Many Hokkaido Citizens Also Died !

by Kazu

Other than the Imperial Palace, there is no such extensive premises in the central area of Tokyo, I think. The parliamentarians may have to visit and pray there for the souls of the deceased in the Wars, I thought. 

Some of the parliamentarians may have to be ashamed in front of the sacred house of the shrine. This is the entrance for the official worship and purifying in the sacred house of the shrine.

I was a little bit surprised to see the monument for the Imperial Military Police in the shrine. It said the MPs devoted themselves to keep the place the Imperial Army explored safe and well-secured.

 

Everybody took photos of the tree !

by Kazu

The parasite plant on the cherry tree on the premises of Yasukuni Shrine looked as if it was blooming yellow flowers before cherry blossoms. The cherry trees seemed to have been well-trimmed and maintained but the emitting from the birds and their result remained. 

A stage for Japanese traditional "Nou" performance was also built on the premises of the shrine. In order to ease the pain of the souls of the deceased, a variety of artistic performance have been conducted there.  

Behind this the outside sacred house of the shrine is for the ordinary visitors to pray for the deceased. Behind this building, the genuine sacred house for the official purifying and praying stood in the calmness and solemn atmosphere. 

 

The Official Observation of Blooming Cherry Blossoms !

by Kazu

I applied for the official worship at Yasukuni Shrine for the first time. Many people including tourists visited there on that day. Some people were taking photos of this cherry tree with blooming blossoms.The cherry tree is designated as the official criterion of the cherry blossoms blooming. 

 It was not full-flourished in total but some blossoms were showing their peak of the beauty colored pink. The black trunk of the tree might make good contrast with pink blossoms and blue sky.  

A parasite tree appeared on the trunk of a cherry tree. Apparently, the pale green leaves were different from the ones of cherry trees. Even much donation may not be able to keep the shrine beautiful without the respect and sympathy with the deceased and the people who keep the shrine, I think.   

 

The Official Worship in the Sacred House !

by Kazu

The second gate of Yasukuni Shrine seemed to be smaller than the first one. I was wondering if the souls of the imperial soldiers who passed away in World War Ⅱ and other military operation, could come back to this shrine from overseas.

Needless to say, the citizens of Hokkaido in that era had to go to the battle field overseas to protect Japanese people and land from the greedy people. For the Imperial soldiers, the words of " Meet again in Yasukuni!" must have been encouraging and playing a roll to reduce the threat to die. 

The words was  as if anesthetics for the soldiers to fight against the huge enemies. Many people including the descendant of the deceased donate to keep this shrine well-maintained and the place of the peace for the souls of the imperial soldiers. 

 

For the deceased from Hokkaido and other area!

by Kazu

I've never expected Mr. Masujiro Ohmura who proposed the establishment of the “Shokonsha,” the predecessor of Yasukuni Shrine, in order to console the souls of those who died in the Boshin War.

Those who died in the Boshin War did not perish for their respective domains or feudal lords, as had been the case before, but for a new nation that was in the process of being born. For this emerging nation to be regarded as a public entity, it was necessary to define the war dead of the Boshin War as having made a “public sacrifice.” The creation of Shokonsha, the forerunner of Yasukuni Shrine, arose from this context. In that sense, Shokonsha can be seen as a starting point of Japan as a modern state.

As mentioned at the beginning, Omura Masujiro was originally a “village doctor,” in other words, a farmer by birth. As noted above, Shokonsha represented not only a rejection of the feudal domain system but also the starting point of Japan’s transformation into a modern nation-state. It may well be that such a vision could be realized precisely because Omura, unlike the samurai, came from a farming background.

 

Yasukuni Shrine and Hokkaido !

by Kazu

We visited "Yasukuni Shrine" for the first time in our lives to conduct an official worship in the main sacred house of the shrine. The deceased in the wars including World War Ⅱ are worshiped in the shrine.

Many cherry trees on the premises of the shrine were flourished and wearing pink blossoms on their branches.Against the backdrop of the pale blue sky, pink cherry blossoms were shining with the sunlight in the morning.

I had not avoided to visit there but as a result, it was my first visit in my 59 years.the gate was huge. Most of the deceased in the wars said "Meet again at Yasukuni !" It might reduced the threat of the imperial soldiers in the wars. What a cruel, kind and fascinating words they were, in that era.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Difference of jogging in Tokyo and Hokkaido !

by Kazu

I found the Sword Museum near Ryogoku Bridge in Tokyo. Even in Hokkaido, many swords are displayed in the museum but I saw the museum only for Japanese traditional swords for the first time. 

Of course, it was closed early in the morning but I would visit there again when it is in service. The wind blowing over the river was so comfortable and inspiring. I would like to stay there for a week every year to explore and stroll around the river. 

As it must be so hot and humid in Tokyo during summer, I prefer the season from end of autumn through spring. Some cruising boats called "Yakatabune" were having a rest in the small creek. My wife booked the seats in the cruise boat the next day.