Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine

Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is a Gokoku Shrine or a shrine for people who died in wars. There are more than 34,000 people who died in wars from the prefecture. These people are honored in the shrine. The wars are the Boshin War, the Satsuma Rebellion, the first Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War II. It is a Beppyo shrine which means a highly ranked shrine. Gokoku shrines were made to honor people who died in wars. They are led by Yasukuni Shrine. They used to be called Shokonsha but the name was changed in 1939. History In the year 1869 a memorial was made in Ryutani Temple for dead soldiers. 26 people died in the Boshin War from the city and they were honored in the temple. In 1875 (Meiji 8), the government said it should be made into a shrine. Ii Naonori, the lord of Hikone moved it to the current place. In 1939, it was renamed 'Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine' by the Minister of Home Affairs . After World War II it was renamed to Sasanami Shrine. It was listed as a Beppyo shrine. In October 1953, after the occupation ended, the name was changed back. Related pages Hero shrine Gokoku Shrines Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Arlington National Cemetery Valhalla (home to the souls of fallen warriors in Scandinavian mythology) References Other websites Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine