87 parliamentarians visit Yasukuni Shrine in biannual event

Wednesday 22nd April, 11:51 AM JST

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dreamdrifter at 11:24 PM JST - 22nd April

Japan will never win the war that it lost due to the stupidity of its leaders, including HIrohito. That's the truth; and all the chanting, burnt incense, praying and lying cannot change it.

True, but it can remember the war dead, which is a completely separate issue to whether it won or not.
dpurcell84 at 11:25 PM JST - 22nd April

Ah once again the Yasukuni shrine debate! Where every one throws down there best arguments, for or against, which inevitably never changes anyone's opinion. Why do we even bother? well see you all next time they visit the place.
knews at 11:56 PM JST - 22nd April

I agree it's totally up to anyone in Japan if he or she wants to visit Yasukuni Shrine for whatever reason. That's part of the definition of a "free" country and a democracy, isn't it? Also, quite a few on this thread are talking about the dreaded "Class A War Criminals" but who decided that these so-called "Class A War Criminals" were actually guilty? The victors of course. I recommend you all read the book "The Tokyo Trial and Beyond" which is a series of interviews with B.V.A.Roling by Antonio Cassese. Roling was Dutch and one of the 11 international judges. The whole trial was basically a farce with and the outcome apparently predetermined. Quite a fascinating read.
elbudamexicano at 04:08 AM JST - 23rd April

How can anyone trust a "state religion" as Shinto used to be during the war? I for one will never ever trust Shintoism nor ever approve of these visits to this Shinto Shrine. Never!
rogerbentham at 05:07 AM JST - 23rd April

all right, it's time to shrine! get it?
rogerbentham at 05:10 AM JST - 23rd April

those guys in the front of the picture, they look kind of chinese/korean, and the priest in white robes, if i'm not mistaken, his hat looks sort of like one of those traditional korean hats.
Scrote at 09:42 AM JST - 23rd April

There are no spirits or souls of the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni, criminals or otherwise, for the simple fact that "spirits" and "souls" do not exist: they are a figment of the imagination.

Despite all the fancy dress and ceremony, the whole business is nothing more than a money-making enterprise designed to rip off and control the gullible. As we can see from the picture, many old fool politicians have also been taken in by the whole charade.

We need a secular memorial to the war dead, one that demonstrates the folly of war and the dangers of blindly accepting the lies of politicians. At such a memorial politicians should hang their heads in shame, as representitives of the class of people primarily responsible for starting wars.
nigelboy at 09:44 AM JST - 23rd April

Dear Scrote:

If you don't believe in it, why does it bother you?
ultradodgy at 10:14 AM JST - 23rd April

Yo JT - biannual or semi-annually?

Yeah, I get confused myself.
ninjohitokiri at 02:31 PM JST - 23rd April

JoeBigs is right in saying that Japanese can do whatever they like in their country. i hate it when other countries condemn these visits. i'm Filipino and i love Japan. Only Japanese can criticize these visits. Not other countries.
ninjohitokiri at 02:33 PM JST - 23rd April

all of you who rant against yasukuni are crybabies?
shiuu at 03:54 PM JST - 23rd April

The more I think about this, the more I can't decide who is dumber:

Politicians who think it's so important to pray to a bunch of dead bones

Or

The people who get so upset about politicians who think it's so important to pray to a bunch of dead bones
Scrote at 08:31 AM JST - 24th April

nigelboy: It bothers me because the Shinto religion has been used in the past to glorify death. It's quite similar to the way some of our Islamic friends suggest that those who carry out suicide bombings will find themselves in heaven with a number of virgins. They won't. It's all lies, and when such lies are used to control people, to encourage them to commit atrocities in the name of the emporer, or to attain some kind of "spiritual peace", that's when it bothers me.

Let's have a secular memorial. Let's remember what happened in the past and refuse to let it happen again. Stand up to the politicians and those who seek to control you.
nigelboy at 10:45 PM JST - 24th April

It bothers me because the Shinto religion has been used in the past to glorify death

War--->death--->glory. Religion has very little to do with it, IMO. There were kamikaze pilots who were not of Shinto faith nor Emperor worship. Some were well educated college graduates who had second thoughts about Japanese involvement in the war. Some just believed that Japan had already lost the war but if his action can cause enough damage to the enemies that eventually both sides would come to a peace agreement a lot sooner. Some were just simply "willing to die" for their country.
Kwaabish at 09:32 AM JST - 27th April

It bothers me because the Shinto religion has been used in the past to glorify death

As if there hasn't been wars or deaths for other religions? Crusades anyone? The Inquisition (what a show...), the Inquisition (here we go)...