http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/2415 Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869 by the Meiji Emperor to commerate those who died in the Boshin War. The shrine now houses the souls or 'kami' of Japan's war dead including 14 A-class war criminals from WW2 who were interned among the 2.5 million war dead in 1978. Visits to the shrine by Japanese Prime Ministers create tensions with Japan's Asian neighbors. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40189/3_kasa_small.jpg' /><br />Shrine workers leave the main shrine during a snow storm during preparations for New Years at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40189'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40189 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40189 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40189/3_kasa_small.jpg' /><br />Shrine workers leave the main shrine during a snow storm during preparations for New Years at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40189'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40198/front_gate_in_winter_small.jpg' /><br />An O¯-torii 'great gate' marks the entrance to Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo's Kudanshita district. In the Shinto religion 'torii' mark the start of scared places an entrance into the world of the divine. Passing under a torii is a means of purification along<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40198'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40198 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40198 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40198/front_gate_in_winter_small.jpg' /><br />An O¯-torii 'great gate' marks the entrance to Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo's Kudanshita district. In the Shinto religion 'torii' mark the start of scared places an entrance into the world of the divine. Passing under a torii is a means of purification along<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40198'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42052/vets_remember_small.jpg' /><br />Veterans.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42052'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42052 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42052 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42052/vets_remember_small.jpg' /><br />Veterans.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42052'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40201/releasing_doves002_small.jpg' /><br />People release white doves in hopes of peace at commerations for the end of WW2 at Yasukuni shrine August 15 2006.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40201'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40201 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40201 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40201/releasing_doves002_small.jpg' /><br />People release white doves in hopes of peace at commerations for the end of WW2 at Yasukuni shrine August 15 2006.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40201'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42043/Court_jester_003_small.jpg' /><br />Japanese comedian Minoru Torihada stands in front of a chrysanum seal during celebrations at the 50th anniversy of the end of WW2 on August 15 2005.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42043'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42043 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42043 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42043/Court_jester_003_small.jpg' /><br />Japanese comedian Minoru Torihada stands in front of a chrysanum seal during celebrations at the 50th anniversy of the end of WW2 on August 15 2005.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42043'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40195/Showa_day_soliders001_small.jpg' /><br />A man wearing a WW2 army uniform salutes at the main shrine on the newly renamed Showa day formerly Greenery day. The day 'commerates' the reign of the wartime Emperor Hirohito April 29 2007.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40195'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40195 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40195 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/40195/Showa_day_soliders001_small.jpg' /><br />A man wearing a WW2 army uniform salutes at the main shrine on the newly renamed Showa day formerly Greenery day. The day 'commerates' the reign of the wartime Emperor Hirohito April 29 2007.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/40195'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42055/Shrine_maiden_2_small.jpg' /><br />A shrine maiden passes in front of the main shrine buliding during preparations for the New Years celebrations 2005.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42055'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42055 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42055 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/42055/Shrine_maiden_2_small.jpg' /><br />A shrine maiden passes in front of the main shrine buliding during preparations for the New Years celebrations 2005.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/42055'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165972/catching-leaves004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165972'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165972 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165972 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165972/catching-leaves004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165972'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165975/closing-up-31_12_06_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165975'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165975 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165975 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165975/closing-up-31_12_06_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165975'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165978/jfd_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165978'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165978 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165978 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165978/jfd_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165978'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165981/carrying-omikoshi004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165981'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165981 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165981 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165981/carrying-omikoshi004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165981'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165984/boys-3nov0613_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165984'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165984 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:17 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165984 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165984/boys-3nov0613_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165984'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165990/old-women-praying-2002_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165990'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165990 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165990 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165990/old-women-praying-2002_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165990'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165993/omikoshi-crew-rest038_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165993'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165993 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:27 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165993 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165993/omikoshi-crew-rest038_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165993'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165999/lunchnov_3_0606_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165999'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165999 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:02:35 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165999 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/165999/lunchnov_3_0606_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/165999'>view full-size image</a> Bruce Meyer