Japanese cemeteries and cenotaphs

Many Japanese cemeteries (日本人墓地, Nihonjin bochi) and cenotaphs are located outside of Japan for Japanese people who have died in war or other historical events. This article lists tombs and burial places.

History

The oldest known Japantown featuring a Japanese cemetery is in Ayutthaya, Thailand, which was established between the 14th and 18th centuries. The oldest known Japanese national recorded by name and buried outside Japan is the early explorer Yamada Nagamasa.

Wars, particularly World War II, have accounted for a majority of the Japanese burial sites located outside of Japan. There is a cemetery for the Imperial Japanese Navy in Malta, multiple cites for Japanese prisoners of war in Siberia, and many Pacific War sites, which include Japanese cemeteries, cenotaphs, and remains in the Nanpō Islands, the Philippines, New Guinea, and other Pacific Islands. There have been multiple efforts by veteran organizations and the Japanese government to return remains to living relatives.

Monuments to victims of the United States' internment of citizens of Japanese ancestry are prevalent in the western US.

Location and names of cemeteries, cenotaphs, and tombs

Asia

Afghanistan

Bhutan

Cambodia

China

India

  • Imphal: Cenotaph for Japanese war casualties in the Battle of Imphal (Japanese: インパール作戦戦没者勇士の碑, Hepburn: Inpaaru sakusen senbotsusha yuushi no hi))
  • Worli, Mumbai: Mumbai Japanese cemetery; 3000 Japanese lived in the Mumbai area to procure cotton in the early Shōwa period. Most of the remains and property of the deceased were brought back to Japan, and the remains of only 30 people remain in Mumbai as of 2008.

Indonesia

Kazakhstan

Laos

  • Vientiane Province, Nam Ngum Dam: The grave site of several Japanese engineers surveying possible dam locations who died in December 1960 when their boat overturned. The burial site is in close proximity to the dam.[6]

Peninsular Malaysia

East Malaysia

  • Kota Kinabalu Japanese cemetery[7]
  • Kuching Japanese cemetery[7]
  • Labuan, Borneo, Labuan Peace Park: Monument for war casualties in the Borneo war (ボルネオ戦没者の碑, Boruneo senbotsusha no hi) for the 12,000 men who died during the war in Borneo and the surrounding ocean area. Constructed by the Japanese government and with the cooperation of government of Malaysia and the government of Sabah in September 1982.[7][8]
  • Miri Japanese cemetery (in Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang College)[7]
  • Sandakan Japanese cemetery[7]
  • Tawau Japanese cemetery[7]

Mongolia

To resolve the lack of labor, the Mongolian government requested to transfer Japanese prisoners of war in the Soviet Union in October and December 1945, and approximately 12,318 Japanese prisoners were forced to work, from which more than 1,600 have died.[9] There are 16 Japanese cemeteries including those listed below.

Myanmar

  • Yangon Japanese cemetery: For Karayuki-san and Pacific War casualties. Monument of Peace, Burma (ビルマ平和記念碑, Biruma heiwa kinen hi), memorial to the approximately 190,000 Japanese who died in war and prayed for peace. It was constructed by the Japanese government in March 1981 before being moved and expanded in size by the Myanmar government in March 1998.)

Nepal

North Korea

Cemetery and burial place of Japanese who lived in the South Korea area before and after World War II. There are 71 cemeteries and burial places in North Korea.[11]

  • Suburb of Pyongyang: Yongsan cemetery (龍山墓地); 2,421 people evacuated to Pyongyang after the end of World War II, August 15, 1945, and died in the period of October 1945 to April 1946 due to cold temperature, stagnant and/or illness.[12]
  • Hamhung: Cemetery and burial place.

Philippines

One of the bloodiest battlefields of the Pacific War; there are many cenotaphs.[13]

  • Luzon: Approximately 270 cenotaphs in various locations. KalayaanCenotaph of those who died in the Philippine war (比島戦没者の碑, fuiripin senbutsusha no hi), commemorate approximate 500,000 Japanese war dead in Battle of Luzon. Constructed by Japanese government in March 1973.[14]
  • Visayas: Approximately 110 cenotaphs in various locations; Japanese casualties of Battle of the Visayas.
  • Mindanao: Approximately 20 cenotaphs in various locations; Japanese casualties of Battle of Mindanao.
  • Leyte: Cenotaph in Tacloban, Ormoc and various locations. approximately 80,000 Japanese killed in action out of 520,000 casualties in Battle of Leyte. Guanyin, Madonna Maria (マドンナマリア観音, Madonna Maria Kanon), a peace commemoration statue between Asia, including Philippines, and Japan in the Kanfuraw Hill where Tacloban City hall is. There is Isao Yamazoe (山添 勇夫) Shrine in Dulag Airfield.
  • Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Samar: Cenotaph in Dumpao Beach.

