In the heart of Tokyo, a stone’s throw from the Imperial Palace lies the Yasukuni Shrine – a memorial to all the soldiers Japan lost in the Second World War. Under the Shinto religion, the shrine is more than just a memorial for the dead. It’s where the souls themselves now reside – all 2,463,915 of them.
It’s a shrine that is steeped in as much controversy as it is in history, for these souls include 14 ‘Class-A War Criminals,’ as categorised by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (also known as the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal). A Class A criminal is one who has conducted a ‘Crime against Peace’ and the names listed include those who were primarily responsible for the decision of Japan to go to war against the Allies.
International Military Tribunal for the Far East Ichigaya Court (Formally Imperial Japanese Army HQ Building), Tokyo. Image: Public Domain
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