When did Abe visit the Yasukuni Shrine?
When did Abe visit the Yasukuni Shrine?
December 2013
TOKYO (Reuters) – Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Saturday, his first visit since December 2013, after refraining from doing so for most of his term to avoid angering China and South Korea.
How do Japanese feel about Yasukuni?
Many Japanese pay respects to relatives at Yasukuni and conservatives say leaders should be able to commemorate the war dead. Chinese and Koreans, however, resent the honours accorded to the war criminals.
What happened Yasukuni Shrine?
Historic meaning and controversy The shrine is now the burial site for over 2.5 million people who have died in conflict, mainly in World War II. The inclusion of 14 convicted Class-A war criminals in the shrine has resulted in controversy, particularly after the visits of Japanese prime ministers.
How many are enshrined at Yasukuni?
A political controversy surrounds Yasukuni Shrine because since 1978, fourteen class A war criminals have been among the 2.5 million people enshrined at Yasukuni.
Who is entombed in Yasukuni Shrine?
The shrine lists the names, origins, birthdates, and places of death of 2,466,532 men, women, children, and various pet animals. Among those are 1,068 convicted war criminals, 14 of whom are A-Class (convicted of having been involved in the planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of the war).
What do the shrines mean in Japan?
Shinto shrines (神社, jinja) are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto “gods”. Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot usually be seen by anybody.
Why do Japanese visit Yasukuni Shrine?
Why is the Yasukuni Shrine controversial? Founded in 1869, the memorial is dedicated to some 2.5 million men, women and children who have died in Japan’s wars. Among the Japanese commemorated at the site are World War II leaders who were convicted of war crimes.
Can you walk under a torii gate?
Pass through to holy ground Bowing once in front of the torii gate is the correct—if not always practiced—way to enter. It is customary not to walk through the gate directly in the exact center.
