Yasukuni is a shrine to house the actual souls of the dead soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. The shrine is dedicated to give peace and rest to all those enshrined there. But things are a little more complex. The shrine is believed to hold the spirits of dead soldiers, and that with enshrinement come absolution of all sins. The problem is that Japanese war criminals were also enshrined at Yasakuni. The presence of these spirits has led to international controversy over whether Japanese politicians should pray at the shrine. It was the only place to which the Emperor of Japan bowed.