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.
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
89 (1929) 150mm Howitzer Serial
Number 137
Type
96 (1936) 150mm Howitzer Serial
Number 375
A6M5
Zero Model 52 Manufacture
Number 4240 Tail No 81-161
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.
D4Y1 Manufacture
Number 4316 Tail Number "Taka"-13
Recovered from Colonia Airfield, donated to the museum in 1988 and static restored
Yokosuka
MXY7 Ohka Model
11 (Replica)
Replica displayed hanging in the museum
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
Type
97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Recovered from Saipan and donated to the museum in 1975, and displayed today
Type
3 140mm Gun
Recovered in 1963 from Battleship
Mutsu sunk off Hashirajima Island. 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
annihilated 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
