December 31, 2002

  • January 1, 2003 - Yasukuni Shrine

    Activities for New Year's Day included sleeping in (Will spare one and all pictures of that!) and a walk in Yasukuni Shrine.  I really wanted to photograph the crowds at Meiji Shrine, but hubby will not face THOSE crowds.  Last year when we went he abandoned me and headed for home!  Yasukuni Shrine is a bit more manageable.

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    Yasukuni Shrine also had a giant ema on display.  People bring the emas that they bought last year back for disposal in a garbage tent, and I liberated one of these horse emas to bring home as a souvenir (eternal garbage picker).

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    Anyway, you can see the throng waiting for the crowd control police to direct them into the main shrine.  The little white sign says "Please Wait to Enter."  Once they get in and pay homage they can go to one of the many refreshment booths on both sides of the path out for a snack of grilled eel, buttery potatoes, chocolate covered bananas (had one), crepes, and a host of other goodies.

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    Yasukuni Shrine, dedicated to Japan's war dead, is also home to many doves.  Pretty as they are, I do hold a bit of a grudge against them for dropping a pie on me once during the year of the cow.

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    Also in attendance was a "lion" and his "trainer."  The lion was going around biting people on the head for good luck in the coming year, I suppose

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    .  The trainer's money basket gave me the impression, however, that the motives were not entirely philanthropic.  Sorry all of the pictures are not in focus here, as I was attempting to photograph donation free on the run.

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    Time to go home, a short zip on the Tozai Subway Line!

    (January 1, 2003)

Comments (2)

  • Thanks for re post. My Japanese husband is preeminantly conservative (US style) and says he really feels the whole controversy is mis understood. I mean, he says they visit the graves NOT saying that they are great, of course SOME may, but rather to pray for their souls in the next life. SO if this is true, ESPECIALLY those with war crimes would need the prayer. YEt, hell continues and victims demand revenge.

    Oh, that we can shine the love Christ gave us....so we can all bring peace, in our hearts, then our homes.....then the world will be NO problems!

  • I suppose that I would qualify as conservative, too.  Yes, the Yasukuni Shrine issue...  These men did give their lives for their country and most of them deserve some kind of honor and respect.  The families also need something, too, perhaps.  History is unfortunately written by the victors.

    Where is your husband from in Japan?  How did you meet him?  Mine was an exchange student to my US high school.  Been in Japan since 1975.  I am a permanent resident, but still have US citizenship.

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