The Yasukuni Enigma: Japan's War with History The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo is a complex symbol of Japan's relationship with its wartime past.
Established in 1869 to honor those who died in battle, the shrine has become a contentious issue for China and South Korea, which view it as a reminder of Japan's failure to atone for atrocities committed during World War II.
The recent visit by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to the shrine, which enshrines 2. 5 million people including Japanese war criminals, sparked widespread condemnation from Beijing and Seoul.