Eirei (heroic spirits)

Eirei refers to the spirits of soldiers and others who died in service, honored within Japanese Shinto tradition as heroic or noble spirits deserving of remembrance and enshrinement, most notably at institutions such as Yasukuni Shrine. While popularly associated with valor, sacrifice, and by extension notions of victory or perseverance, these associations arise from cultural veneration rather than a defined religious portfolio over sports or competitive outcomes. Eirei are approached with solemn respect as the collective memory of those who gave their lives, rather than as deities invoked for specific practical favors.