Russia (Asia region)

Singapore

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Thailand

Uzbekistan

There are thirteen Japanese cemeteries in Uzbekistan.[24][25]

Vietnam

  • Hội An: Hội An Japanese cemetery memorializing 30 years after the Sakoku and the Japanese started foreign trade by the red seal ships. As a result, Japanese residents of Vietnam could not return to Japan and died there.

Africa

Madagascar

  • Two cenotaphs of four Japanese Imperial Japanese Navy killed in Battle of Madagascar in Antsiranana, named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975. First cenotaph for two of four Japanese was constructed in 1976 by the Japanese embassy. Second cenotaph of four was constructed by voluntary efforts of war veterans in 1997.

Oceania

Australia

Guam

  • South Pacific Memorial Park, cenotaph of South Pacific war dead and ossuary built in May 1970.[29]

Midway Atoll

New Zealand

Northern Mariana Islands

  • Banzai Cliff, North end of Saipan: Cenotaph for war casualties in the central Pacific Ocean (中部太平洋戦没者の碑, Chubu taiheiyou senbotsusha no hi) for 43,000 Japanese killed in action and 12,000 citizens killed in the war regardless of nationality including Japanese migrants to the Saipan, Tinian, Guam islands until the end of the war in 1945. It was constructed by the Japanese government with the cooperation of the Northern Mariana Islands government in March 1974.

Papua New Guinea

  • Wewak: Cenotaph for war casualties in the New Guinea campaign (ニューギニア戦没者の碑, Nyuginia senbotsusya no hi), It commemorates 130,000 Japanese killed in action and 50,000 residents killed in the war. It was constructed by the Japanese government with the cooperation of Papua New Guinea in September 1980.[14]
  • Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago: Cenotaph of Japanese killed in action in South Pacific Ocean (南太平洋戦没者の碑, Minami taiheiyo senbotsusha no hi), 200,000 killed in action at the Battle of Rabaul. It was constructed by the Japanese government and the Comrades Association in Arms (戦友会, Senyukai) in September 1980.[14]

Marshall Islands

New Caledonia

Palau

  • Peleliu: Cenotaph for war casualties in the West Pacific during the war (西太平洋戦没者の碑, Nishi taiheiyou senbutusya no hi), built in March 1985.[36]

Saipan

  • Banzai Cliff: Cenotaph for war casualties in the Central Pacific (中部太平洋戦没者の碑, Cyubu taiheiyou senbutusya no hi), built in March 1974.[37]

Solomon

  • Guadalcanal: Solomon Peace Commemorative Park, Cenotaph for war casualties in the Solomon Islands (ソロモン諸島方面戦没者慰霊碑, Soromon houmen senbutsusha ireihi) built in 1998.[38]

North America

Canada

Dominican Republic

United States

South America

Bolivia

Brazil

Peru

Europe

Malta

Russia (Europe region)

United Kingdom

  • Wales: Cenotaph of the Hirano-maru that was shipwrecked by U-boat on December 5, 1918. The wooden cenotaph was renewed with stone cenotaph on its 100th anniversary on October 4, 2018.[40]

