Last Wednesday Their Imperial Highnesses Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko of Mikasa visited the historic Yasukuni Shrine on the occasion of the Spring Grand Ritual of the Shrine, paying their respects to the honored war dead of Japan from throughout the modern era. Despite what is often published in the media, Yasukuni Shrine is not about honoring "war criminals". It was built in the Meiji era to house the spirits of all those who have given their lives for the Emperor and the country of Japan. Many non-Japanese are enshrined at Yasukuni and it includes those who died in the Satsuma Rebellion, the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War, the China Incident and the Pacific War. Nearly two and half million names, including men, women and children are enshrined there. It only became controversial in 1978 when the names of 14 men executed for war crimes were enshrined there, without prior consultation with the Emperor. This caused undue upset in some quarters and after that time HM the Showa Emperor stopped visiting the Shrine and the current Emperor has, likewise, never done so. It has become more controversial since then as foreign countries, particularly China and South Korea, issue public protests any time that anyone of any significance or notoriety visits the Shrine simply to pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate price in defending their country and way of life. For the princesses to visit should be seen as nothing more than an admirable act of piety.
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