Y. Shibuya (Japanese Cemetery Singapore)

The Japanese Cemetery Park at 22 Chuan Hoe Avenue was established in 1891 to serve the burial needs of Japanese residents in Singapore. Touted to be the largest at 30,000 sq m in Southeast Asia, the site measures 30,000 sq m, it has an estimated 910 tombstones. Among those buried here include businessman, tradesman, prostitutes as well a the war dead from World War II. The cemetery was closed to burials in 1973 and in 1987 renamed the Japanese Cemetery Park, which is now a memorial park managed by the Japanese Association of Singapore.

While exploring the cemetery, a marble obelisk caught my eye as it as contains the portrait of the deceased and also was written in English. Inscribed are the text,  " In memory of Y. Shibuya died 12th March 1906 (Jap. 39 years Meiji) Aged 50  erected by Natsu Shohji and T. Shibuya ".

Beautiful marble obelisk of Y. Shibuya

Close up of the portrait of Y. Shibuya 

So who was Y.Shibuya who passed away in 1906 at the age of 50? A search on the newspaper archives came up with a namesake company that was based at No. 40 High Street. There were several advertisements put up during the 1899-1904 by Y.Shibuya, a merchant based in High Street selling high class Japanese Curios and General Goods such as Yamatoya's Shirts, Imported Japanese products such as Kimonos, Vases, Satsuma wares, tea and coffee cups, Yutakaori Carpets, Arima Water (natural mineral water) and Bamboo Blinds.  From the portrait, i can imagine Y.Shibuya wearing the product he sold, the finest of Yamatoya's shirt (as shown below) 

Y. Shibuya & Co (source: NewspaperSG

Y. Shibuya & Co (source: NewspaperSG

Y. Shibuya & Co (source: NewspaperSG)

Death and Bankruptcy 

Y. Shibuya passed away in 1906.  His goods were put on public auction on 6th April 1906 and 12th April 1906. In 1909 there was a bankruptcy notice put up to allow creditors to claim from Y. Shibuya sale of assets. 

Bankruptcy Settlement (source: NewspaperSG)

While trying to find leads on the people who help erect the tomb (Natsu Shohji and T. Shibuya), i only found record of a T. Shibuya arriving Singapore on July 20, 1914 from Yokohama via the vessel called Kitano Maru. The lead ends for now.

[research on-going]

References
Japanese Cemetery Park. Infopedia Website. National Library Board (last accessed 8 August 2018)
Advertisements. (1899, August 29). The Straits Times, page 1
Advertisements. (1902, March 6). The Straits Times, page 1
Advertisements. (1904, November 12). The Straits Times, page 10
Advertisements. (1906, April 2). The Straits Times, page 2
Advertisements. (1909, July 17). The Straits Times, page 2