Tama Cemetery (多磨霊園, Tama Reien) in Tokyo is the largest municipal cemeteryinJapan. It is split between the cities of Fuchu and Koganei within the Tokyo Metropolis. First established in April 1923 as Tama Graveyard (多磨墓地, Tama Bochi), it was redesignated Tama Cemetery in 1935. It is one of the largest green areas in Tokyo.
Around 1900, Tokyo had five public cemeteries - Aoyama, Somei [jp], Yanaka, Zoshigaya and Kameido. As the population of Tokyo grew, and cemetery space grew scarce, there was a need to build a cemetery outside of the city limits of Tokyo. In 1919, city park manager Kiyoshi Inoshita issued a plan to establish a large park/cemetery to the north, east and west of Tokyo. Tama, to the west of Tokyo, was selected in 1920, with construction started two years later. It was said that the site was chosen because of access to transportation infrastructure, such as the Kōshū Kaidō, Keiō Line, Seibu Tamagawa Line, and Chūō Main Line. The cemetery was opened in 1923. The planned northern and eastern cemeteries are Sodaira and Yahashira, respectively.
In 1934, Gensui The MarquisTōgō, the naval war hero, was buried in Tama Cemetery, spreading the popularity of the cemetery. During World War II, Kawasaki Ki-61 from nearby Chofu Airfield were hidden and repaired in the cemetery. Some facilities in the cemetery still have bullet holes from U.S. strafing.
Use of the cemetery increased, with the last open spot used in 1963. Since 1963, only reburials and other such uses have opened up new spaces. In 1962 a green lawn-type cemetery was added, and in 1993, Mitama Hall, a columbarium, was added.
Tom Dakin Cochrane (1868-1937), one of the founding members of Universal Pictures and Pa-Sho. He also launch the distribution channel for Universal throughout Asia and Paramount’s distribution channel in Japan.
GeneralAnami Korechika (1887-1945), a senior commander in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, and War Minister at the surrender of Japan. Although outspoken against the Japanese surrender to Allied forces in 1945, he is noted for his stance against the Kyūjō coup attempt. His sense of honour and respect for the emperor's wish to end the war, left him no choice but to commit seppuku the morning after signing the surrender documents.
General BaronAraki Sadao (1877-1966), a senior commander in the Imperial Japanese Army before World War II and one of the principal nationalist right-wing political theorists in the late Japanese Empire
Baron Den Kenjirō (1855-1930), a cabinet minister in the pre-war government of the Empire of Japan and the 8th Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan from October 29, 1919 to September 1923
Baron Hiranuma Kiichirō (1867-1952), a prominent pre–World War II right-wing Japanese politician and the 35th Prime Minister of Japan from 5 January 1939 to 30 August 1939
Kinoshita Mokutarō (1885-1945), a Japanese author, Dramaturge, poet, art historian and literary critic
Kishida Ryūsei (1891-1929), a Taishō and Shōwa period painter
