How Japanese Understand the Globally Controversial Shrine of the War Dead

Yasukuni shrine, often described controversially, is a shrine dedicated for the war dead. Commonly in Japan, we see pro and con groups lining up against around the shrine on August 15, when Japan commemorates the war dead at the end-of-war anniversary. Mass media always reports who in the diet members visits Yasukuni and how international leaders react to it. The reports trigger national debates over how ?right' we are about commemorating the war dead. Polls have shifted to Yasukuni way of commemoration, but recent political leaders, except prime minister Koizumi, have tended to avoid paying a tribute to the shrine. The major reasons are (1) international accusations, particularly from China and Korea, to Japan's political leaders visiting the shrine that enshrines A-class war criminals in World War II, and (2) violation of the constitution on separation of religion and the state. Another controversy that brings up numbers of trials and protests is how Yasukuni has commemorated the war dead. These have largely been how Yasukuni drew attention from the general public, both domestically and internationally. Yet, views of millions of commoners who visit, pray, and work for Yasukuni have not been fully explored to holistically understand the meanings of Yasukuni shrine to the Japanese. This presentation aims to describe different cultural aspects of Yasukuni shrine and to analyze to what extent these views connect, and do not connect, to Yasukuni controversy.