Japanese Cemetery (Colma, California) facts for kids
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1901 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Japanese |
| Owned by | Jikei-kai Japanese Benevolent Society of California |
The Japanese Cemetery is a special place in Colma, California. It was started in 1901. This cemetery is located at 1300 Hillside Boulevard. It has been a central spot for the Japanese community in California. It has worked with Buddhist, Shinto, and Christian religious groups.
Contents
A New Home for Burials
At the start of the 1900s, many Japanese people in San Francisco were buried in other cemeteries. These included the Masonic Cemetery and Laurel Hill Cemetery. In 1901, a new law in San Francisco stopped all burials within the city.
This meant a new place was needed. So, in 1901, a group called the Jikei-kai Japanese Benevolent Society of California bought land. They purchased two acres in Colma to create a new cemetery. Graves from Laurel Hill and Masonic Cemeteries were then moved to this new location.
Opening the Cemetery
The Japanese Cemetery officially opened on March 17, 1903. A Buddhist leader, Rev. Nishijima Kakyuro, led the opening ceremony.
A few years later, in 1906, the Emperor of Japan from the Meiji era helped out. He provided money to support the burials of Japanese people in California. This showed how important the cemetery was to the community.
Important People Buried Here
The Japanese Cemetery is the final resting place for many important people. Some of the oldest graves are from 1860. These are even older than the cemetery itself!
Sailors from the Kanrin Maru
In 1860, three Japanese sailors died. They were part of the crew of the warship Kanrin Maru. This ship was on the first ever Japanese Embassy to the United States. The sailors were first buried in San Francisco. Later, their graves were moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Finally, they were moved to the Japanese Cemetery in Colma.
Other Notable Individuals
- Kyutaro Abiko (1865–1936): He was a Japanese-born American businessman. He also founded a newspaper called Nichi Bei Times.
- Ayao Hattori (1863–1914): He was a politician, a pastor, and an educator. He was sent to America to help calm anti-Japanese feelings.
- Keisaburo Koda (1882–1964): He was a successful businessman and rice farmer. He founded a well-known company called Koda Farms.
- George Shima (1864–1926): He was a businessperson who grew potatoes. He became the first Japanese American millionaire.
