Yasukuni
Jinja
(Yasukuni Shrine) |
 Located
in Ichigaya in downtown Tokyo near
the Imperial Palace.
Yasukuni
Shrine
The
Yasukuni shrine, originally known as the Tokyo Shokonsha, was
founded by Imperial command, in June 2, 1869 for the worship
of 'the divine spirits of those who sacrificed themselves for
their country'. During WWII, remains were interned here, and
kamikaze pilots would tell each other to 'meet at Yasukuni' after
they died.
Yasukuni
Museum
There is a museum with exhibits rooms that contains
relics from Japan's military conflicts and history until WWII.
Most of the displays are in Japanese only, with only large
placards in english. Regardless, it is worthwhile for visitors. |
1943
 Justin
Taylan 2003
|
Main
Exhibition Hall
This is the largest
room of the museum, that displays WWII aircraft, tanks, guns
and relics.
Model
C56 Locomotive No 31
 Built
in 1936 by Nippon Sharyo in Japan. During the war,
it was commandeered by the Army, and sent to the south. It
took part in the opening ceremony of the Thai-Burma Railroad,
over the tracks built by POW and slave labor. After the
war, it was used by Thai railroad until 1977 when it was retired
from service. Japanese veteran groups raised
funds to return the locomotive to Japan in 1979.
| Type
96 (1936) 150mm Howitzer Serial
Number 375 |
|
20mm Cannon Model 99
From a Type 21 Zero, with 60 round drum magazine. Donated
by John F. Dickson, a resident of Rabaul to Hino Motors in 1988. Donated
to the Yasukuni Jinja in April 1989 by Hino.
Great Exhibition Hall
This is the largest area
of the museum, that displays WWII aircraft, tanks, guns and relics.
| Kaiten
Type 4 Manned Torpedo |
|
|
On exhibit in the large Exhibition Hall.
This Kaiten hull was abandoned after the war, and it was
donated to the Yasikuni Shrine. |
|
| Type
93 Long Lance Torpedo |
|
| Japanese "Long Lance" torpedo, displayed
in front of the Kaiten. |
| Model
3 140mm Coastal Gun |
 Battleship
Mutsu secondary
gun,
sunk off Hashirajima Island. Recovered
in 1963, and donated to Yasukuni ion June 8, 1981 by
relatives
of
those lost on the Mutsu. |
|
| Shell
& Canister From Model 4 (1915) 150mm Howitzer |
 These items belonged to the Kuroki
Battalion, 9th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment which was
annialated in the battle of Saipan. Discovered
on Saipan after the war with a canister still loaded in the 150mm
gun when found. Recovered Japan, it became deformed from being lowered into
the sea to remove the gun power.
|
|
| Type
88 (1928) 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun |
 Recovered
from Boram Airstrip. In January
1971 during a war dead collection mission to New Guinea,
the gun
was
recovered during a 'Memorial Society for the victims of all
wars', and donated to Yasukuni Shrine in August 1972 |
|
| 76.2mm
Artillery Gun |
 Recovered
from Salamaua in 1969 and donated to Yasikuni
Shrine in 1971. |
|
| Model
41 (1908) 37mm Mountain Gun |
 This
gun was used in eastern New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) by Utsunomiya's 14th
Regiment field artillery. |
|
| Type
4 200mm Rocket |
 Rocket battery attached to the Ogasawara Corps / Commander
Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi on Iwo Jima. This
battery fired upon US Marines landing February 19, 1942
inflicting heavy casualties
on them. After expending all their rockets, they
fought with captured weapons to the last man. Though
inferior to howitzers or guns in terms of accuracy or
range, it was easy to carry, and the rocket powered by
solid fuel. Abandoned on Iwo Jima, it was recovered and
donated to Yasukuni on August 15, 2003. |
|
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