A shrine in Tokyo has come to symbolize a hardening, did-no-wrong narrative here about history, even though it contradicts the near-consensus of historians, including most in Japan. That sentiment was once held by only a nationalist fringe, but it is pushing closer to the mainstream. “Japanese people are way ahead of political leaders on this, and their common sense is strong,” said Jeff Kingston, a professor at Temple University Japan Campus. “They’ve so far resisted the siren’s song of patriotism their leaders try to stoke.”