San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Program: Japanese Benevolent Society of California

Address: 1832 Buchanan Street, #206, San Francisco

Description: The Japanese Cemetery is unique in Colma. It is without either lawn or trees and is closely crowded with monuments. Pathways are concrete or coarse gravel; visitors enter through a traditional Japanese garden, ornamented with imported stone lanterns. A small columbarium, housing cremated remains, lends an air of old Japan. Barely more than four acres, it is the smallest burial ground of Colma’s 14 cemeteries, yet it contains 2,000 gravesites and over 5,000 interments. No sign marks its entry. Originally just under two acres, in 2001 the Japanese Benevolent Society purchased an adjacent plot of land in order to increase capacity.

History: Pioneers of the Japanese community in San Francisco built the Japanese Cemetery in Colma City in 1901, and with the help of a generous grant from the Emperor Meiji of Japan consolidated the present facility. Over the years, improvements have been made, including the building of a columbarium and the placement of monuments memorializing significant individuals and events in the community. The Japanese Benevolent Society (Kashu Nikkeijin Jikeikai) is a non-commercial, non-profit organization which not only manages the cemetery but has also provided assistance to members of the Japanese community throughout its 100 year long history. It is also instrumental in maintaining and encouraging relations between the Japanese government and the Nikkei community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Significance: Cultural, Social, Historical

Recognition of Significance: Visiting dignitaries from Japan traditionally make pilgrimage to the cemetery, including Prince Hitachi, Foreign Minister Tsutomu Hata, and Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

Sources: Seiko Fujimoto

Other Comments: The cemetery continues to serve the Japanese American community. Many notable figures from Japanese American are interred there, among them Keizaburo Koda (owner, Koda Mines), Kinji Ushijima (The Potato King), Makoto Hagiwara (creator, Japanese Tea Garden), Otosaburo Noda (leader, Pacific Grove fishing community), Kyutaro Abiko and Shichinosuke Asano (Nichibei Times).

Prepared By: Judi Nihei Date Prepared: 12/17/04