The thing about The Visit

Once again, Mr Koizumi, PM of Japan, has decided to pray at a Shinto Shrine, the shrine in question, is the Yasukuni Shrine.

So what's the fuse you say? Asia leaders, most notably China and South Korea, are in protest over the Japanese PM's decision to once again pray at the shrine despite protests arising from previous visits, polls have shown that about 51% of Japanese are in support of the visits..

So why the objections?


The Yasukuni Shrine, is a shinto shrine that is located in Tokyo, Japan. This shrine is dedicated to the spirits of soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Japanese Emperor.

When was the last time Japan fought a major war then? Hmm.. Yup, thats THE ONE. World War II.. where millions die and many more suffered.

Let us now go into how this shrine works. Names of the dead are enshrined into the shrine. According to Shinto Beliefs, this process provides a permanent residence for the souls of the dead. This would then include 1,068 names of those convicted for war crimes..

The musuem in the shrine also provides a revisionist interpretation of the WWII.

Which such a lethal combination of reasons for the existance of the shrine, it is little wonder why countries who have suffered during WWII are calling for an end to the visits to "honour" the dead there..

for the other point of view, people who have dead in their service to the Emperor of Japan then deserves to be honoured, for they died while in duty and for a "noble and just" cause..






Who's to judge?