History
The origin of Yasukuni Shrine is Shokonsha established at Kudan in Tokyo in the second year of the Meiji era (1869) by the will of the Emperor Meiji. In 1879, it was renamed Yasukuni Shrine.
When the Emperor Meiji visited Tokyo Shokonsha for the first time on January 27th, in 1874, he composed a poem; "I assure those of you who fought and died for your country that your names will live forever at this shrine in Musashino". As can be seen in this poem, Yasukuni Shrine was established to commemorate and honor the achievement of those who dedicated their precious lives for their country. The name "Yasukuni," given by the Emperor Meiji represents wishes for preserving peace of the nation.
Currently, more than 2,466,000 divinities are enshrined here at Yasukuni Shrine. These are souls of men who made ultimate sacrifice for their nation since 1853 during national crisis such as the Boshin War, the Seinan War, the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, World War I, the Manchurian Incident, the China Incident and the Greater East Asian War (World War II). These people, regardless of their rank or social standing, are considered to be completely equal and worshipped as venerable divinities of Yasukuni.
Japanese people believe that their respect to and awe of the deceased is best expressed by treating the dead in the same manner as they were alive. Hence, at Yasukuni Shrine, rituals to offer meals and to dedicate words of appreciation to the dead are repeated every day. And, twice every year - in the spring and autumn - major rituals are conducted, on which occasion offerings from His Majesty the Emperor are dedicated to them, and also attended by members of the imperial family.
Thus, Yasukuni Shrine has deep relationship with the Japanese imperial family. Also, five million people visit the shrine every year since it is known as a central institution for commemorating those who died in wars.
Foundation
The origin of Yasukuni Shrine is Shokonsha which was established at Kudan, Tokyo in the second year of the Meiji era (1869). Japan at that time was in a process of historically great reformation known as the Meiji Restoration in order to reborn as a modern unified state. Before that era began, Japan had imposed itself a period of isolation for about 250 years and communication with abroad was strictly limited. However, when the United States and other Western nations began to put pressure on Japan to open its doors to the world, decision-makers were polarized into two camps, for and against continuing isolation, and Japan was thrown into turmoil. The Tokugawa Shogunate had retained control over Japanese politics for 260 years. But, lacking the power to overcome this crisis, the Shogunate returned the reins of government to the Emperor. Here, Japan newly started building a modern state, having the Emperor as its center.
However on the other hand, such great reformation caused the outbreak of an unavoidable and unfortunate conflict known as Boshin War, and precious lives of those who devoted themselves to the establishment of a modern state were lost. Emperor Meiji, wishing to honor the memory of those who had died for their country, ordered the construction of a shrine to commemorate these people. The shrine named Shokonsha was established in June, 1869. This is the origin of today's Yasukuni Shrine, and it was renamed as Yasukuni Shrine in 1879.
Deities
At Yasukuni Shrine, there enshrined many people who sacrificed themselves in the Boshin War, the Saga Uprising and the Seinan War. These wars broke out as the starting point of modern Japan. Among the enshrined are Yoshida Shoin and Sakamoto Ryoma who are famous historic figures for their activities which lead to the Meiji Restoration. Also enshrined are many soldiers who died in wars such as the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War, the Manchurian Incident, the China Incident, and the Greater East Asian War (Second World War) to protect their country. Currently, there are more than 2,466,000 divinities enshrined at the shrine.
Not only soldiers' spirits are enshrined here, but also other people are enshrined. There are women's and school girls' divinities who were involved in relief operation on battlefields, a great number of students who went to work in factories for the war effort. There also enshrined ordinary Japanese citizens, Taiwanese and Korean people died as Japanese, the people who died during the Siberian detaining, and who were labeled war criminals and executed after having been tried by the Allies.
Here at Yasukuni Shrine, these people, regardless of their rank or social standing, are considered to be subject of completely equal respect and worshipping because the only purpose of the shrine is to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for their nation. That is, the 2,466,000 divinities enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine all sacrificed their lives to the public duty of protecting their motherland.
Shinto Faith
Japan still maintains the culture and tradition of respecting and worshipping the deceased. The Japanese have long believed that spirits of the deceased remain eternally on earth and guard their descendants. Even in today's Japanpeople consider their ancestors as their "guardian deities," and thus as an object of worshipping because such traditional way of thinking along with the belief of Shinto is still inherited.
In addition to this, Japanese people have respected and worshipped spirits of those who made prominent contribution to regional and national communities - not only to family communities as such. Yasukuni Shrine is an example which represents such genuine Japanese culture.
Yasukuni Shrine is a place to commemorate in a manner of Shinto, a traditional Japanese faith and a place for all the Japanese to show their appreciation and respect to those who died to protect their country. The spirits of these deceased are the object of worship at Yasukuni Shrine. Therefore, the shrine has completely different nature from that of tombs where bodies or bones of fallen soldiers are buried.
Worshiping
Foreigners will understand the nature of Yasukuni Shrine comparing with similar facilities in their countries if they are explained that the shrine is a place for Japanese people to show their appreciation and respect to those who died to protect their mother country, Japan.
The difference between Yasukuni Shrine and other foreign memorial institutions for war dead is that the shrine enshrines the spirits of those who died on public duty of protecting their mother land. This difference might be causing misunderstanding. However, the nature of the shrine has its origin in the traditional Japanese way of thinking which is to commemorate the deceased eternally by enshrining them as object of worship. It is not an abnormal institution.
Probably, people who cherish their own culture will understand the difference and will understand the importance of Yasukuni Shrine which was established for commemorate and to show appreciation and respect to those who dedicated their precious lives to their mother country.
Today, many people visit Yasukuni Shrine regardless to their religion, thought and nationalities. This fact tells that the shrine is a place to show respect to those who died to protect their mother country and that the shrine has public nature.