Japanese Grave Markers in the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery

Auburn Pioneer Cemetery.net
c 2012 Amerie & Kristy Lommen

Evolution of
Japanese Grave
Markers

In the

Auburn Pioneer Cemetery
Auburn, Washington

By
Kristy Arbuckle Lommen
2012


The earliest grave markers
used by Auburn’s Japanese
community consisted of
wooden posts like the ones
pictured here. The top photo is
from the funeral of baby
Masaru Natsuhara. The
bottom was taken at the
funeral of toddler Hiroshi Iseri.
Both children died and were
buried at the Auburn cemetery
in 1913.

None of these older style
markers remain.

(Photos from the collection of the
White River Valley Museum)


In 1928 under the direction of the
Buddhist church, the wooden
markers were gathered up and
replaced with concrete markers.
These were created assembly-line
fashion in a local warehouse. Each
is inscribed with three columns of
kanji characters.

Although in deteriorated condition,
almost 100 of these markers
remain in the cemetery today.

(Miho Togami marker, 2012)


The column of characters on the far
left consists of the family name and
then the first name of the
deceased (usually in that order).

(Junko Sato marker, 2010)


The column of kanji characters in
the center lists the deceased
person’s kaimyo. A feature of the
Buddhist faith, the kaimyo is a
name given to the deceased by his
or her priest at the time of death. It
will serve as the name the person
will be known by in the afterlife.

Although the kaimyo names are not
helpful to genealogists, they can be
valuable to descendants, especially
if they are practicing Buddhists;
however, the kaimyo names on
these stones have not been
translated as of this date.


The column of kanji characters on
the far right lists the date of death.

This date is something like a
graduation date as it represents the
date the deceased person attained
the afterlife; it is therefore far more
important than the birthdate,
which is merely the date the
person entered the less important
physical realm.

Birthdates are not included on
these stones.


After 1928, members of the
Japanese community could
purchase identical tombstones for
a cost of about seven dollars.

Most have a small vertical pipe
inserted in the base. Too small to
hold a flower arrangement, these
were almost certainly meant to
hold offerings of incense.


Jizo statues (Ojizo Sama) are
typically placed in cemeteries or at
the sites of tragedies, especially
tragedies involving children.

Although a common feature of
cemeteries in Japan, only four Jizo
were ever placed at the Auburn
Pioneer Cemetery. They were
placed in honor of the four Kato
children who died in 1937.


Many of the cemetery markers
were targets of vandalism when
the local Japanese community was
imprisoned in far-off internment
camps during WWII. Although they
survived the war, three of the Jizo
had disappeared by the early
1960’s. One was later located in a
Federal Way backyard serving as a
lawn ornament. It has long since
been returned to the cemetery.

The two remaining Jizo flank the
original Kato family monument
(which is not a grave site, per se).


Kato Family Monument
At left: pre-World War II
(Photo: White River Valley Museum)

Below: 2011
(Photo: Christina Russo)


According to the White River Valley
Museum, the local Japanese
community consisted of about 300
families prior to WWII. After the
war, only about 25 of these families
returned to the area. Many
continued to use the cemetery.

During this era, kanji characters
started to disappear from the
tombstones. Birthdates started to
be included. The double wisteria
crest, a symbol of Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism, became a common
feature on many markers.


In addition to the Double Wisteria
Crest, Japanese family crests are
also included on some of these
more modern monuments.


Older and newer style
Japanese grave markers at
the Auburn Pioneer
Cemetery, 2009.


Today, the markers follow the same
trends you can find in any
American cemetery. They have
become highly individualized, often
with images that reflect the
deceased person’s personality.

This 2011 marker includes a
rendition of Mt. Rainier—a vista
much beloved in western
Washington state—as well as
symbols reflecting husband Maki’s
military service and wife Mae’s love
of crafting.

Once again, the two 1913
funerals pictured here depict
an Iseri Family funeral
(bottom) and a Natsuhara
Family funeral (top) which
happened a few months later.

Coincidentally almost a
century later in 2011, the
cemetery hosted just two
funerals, one for a member of
the Iseri Family (Mae Iseri
Yamada) and one, a few
months later, for Jack
Natsuhara.

The community’s traditions
endure.

(Photos from the collection of the
White River Valley Museum)


Currently the Auburn Pioneer
Cemetery accepts only cremated
remains from families who already
have ancestors buried in the
cemetery.

This photo shows the inurnment
ceremony for Maki and Mae
Yamada in the summer of 2011.

(Photo: Robert Whale, The Auburn Reporter)


Auburn Pioneer Cemetery
Located at NE 8th Street & Auburn Way N.
Auburn, Washington

Japanese Grave Markers in the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery

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Japanese Grave Markers in the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery