On Septmeber 5th, the day after I arrived, some of the girls in our program had their orientation in Ichigaya (the left-most red circle). Our Japanese language classes are in the same area, so we all decided to tag along and explore a bit. Our dorm is the closest to Ichinoe station (right-most circle) and the ride from Ichinoe to Ichigaya is about 26 minutes. Add walking to and from each station, getting to class can take up to 40 minutes total. Luckily, my first class isn't until 9 am, so I don't have to get up too early! ^_^ And for those who are curious, my economics classes will be at Jimbocho station, which can be found in the center circle.
When we arrived, Aurora (from Ireland) and Susan (from Taiwan) went to the orientation, leaving Mina (from Germany), Diana (from England) and I to walk around. It was a good thing too because we ended up finding and walking around Yasukuni Shrine.
Yasukuni Shrine, originally known as Tokyo Shokonsha, was established in 1869 as a place to commemorate and honor all of those who gave their lives in the service of Japan since the Boshin War in 1869 and up to World War II. The Emperor Meiji visited the shrine in 1874 and promised all the lost souls that their names would forever live on in this shrine, as proved by the record of more than 2,466,000 names listed in the shrine. He changed the name in 1879 from Shokonsha Shrine - which roughly means "shrine to summon the souls"- to Yasukuni - which means "pacifying the nation" - in order to spread the ideal of preserving peace.
We entered through the South Gate, or Minami-mon 南門
There's a sign at the entrance to the shrine listing some basic rules of conduct. My favorite is #4. I feel like everything in Japan is run by this rule.
Above is Haiden (拝殿), or the main hall, seen through the Third Shrine Gate. Here worshipers come to say their prayers and pay their respects to the spirits residing in the are. Yaukuni Shrine is part of the Shinto religion, which is the most traditional Japanese religion. Worshiping the deceased is seen as a form of respect and is common across Japan.
Other than praying, there are various activities you can do at a shrine. One such activity is drawing a fortune, or omikuji. For 100 yen, you can choose a slip of paper that is suppose to determine your fortune as much as a fortune cookie or an astrology reading can. These fortunes can range from Great Blessings to Great Curses and every step in between. They also contain advice in areas like romance, money issues, illness, education, travel, or even business dealings. After drawing a fortune, it is believed that by tying it on a tree branch (or a substitute, as seen on the left) your fortune will either come true - if a blessing - or be taken away - if a curse.
You can also buy and write an Ema, which is a wooden plaque on which you write a wish or desire. After writing your wish, the ema is left hanging in the shrine so that the spirits can read and fulfill them. (Seen on the right) I really, really wanted to buy one but they were 300 yen and i couldn't really think of a wish to write down. Plus, I thought that my horizontal alphabetic letters would ruin the unity of the image. I think it looks so cool~
Buying an omamori, or protective amulet, is also a common practice. Many people buy them to ward off sickness, for good luck, or for success in entrance exams.
To the left is a letter written by Saburo Morimoto Mikoto, a major killed in action. The main tenets of the message are about how he feels like he has not fulfilled his duty to his country and how every person, regardless of age or sex, should strive to be devoted to their country. In the end, he even asks for forgiveness from his parents about his "sin of failing to repay [his] debt of gratitude." I am always impressed by the patriotism expressed by the Japanese and the sense of duty to one's parents. I know some may rebuke it as extreme nationalism, but I don't think there is anything wrong with identifying yourself with your country and wishing for its success.
Saw a priest and priestess in traditional clothing. I was bit slow in taking the picture...
Noh Theater where classical Japanese dramas are preformed for the resident spirits.
The Sacred Pond Garden. It is meant to allow for calm reflection and a feeling of serenity. Instead of feeling serene, I was completely committed to making sure I didn't slip on the stones while crossing the water. It would be just my luck to fall in -_-
The Yushukan Museum next to the shrine - considered part of the shrine grounds - hosts around 100,000 pieces. The collection comprises paintings, armor, and weapons, all of which are meant to display the devotion and sincerity of those who "dedicated their precious lives for their... motherland, hometowns and families."
Some souvenirs you can buy at the gift shop. They're so cute!!
Seeing this shrine made me really want to go and see some of the really big and famous shrines throughout Tokyo and Kyoto. I definitely want to go visit one on New Years when EVERYBODY goes and you can't even walk around. There's tons of booths set up and traditional New Years food. I can't wait!
All quotes and facts are taken from:
Yasukuni Shrine Office. Guide of Yasukuni Shrine. Chiyoda, Tokyo. 2014. Print.
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