While Yasukuni Shrine exists, historical distortion will continue.” Japanese youths embark on a journey to “correct history”

Young Japanese activists expressed their concern over the skewed historical representation at Yasukuni Shrine's war history museum, Usukankan, in an interview with Korea's Chosun Ilbo. During their visit last month, they noticed the absence of any mention of colonial rule in the Korean Peninsula or Taiwan. According to the activist, Hana Ko Zaba, Usukankan only presents a favorable narrative about Japan, lacking factual historical information.

The museum's display of the Korean independence status during the Japanese occupation is presented as if the country had gained independence, unlike the other countries listed on the exhibition board. Furthermore, the museum displays the Nanjing Massacre, in which over a million people were killed during the Second Sino-Japanese War, under the pretext that Chinese civilians were caught in the crossfire.

The museum also showcases items like the "Gesena" rope used for tying the heads of civilians, and the "Giseon" suicide dive bomber and "Gaiten" human-guided torpedo, which are labeled as expressions of patriotism. A young visitor remarked in awe about the size of the war planes and trains on display. Another Japanese activist, Dashi Rei, suggested that the museum creates a theme park-like atmosphere with its oversized exhibits, drawing visitors into fabricated narratives.

Yasukuni Shrine, often referred to as a "war shrine," is visited by numerous Japanese politicians every year. The shrine houses the remains of 14 A-class war criminals, along with 2.46 million and 6,000 war dead from internal conflicts and invasions during the Japanese occupation. Despite this, the remains of 20,000 Koreans who died during the Japanese colonial period are also enshrined, regardless of their own wishes or those of their families.

A representative from the Cessation of Worship at Yasukuni Shrine execution committee criticized the enduring historical misrepresentation. Recently, there has been a call for the remains of kamikaze pilots to be enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine as well. Professor Datsuya Takahashi of the University of Tokyo criticized the attempt to secularize Yasukuni Shrine, arguing that it violates the principle of separating religion from state institutions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly decided to postpone the visit to Yasukuni Shrine on the first commemoration of the end of the war. Japanese news outlets attributed this decision to considerations of South Korea and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in China.