Yasukuni Shrine

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Yasukuni Shrine Festival

***** Location: Tokyo, Japan
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Yasukuni matsuri 靖国祭 (やすくにまつり)
Yasukuni shrine festival
Shookonsai 招魂祭（しょうこんさい）
Shokonsai, "soul summoning rite", "spirit inviting rite"

April 21 till 23
Shunki Reitaisai (Annual Spring Festival)

Purification ritual in the afternoon of 21.
Official prayers for the Dead on 22.


Yasukuni Shrine 靖国神社 Yasukuni Jinja
is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan.
Currently, its Symbolic Registry of Divinities lists the names of over 2,466,000 enshrined men and women whose lives were dedicated to the service of Imperial Japan, particularly to those killed in wartime. It also houses one of the few Japanese war museums dedicated to World War II. There are also commemorative statues to mothers and animals who sacrificed in the war.
The shrine has attracted controversy for enshrining a number of war criminals from the Second World War.


Yasukuni is a shrine to house the actual souls of the dead as kami, or "spirits/souls" as loosely defined in English. It is believed that all negative or evil acts committed are absolved when enshrinement occurs. This activity is strictly a religious matter since the separation of State Shinto and the Japanese government in 1945.

The priesthood at the shrine has complete religious autonomy to decide to whom and how enshrinement may occur. They believe that enshrinement is permanent and irreversible. According to Shinto beliefs, by enshrining kami, Yasukuni Shrine provides a permanent residence for the spirits of those who have fought on behalf of the Emperor.
Yasukuni has all enshrined kami occupying the same single seat. The shrine is dedicated to give peace and rest to all those enshrined there.
It was the only place to which the Emperor of Japan bowed.

Enshrinement of war criminals
One of the controversies arises out of the enshrinement of World War II war criminals. In 1959, the kami of 1,068 Class-B and -C war criminals who had been executed after being sentenced to death by the military tribunals of the Allied Forces were enshrined at Yasukuni.


Annual celebrations
January 1: Shinnensai (New Year's Festival)

February 11: Kenkoku Kinensai (National Foundation Day)
Anniversary of the day on which Japan's first Emperor, Emperor Jimmu, is said to have founded the Japanese nation.

February 17: Kinensai (Spring Festival for Harvest)

April 21–23: Shunki Reitaisai　春季例大祭
(Annual Spring Festival)

April 29: Showasai (Showa Festival)—Emperor Showa's birthday

June 29: Gosoritsu Kinenbisai (Founding Day)
Commemoration of the founding of Yasukuni Jinja

July 13–16: Mitama Matsuri—
A mid-summer celebration of the spirits of the ancestors. The entry walk is decorated with 40 foot high walls of 29000 or more lanterns, and thousands of visitors come to pay respects to their lost relatives and friends.

October 17–20: Shuki Reitaisai (Annual Autumn Festival)

November 3: Meijisai (Emperor Meiji's Birthday)

November 23: Niinamesai (Festival of First Fruits)

December 23: Tenno gotanshin Hoshukusai
(Birthday of the Current Emperor)

The first, 11th and 21st day of each month: Tukinamisai

Every day:
Asa Mikesai, Yu Mikesai, Eitai Kagurasai (perpetual Kagura festivals)

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Amulet from Yasukuni Shrine

. . . CLICK here for more Amulets !


Homepage of Yasukuni Shrine
source : www.yasukuni.or.jp



Oonusa 大麻 (おおぬさ) Onusa Amulet


source : Yasukuni Amulets


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

a car named : Daruma Serika ダルマ・セリカ



A car race starting from Yasukuni shrine
靖国神社をスタート
finish at Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto
京都は上賀茂神社

source : minkara.carview.co.jp


. . . CLICK here for "Daruma Serika" Photos !


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HAIKU

靖国祭喜寿の報告父にせり
Yasukuni sai kiju no hookoku chichi ni seri

Yasukuni shrine festival -
I report to my father
I am now seventy-seven

Saito Mamoru 佐藤守



kiju 喜寿 is a special birthday in Japan.
Special Birthdays in Japan


kanreki 還暦 60th birthday
. The Circle of 60 Years .


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Related words

***** . Kenkoku kinenbi 建国記念日 (けんこくきねんび)
National Foundation Day of Japan .


***** . OBSERVANCES – SPRING SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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