions and answers about Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine, which came under the spotlight on the August 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, when politicians -- and bereaved families -- visited the site, enraging Japan's neighbours.

 

Q. What is the Yasukuni Shrine?

Yasukuni was founded under orders from then-emperor Meiji in 1869 as a Shinto shrine to commemorate individuals who died in the civil strife that helped restore his authority after centuries of rule by shoguns.

Its role was subsequently expanded. Adherents to Japan's native religion of Shintoism believe the souls of 2.5 million departed ancestors who died in Japanese conflicts up to and including World War II are enshrined there, with their names and other personal details recorded.

Although it was stripped of its state sponsorship by allied occupiers in 1945, it retains a powerful pull and was visited on eight occasions by wartime emperor Hirohito until 1975. Many ordinary people go to pay their respects to relatives and friends who died in combat.

The leafy sanctuary in the heart of Tokyo's bustling downtown is also popular for viewing cherry blossoms in spring and the fall foliage.

 

Q. Many countries have memorials to their war dead. Why are China and South Korea annoyed about this one?

 Japanese nationalists, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, like to argue that Yasukuni is no different than the US National Cemetery at Arlington.

But unlike Arlington, Yasukuni promotes a view of history that many find unpalatable. The attached museum portrays Japan more as a victim of US aggression in WWII and makes scant reference to the extreme brutality of invading Imperial troops when they stormed through Asia -- especially China and Korea -- in the 20th century.

Significantly, 14 World War II leaders -- including army general and prime minister Hideki Tojo -- who were indicted as war criminals by an international military tribunal, were secretly added to the Yasukuni honour list in 1978. This only became public knowledge the following year.

 

Q. If it causes so much trouble, why do Japanese leaders insist on going?

 Not all do. Only 15 premiers since WWII -- about half -- have paid respects at the shrine and the present emperor has never been (his father stopped going before the 14 senior war criminals were enshrined). Six premiers have gone since the war criminals were added to the list.

Before Abe visited the shrine on December 26, 2013, the first anniversary of his coming to power, no sitting prime minister had been since Junichiro Koizumi in 2006. Abe did not go during his first term in office from 2006-2007, and stayed away on this year's anniversary.

Senior politicians who visit insist they are doing what their counterparts in most other countries do when honouring fallen soldiers.

A small but vocal section of the political right believes Japan is unfairly criticised for its violent wartime past, saying Tokyo's empire-building was no different from that of European powers.

They believe Japan has more than made amends for the past -- they point to payments made to Seoul as reparations in the 1960s, and to numerous apologies.

For some of them, a visit to Yasukuni is part of a move to strike a more balanced view of the past, and to demonstrate their nationalist stance.

 

Q. What has happened since Abe's visit in 2013?

Relations between Japan and its neighbours sank after the visit.

However, since late 2014, there has been a thaw in icy relations between Japan and China, which share extensive business and trade links.

Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping met twice on the sidelines of international forums, and they are reportedly considering another meeting next month.

But the two Asian giants have long sparred over territorial disputes, with observers warning that a clash -- caused by accident or bravado -- is increasingly possible.

Japan and South Korea have made little progress toward improving their ties, with Seoul continuously pushing Tokyo to apologise for its war-time acts and offer compensation.

Abe has not met with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.

The United States, which is allied with both South Korea and Japan, finds the squabbling between the two infuriating at a time when it has turned its focus towards Asia in the face of an increasingly powerful and vocal China.


AFP