Pope John Paul II and the Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine rethinking:
A Buddhist monk from Japan named Junna Nakata secured a
promise from Roman Catholic Pope Paul VI to say a Mass for the souls of the men
condemned as war criminals whose names are enshrined at the Yasukuni Shrine in
Tokyo, Japan. Pope Paul VI was unable to
keep his promise to his untimely death.
In 1980 Pope John Paul II kept Pope Paul VI’s word and held
that Mass at the Vatican. The Mass was
held by Pope John Paul II with Buddhist monk Junna Nakata in attendance.
Reason would then dictate those in South Korea and China who
continually bemoan and criticize when Japanese notables visit the Yasukuni
Shrine should do the same when the Pope and other notables visit Saint Peter’s Square,
Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican City.
Think that will happen? Of course
not because those critics are only interested in Japan bashing, not
consistency.
To the left of the Yasukuni Shrine are two smaller
shrines. One of which house the names of
some American soldiers. So should we
ignore the Yasukuni Shrine and grounds causing us to ignore fellow Americans
(if you are American)? In the USA,
Arlington National Cemetery the resting place for Union soldiers (the North)
from the American Civil War. In this
same cemetery is a monument to the Confederate soldiers (the South, those who
fought against those very Union soldiers interned in the same cemetery). Where are the complaints?
Across the river from Arlington National Cemetery is the
Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Inscribed on
this solemn wall are the names of those Americans who died during the Vietnam
War. According to the commies in
Vietnam, the current government of Vietnam, the Americans during that war
committed numerous atrocities and war crimes.
How come the commies in Vietnam have been silent about the Vietnam War
Memorial Wall in Washington, DC?
The Yasukuni Shinto shrine is dedicated to the soldiers and
others who died on behalf of Japan, registering near two and a half million
names enshrined. A visit to this shrine
by foreigners and notable Japanese brings with it scathing criticism from some
neighboring nations. Their complaint is
out of the two and a half million spirits honored at the Yasukuni Shrine;
around one thousand were convicted as war criminals by the International
Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE or known as Tokyo Trails or Tokyo War
Crimes Tribunal). Should be noted the
legitimacy of tribunal is in question by many.
Here is what is
interesting: During World War Two Japan
occupied around twenty-four nations and battled around twelve Allied
nations. Out of the twenty-four occupied
and twelve Allied nations, only two nations object to any official visitation to
the Yasukuni Shrine.
The commies in China object because they are commies and
that is what commies do, very simplistic.
South Korean constant moaning over this issue is interesting. South Korean and Japan share similar security
issues in reference to red-China and North Korea, yet the South Koreans allow
this issue to widen the distance between Tokyo and Seoul.
The two smaller shrines are named:
Motomiya 元宮
Chinreisha 鎮霊社
Articles in
reference to Pope John Paul and the special mass at the Vatican:
See Section 1 – History, in the “Post-war issues” area:
First paragraph:
See fourth paragraph and photographs below the paragraph:
Article in reference to China and South Korea upset over
Japanese citizen’s freedom of movement within Japan (Japanese politicians
visiting the Yasukuni Shrine):
Yasukuni Shrine English website:
Japan-guide information on the Yasukuni Shrine:
Yasukuni Shrine controversies:
Link to Texas Daddy store:
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