Suspected Bomb Explodes At Tokyo’s Controversial War Shrine
An explosion was heard coming from a public restroom at Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni shrine Monday morning. No one was reported injured.
At approximately 10 a.m. Tokyo police received a call about a loud bang and smoke coming from Yasukuni, a shrine for Japanese war dead. Police on the scene found evidence of an explosion in the men’s public restroom near the south gate of the shrine, reporting that the ceiling and walls were damaged and burned, though the fire was out by the time the firefighters arrived. There was also a 30-centimeter (12-inch) hole in the ceiling.
A bomb squad was called in to deal with suspicious devices found, including a timing device, a battery case, wiring and other remnants. Dog handlers also patrolled the area. The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, though an explosive device is suspected, as reported by the Japan Times.
“It was unclear what caused the explosion, but a timing device and wiring were found near the site, according to Kyodo News service. Police will be reviewing footage on security cameras for clues, TBS TV news said. Footage on TV Asahi showed a bomb squad in protective gear entering the shrine premises.”
According to an official from Yasukuni, the shrine did not receive any threat prior to the explosion. The police have declined to comment, as the matter is still under investigation. The person in charge of media at the shrine was not available for comment.
Because of the national holiday Labour Thanksgiving Day, many more families and tourists than usual were at the shrine to celebrate the Niinamesai Festival of First Fruits. The Shinto festival started on time in spite of the blast, though an annual event called the Shichi-Go-San ceremony, which celebrates the blessings bestowed on children of three, five, and seven years of age, had to be canceled for their safety. Despite this, the shrine’s grounds remained open for the rest of the day.
The Yasukuni shrine has long been the subject of controversy. The memorial honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including military officers and political figures executed for war crimes. The shrine has caused friction in Japan’s relations with neighboring Asian countries, particularly China and South Korea, both of which suffered from Japan’s aggression and brutal colonialism before and during World War II. Yasukuni contains over 1,000 war criminals, including 14 “Class A” war criminals who committed atrocities. Critics argue that the shrine glorifies Japan’s militarist past.
The visits of Japanese officials and lawmakers to the shrine continue to evoke protest. Several members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including current Prime Minister Shinz? Abe, have visited the shrine on several occasions, most notably during his term of office in December 2013. Emperor Hirohito refused to visit the shrine from 1978 onwards. His son Emperor Akihito has not visited Yasukuni.
These events come at a time of increased tensions in the wake of the deadly terrorist attacks on Paris. Though a politically motivated attack on the shrine is not proven, the memorial is a focal point for lingering historical tensions and sharply divided views both inside and outside Japan. Investigators were quoted as saying they suspect foul play as a possibility.
They [Tokyo police] said they suspected a “guerrilla” attack, implying some kind of subversive activity, but declined to elaborate.
It would not be the first time Yasukuni shrine has been the target of attack – on December 26, 2011, a 37-year-old Chinese man named Liu Qiang was accused of attempting to burn down the main wooden gate of the shrine. Earlier that month he had been arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
[Photos by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images]
