Summer Trip to Japan: Yasukuni Shrine --- Dai Tō-A Sensō (The Great East Asia War) Ex

[J7W22007]

Hi All,

I would like to share the photos taken during a Summer trip to Japan at Yasukuni Jinjya, or Yasukuni Shrine (Westerners call it "War Shrine", but that' s not appropriate).

I didn't take any surrounding view around the Yasukuni Shrine. My main objective was to see the Mitsubishi Zero (Type 52) and some other military related materials.

When I finished looking at the Zero, I saw a special exhibition on Dai Tō-A Sensō Part. II (From Battle of Midway ~ Retrieving of Kiska). There were lots of amazing things to look at, and I was very excited and took quite a lot of detail photos. So dazed that I forgot to see the rest of the other stuff after the exhibition. O' well ~ that would give me an excuse to visit the shrine next time.

Here are the photos, and I will include the translations as well (Not all, but most). Enjoy!

Cheers!
Taka



Photo No. 001: Near the main entrance of the Yasukuni Museum 遊就館 Yuusyuu Kan. The Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero (Type 52) is visible.



Photo No. 002: Port side view of the Zero.



Photo No. 003: Rear view of the Zero

[J7W22007]

Photo No. 004: IJN Type 99 Machine Gun.

Of Note: The Imperial Japanese Navy classified their Machine guns up to <40mm, Machine Cannons from 40mm< on. The Imperial Japanese Army classified their Machine Cannon from 11mm on.



Photo No. 005: Close up of the Japanese character of the Type 99 Machine Gun.

九九式二十粍一號固定機銃二型改一　(Kyu Kyu-shiki Nijyuu Miri Ichi-gou Kotei Kijyuu Ni Gata Kai Ichi) - Type 99 20mm # 1 Fixed Machine Gun Type 2 Mod.1

Manufacturing Date: Showa 18 (1943) October

[J7W22007]

Photo No.006: Type 89 150mm Cannon

Type 89 15 cm Cannon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Photo No.007: Memorial Plate of the Type 89 Cannon



Photo No.008: Front view of the Type 89 Cannon



Photo No.009: Shrapnel damage of the body (1).



Photo No.010: Shrapnel damage of the body (2).



Photo No.011: Ammo loading entrance.



Photo No.012: Port rear view of the Type 89 Cannon

[RussellM]

Great pics Taka - a place I hope to visit one day!

Regards

Russ

[J7W22007]

Great pics Taka - a place I hope to visit one day!

Regards

Russ

Thank you, Russ-san.

Yeah, a really great place to visit.

Especially like us military buffs.

Cheers!
Taka

[J7W22007]

Now , to the Special Exhibition Room !!!



Photo No.013: Part 1. ミッドウエイ海戰 (Middowē Kaisen) - Battle of Midway (Entrance is from the right side of the photo)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway



Photo No.014: Portrait of Japanese Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi (山口 多聞).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamon_Yamaguchi



Photo No.015: Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi' s original Navy Dagger/ w Case.

[gunto]

Thanks for sharing. Love the last photo with the dirk.

I travel to Japan next year.

[J7W22007]

Thanks for sharing. Love the last photo with the dirk.

I travel to Japan next year.

Thank you, Gunto-san.

I will load more photos afterwards, it takes me a while to up load all the photos.

Regards,
Taka

[Nick Komiya]

Wow, they really cleaned up the place since my last visit more than 20 years ago. They used to show all the R-rated blood-soaked uniforms of senior officers, who comitted Seppuku, casting an univiting shadow of death over the place full of ghosts. It looks great now, but I get mixed feelings about how the place has now been PG rated.

[J7W22007]

Photo 016: A Kakejiku written by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, for paying tribute to Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi. It was written on Dec 8th 1942. (For me this is a hard one to translate in English)



Photo 017: A Tanto blade. (I didn't take the photo of the description plate, probably belonged to Vice Admiral Yamaguchi)



Photo No.018: A painting drawn by unknown artist showing the last moment of Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi. (Individual in the center)



Photo No.019: Description of the Painting. 戦争画写真 (Sensou E Shasin) - War Painting Photo. 「提督の最後」 (Teitoku No Saigou) - Admiral' s Final Moment.

[GHP]

Yamamoto Isoroku's waka:



海の子の雄々しく踏みて来にし道に
Umi no ko no ooshiku fumite ki ni shi michi ni
Child of the Sea, bravely you undertook this path I have been treading


君立ちつくしつ神上りましぬ
Kimi tachitsukush!tsu kami noborimashinu
You stood unwavering -- rising up to become a god*.

kami nobori -- is a poetic way of saying dying. In English we'd say something like "meeting your Maker".

-------

I've probably over-translated .... or under-translated. But this is the gist, I think.


--Guy

[J7W22007]

Thank you Guy-san for the translation.

It is too poetic for me that I can't understand.

Regards,
Taka

[J7W22007]

.

[J7W22007]

Photo No.020: Articles of Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi.



Photo No.021: A Kakejiku written by Admiral Nobumasa Suetsugu (末次信正)

日の丸運航　(Hinomaru Kou-un) - Hinomaru Shipping.

[reeder3]

Great photos, thanks for sharing!