Zoshigaya Cemetery near Ikebukuro
Near Ikebukuro, pictured in the near distance in the upper right of the above photo, is a cemetery called Zoshigaya (雑司ヶ谷霊園) with many famous people. The above marker is for “John” Manjiro (中濱万次郎). Manjiro was one of the first Japanese to ever visit the United States. He did so during the Edo Period.
If you visit Zoshigaya, don’t expect the billboard-style maps to tell you where to find the notables. If the office is open, they may have maps with the locations of the famous listed so you can try there first. If not, be sure to bring along the grave site numbers for those you want to visit as the place is quite large. Manjiro can be found at plot 1-2-10-1.
Plot 1-14-1-3 is Natsume Soseki’s. Soseki’s face is one of the most recognizable in Japan as he is on the 1,000 yen note.
Lafcadio Hearn is buried in plot 1-1-8-35 under his Japanese name, Koizumi Yakumo (小泉八雲). His grave is well taken care of it seems. There is a little Japanese rock and flower garden in the plot. Ironically, a job that Hearn once held was taken over by the aforementioned Soseki. Now they are neighbors.
One of the most interesting graves is the one above of William Wright. At some point in the past 100+ years his gravestone broke in two. Rather than replace it, the headstone top has just been leaned up against the bottom.
General Tojo Hideki (infamous for planning the Pearl Harbor attack) is in plot 1-1-12-6. He doesn’t show up on the celebrity map provided in the office. Perhaps they don’t want anyone to know he is here.
At night everyone clears out as did we.