Why is Yasukuni the most controversial religious center in Japan?  Yasukuni Shrine is the most controversial shrine in Japan and it stands as a symbol for Japan’s Empire building during the 20th century. After the Empire of Japan was defeated in 1945 it no longer had the ability to maintain a successful propaganda campaign to support this institution.  If Japan had not lost the war, Yasukuni would be one of Japan’s most celebrated and hallowed sites. It represents the hopes

Japan has had many emperors, some more significant than others but there are a lot of them.

The position of Tenno seems to be respected on a rhetorical level but ignored in terms of actual power throughout the archipelago.