- Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan founded by Emperor Meiji to commemorate individuals who had died in service of the Empire of Japan during wars from 1867–1951. This eligibility includes civilians in service and government officials.
- It is a shrine to house the actual souls of the dead as kami, or “spirits/souls”. This activity is strictly a religious matter due to the religious separation of State Shinto and the Japanese Government. The priesthood at the shrine has complete religious autonomy to decide to whom and how enshrinement may occur. It is thought that enshrinement is permanent and irreversible by the current clergy
- Due to the enshrinement of International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) war criminals and the nationalist approach to the war museum, the Yasukuni Shrine and the Japanese Government have been criticized by China, South Korea, and Taiwan as being revisionist and unapologetic about the events of World War II.
- It also includes a war museum, Yushukan, containing artifacts and documents concerning Japanese war casualties and military activity from the start of the Meiji Restoration to the end of World War II.