SNA (Tokyo) — Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in central Tokyo. It is the most controversial Shinto religious institution in Japan. It was founded in 1869 to honor those who died fighting for the Emperor in war. Kamikaze pilot would tell each other they would “meet at Yasukuni” before suicide missions. The seeds of controversy were sown in 1978 when fourteen Class A War Criminals were enshrined. Yasukuni became an international issue in 1985 when Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone visited. Conservative prime ministers have repeatedly antagonized Asian neighbors with fresh visits. These visits are seen by Japanese conservatives as a proper honor to those who died for the state. But they are seen by many Asians as a symbol of Japan’s lack of repentance for its war crimes. The stalemate over Yasukuni Shrine has endured for decades, poisoning relations in Asia. Japanese conservatives have shown very little desire to find a political solution.

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