TOKYO // An explosion on Monday damaged a public restroom at a controversial shrine in Tokyo that honours Japanese war dead, with police suspecting foul play.
No one was injured.
The Yasukuni shrine, which honours 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including executed war criminals, has been the target of criticism from China and South Korea, which suffered from Japan’s Second World War atrocities and aggression.
Tokyo police, who received a call about an explosion and smoke at Yasukuni, said they suspected a “guerrilla” attack. It implied some kind of subversive activity, but they declined to elaborate.
Firefighters who were called to the scene found the ceiling and walls of the restroom had been damaged, said an official at the Tokyo fire department, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The fire was out by the time they arrived.
It was unclear what caused the explosion, but a timing device and wirings were found near the spot of the explosion, according to Kyodo news service. Police will be reviewing footage on security cameras for clues, local media said. Footage on TV Asahi showed a bomb squad in protective gear entering the shrine premises.
There was no immediate comment from Yasukuni.
The shrine is a focal point for lingering tensions with Japan’s neighbours over the country’s aggression before and during the Second World War. Some Japanese lawmakers have insisted on making official visits in the name of patriotism, while other lawmakers say such visits glorify Japan’s historical mistakes.
Emperor Akihito has not visited Yasukuni. Prime minister Shinzo Abe has also avoided making official visits over the last two years.
While views on the shrine have divided the Japanese public, it holds emotional significance for some because during the war soldiers promised each other they would reunite at Yasukuni if they died.
The shrine has a grandiose gate, giant cherry trees and a museum that pays homage to those who died in Japan’s wars, including kamikaze pilots.
Many families and tourists visit Yasukuni.
Monday was a national holiday, and shrine officials said the grounds remained open for the rest of the day.
* Associated Press
