CG Misawa offers remarks at Makiki Cemetery’s Obon Memorial Service

August 15, 2015

In light of the 70th anniversary after the end of World War II, Consul General Misawa attended the Obon Memorial Service and offered words of condolences to all the Japanese Americans and Japanese pioneers laid to rest at the Makiki Cemetery (Deputy Consul General Koichi Maruyama and Consul Takeshi Ogino attended during this time). This annual Memorial Service is organized by the Hawaii Meiji-Kai and supported by other organizations such as the United Japanese Society of Hawaii.

Located in Honolulu’s Makiki district (many Japanese Americans once lived in this district) the Makiki Cemetery is considered the oldest Japanese-American collective cemetery outside of Japan. Aside from the general cemetery, there are three gravesites associated with the history of the Japan-U.S relationship: 1) Japanese Imperial Navy, 2) First Japanese contract plantation workers, and 3) Common grave of the workers.   

Consul General Misawa offering his remarks at the Memorial Service. 

Picture of the Makiki Cemetery