Mention the word, cemetery, in Singapore and people would likely ask if you are going to lim chu kang or bukit brown. Some might have heard of a Japanese cemetery although when probed further on the location; there's a high chance you would draw a blank.
Today, I am finally going to share the pictures in this post! My apology in advance as the photographs were taken half a year ago (in December 2021); procrastination is a bitch when there are over 100 photographs.
Distance from bus stop to entrance of The Japanese Cemetery Park is only about 400 meters. The only thing to pray for is "no rain" as the path in isn't sheltered.
Notice back then; closed on Sundays and public holidays. With the relaxation of safe management measures, I am unsure if the policy has changed.
"Welcoming" us to the cemetery park is the Hinomoto Jizo Guardian Deity (Chinese would know him as 地藏菩薩 or Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva) and his little monks in front of him.
The Hinomoto Jizo Guardian Deity was erected to pray for the souls of 41 Japanese civilians who died at Jurong Camp after the war, while awaiting repatriation back to Japan.
Now, this memorial park is the "largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia at 29,359 square meters, consisting of 910 tombstones that contain the remains of members of the Japanese community in Singapore" and I honestly don't know where to start, despite taking a ton of photos!
History of the cemetery - started in 1891 and last burial was before 1973, after the Singapore government stopped new burials, except in approved, designated areas. The cemetery park is now maintained by the Japanese Association, Singapore.
Hm.... was this remnants of an ancient wooden building?
Or a cemetery marker?
Most Chinese cemeteries would have tigers / lions as guardians for the tombs. Given the weather elements which have eroded its features, I am guessing this is supposed to be an ape.
Scratching my head on this.
Botanical memorial?
War Memorial for those who died in World War 2, including Japanese soldiers and war criminals; this might be sensitive in China but for Singapore, we acknowledged that war is terrible but lessons must be learnt to prevent it from happening again.
Donated stone bench; such donations were common as I remember seeing a few similar ones when I was studying in primary and secondary schools.
Tomb of a Japanese monk who came to Singapore in 1893 and passed away in 1912. Aside from teaching Buddhism to fellow Japanese, he was also active in collecting donations for the building of the first Saiyuji temple (the first installation of the mido).
An unusual Chinese tomb; it was said to house an old-time tomb keeper of the cemetery, who was Chinese, and the Japanese Association allowed him to be bury in the cemetery as gratitude for his services.
Japanese garden! According to the map, there's supposed to be a lychee tree in front of me. Let me hop over and check out the tree as I have no idea how a lychee tree looks like.
Resting place for Mr Takeshiro Nishimura; a doctor and author who came to Singapore in 1902 and was President of the Japanese Association in 1935, at a time when there was an anti Japanese tide.
Memorial Plaza - no one is buried here. It merely named those well known Japanese in Singapore. Not sure if I would remember any from that era. Maybe Tomoyuki Yamashita, who invaded Singapore back in 1942 and Mamoru Shinozaki, who wrote autobiography of his time in Singapore during World War 2.
Of course, a vending machine must be present.
Given that Japan is the land of vending machines!
Broken beam.
Oldest grave for a Ms Toma Sato, who died in 1889. You may wonder how come she was buried before the start of the cemetery in 1891. It's a matter of official and unofficial; unofficially, the area was already used as a cemetery before approval was granted by the British Colonial government.
This panel explained the origins of karayuki san, a term used to refer to Japanese prostitutes'. As many died penniless, their tombs were just marked with a simple wooden gravestone that decayed as time goes by.
First one was a memorial for Futabatei Shimei, "a Russian literary scholar, translator and novelist). He was cremated in Singapore but remains were sent back to Tokyo and buried in Somei cemetery. Second one was for Kanou Ueyama, eldest son of the inventor of the mosquito coil incense.
Tomb of Field Marshal Count Hisaichi Terauchi; the highest ranking Japanese soldier at Southeast Asia when Japan surrendered during World War 2 but he never stood trial for war crimes as he died in 1946. He ever ordered that "that all Allied prisoners of war in his command area were to be massacred if Japan was invaded".
Wait, another Chinese tomb?! From the year, it appeared to be the original tomb keeper for the cemetery, who died in 1960. Then who was in the other tomb? His son?
Tomb of Yoshio Nishimura; a highly respected Japanese and once the President of the Japanese Association in 1933, he killed himself in 1934 after being accused of spying by the British Colonial government.
A unique Japanese tomb with English words.
Another one, albeit a bit scary, as head was missing.
Talking about scary, are there any ghost stories? Technically, people do feel a sense of eeriness when it comes to cemeteries, especially at night. In the daytime, it was a scene of quiet and peacefulness. For night, the cemetery is closed and you can't enter anyway. I didn't hear of any stories but Alex's friend ever shared of a haunted house along the perimeter of the cemetery.
About to exit the cemetery park!
This cute scene stopped me in my tracks though. Should this stone monk be alive, I don't think it would calmly stand there and let the lizard have its way.
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Address
Singapore 549854
Map
As above
Detailed Park Map
As above.
Infographic Park Map
As above.
Website
Additional Information
No Pokemon Go!
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