See also

References

  1. Peshawar-kai, Japanese web site ペシャワール会について→現地活動の紹介→灌漑事業2020年→1月 ガンベリ公園にドクターサーブナカムラ記念塔を建設
  2. Atsu Elementary and junior high school, Travel guide
  3. 香港日本人墓地慰霊祭 [Hong Kong Japanese cemetery memorial service] (in Japanese). 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  4. 中国に残る日本人の遺骨 「キャッチ! 世界の視点」 2018年8月25日NHK BS1 放送
  5. Japanese blog site, back side monumental inscription is ‘’県級重点文物保護単位 滇西抗日戦争松山戦役主戦場遺址之一’’, ホーム > 海外 >アジア >中国 >雲南省 > 雲南省 旅行記 >詳細, 雲南省旅行記(ブログ) 一覧に戻る, 2007/05/06 - 2007/05/15, visit battle site in Yunnan (雲南省の戦跡を訪ねて、2007 May 9th No. 2)
  6. ラオス発展貢献の知られざる日本人 [Not widely known Japanese contributed to Laos development] (in Japanese). 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  7. "マレーシア日本人墓地を訪ねて" [Visit a Japanese cemetery in Malaysia]. www.eva.hi-ho.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  8. 慰霊碑を訪ねる [Visiting cenotaph] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  9. モンゴル慰霊団参紀行記 [memorial journey in Mongolia] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  10. 日本人死亡者慰霊碑(モンゴル) [Cenotaph of Japanese died (Mongolia)] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  11. 平壌郊外の日本人墓地、遺族が初の墓参り [Bereaved family first visit to Suburb of Pyongyang Japanese cemetery] (in Japanese). 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  12. 平壌市龍山墓地日本人埋葬者名簿 [Name list of burial Japanese in Yongsan cemetery, Pyongyang] (in Japanese). 2011-08-01. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  13. NGOフィリピン戦没者慰霊碑保存協会 [Philippines WAR MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION, INC.] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  14. 戦没者慰霊事業:ニューギニア戦没者の碑 [Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, implementation of commemorative project for war dead] (in Japanese). 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  15. 在ウラジオストク日本領事館、4.我が国との関係、(8)見どころ,(10)日本人墓地 [Consulate-General of Japan in Vladivostok, Relation to Japan,(8) watch spot, (10) Japanese cemetery Japanese] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  16. シベリア抑留の地に日本人慰霊碑 ロシア人留学生が尽力 [Japanese Cenotaph, by the effort of a student from Russia]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  17. Yomiuri Shimbun 2016-01-10 Ver. 13S Page 37
  18. Home page of Japan War-Bereaved Families Association in Japanese
  19. Yomiuri Shimbun 2015-04-24 Ver. 13S Page 7
  20. Built by History of Japanese Solidarity Association in Sri Lanka (スリランカ日本人会-沿革史)
  21. 2017-03-27:Reference photos of 日本人墓地 & 大日本帝国海軍戦死者慰霊碑
  22. Yomiuri Shimbun 2015-Aug.-3 ver. 13S page 4
  23. Shinzō Abe floral tribute on 2015-10-24, Yomiuri Shimbun Page 4, 13S edition 2015-10-25
  24. タシケントに眠る日本人抑留者 [Japanese prisoners of war buried in Tashkent] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  25. 在ウズベキスタン日本国大使館 [Japanese Embassy in Uzbekistan] (in Japanese). 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  26. タシケント抑留日本人墓地、ウズベキスタン. uz.iio.org.uk.
  27. 在ウズベキスタン日本国大使館. Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan.
  28. "安倍内閣総理大臣による豪州ダーウィンにおける伊号第124潜水艦慰霊碑訪問 2-19-11-17" (in Japanese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). Retrieved 2019-05-19. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe visit cenotaph of I-121-class submarine at Darwin, Northern Territory on 2018 Nov. 17
  29. 南太平洋戦没者慰霊協会. South Pacific Memorial Association, Inc.
  30. Denoted Japanese Markers in Goole Maps as right side Tomb ref. on 20230427
  31. 東太平洋戦没者の碑. Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. ホーム > 政策について > 分野別の政策一覧 > 他分野の取り組み > 戦没者遺族等への援護 > 戦没者慰霊事業の実施 > 戦没者慰霊事業:東太平洋戦没者の碑
  32. A member of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers found the stone in front of a house in 2016, but it is the stele, then placed near by by Japanese War Remains and Bones Serch Group (日本國戦死者遺体収容団: Japanese NPO) in 2018. Reference photo copy: 2020, July 2, Japanese Nagasaki News Paper (ja:長崎新聞) page 17, article titled 石碑がつなぐ南の島の歴史 (lit.: stele connecting histories in island of southern Pacific Ocean)
  33. Kyodo News, (共同通信社, Kyōdō Tsūshinsha) (2020-08-17). ",南洋の島の慰霊碑、民家の踏み石に" [Photo of Cenotaph in island in southern Pacific Ocean, Step stone at entrance of house] (in Japanese). Tokyo. Retrieved 2022-08-16.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ニューカレドニア日本人移民120周年 [120 anniversary of Japanese Immigrants to New Caledonia] (in Japanese). 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  35. ニューカレドニア日本人墓地へ
  36. 西太平洋戦没者の碑. Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. ホーム > 政策について > 分野別の政策一覧 > 他分野の取り組み > 戦没者遺族等への援護 > 戦没者慰霊事業の実施 > 戦没者慰霊事業:西太平洋戦没者の碑
  37. 戦没者慰霊事業:中部太平洋戦没者の碑. Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. ホーム > 政策について > 分野別の政策一覧 > 他分野の取り組み > 戦没者遺族等への援護 > 戦没者慰霊事業の実施
  38. 慰霊碑紹介. All Japan Solomon Association. 3 June 2015.
  39. "Matters Historical: A bit of old Japan in a Colma cemetery". The Mercury News. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  40. "Cenotaph Honoring Hirano Maru Sailors Established by UK Volunteer Group". Nippon Yusen. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
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