JAPAN: 130,967 Gods

Atop Kudan Hill, in the heart of Tokyo stands the famed Yasukuni shrine. There last week 3,000 Japanese stood in solem silence as lanterns were dimmed an Shinto priests, carrying a small ark, wound their way behind a military band through the courtyard to the main Temple.

Two hours later, when due rites ha been observed, Japanese had 1,148 more gods to worship, the spirits of those who died last year fighting in Manchukuo. This new battalion brought the total ( Japan’s deified warriors up to 130,967.