Chinreisha, Memorial shrine in Kudankita, Japan
Chinreisha is a setsumatsusha, a subsidiary shrine, located on the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine in the Kudankita district of Tokyo, with two separate sections dedicated to different enshrined spirits. It stands to the south of the main Yasukuni building, within the same walled complex.
The shrine was founded in 1965 by Fujimaro Tsukuba to honor those who died in conflicts going back to 1853, both Japanese and from other nations. It was closed for roughly three decades before reopening to visitors in 2006.
Every year on July 13, a memorial ceremony is held here following Shinto rites, honoring people from different nations who died in war. Visitors can attend and witness a form of remembrance that is rarely seen at Japanese war memorials.
The site sits within the Yasukuni Shrine grounds and is easy to reach on foot from the main complex entrance. As with any religious site, visitors should dress modestly and keep a quiet, respectful manner throughout.
Unlike most Japanese war memorials, this shrine honors soldiers who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army, not only those who served under it. It is one of the very few places in Japan where former enemies are commemorated through Shinto ritual.
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