Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868â1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, 1894â1895 and 1937â1945 respectively, and the First Indochina War of 1946â1954. The shrine's purpose has been exâŠYasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868â1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, 1894â1895 and 1937â1945 respectively, and the First Indochina War of 1946â1954. The shrine's purpose has been expanded over the years to include those who died in the wars involving Japan spanning from the entire Meiji and TaishÅ periods, and the earlier part of the ShÅwa period.