Meiji Graves in Happy Valley (e-book) (used book) | bookbook.eu

Description

Stories of Meiji-era Japanese residents and their final resting place in Hong Kong.

Meiji Graves in Happy Valley looks into the lives of Japanese residents in Hong Kong in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These Meiji-era Japanese residents came from a variety of backgrounds and occupied an ambiguous position in Hong Kong, navigating between the Chinese and colonial expatriate population. This ambiguity, combined with their own internal class distinctions, and the absence of a defined middle class, meant that the early Japanese community in Hong Kong initially struggled to come together as one, and failed to achieve the critical mass that would have given them the influence required to set up their own burial ground. Hong Kong's strategic importance as a rapidly developing British colonial hub made it a frequent port of call for Japanese seamen, as well as students, officials, and visitors on their way to Europe and other international destinations. The authors show that the Happy Valley Cemetery is the final resting place for several types of Meiji-era travelers and workers who passed away while transiting through the city.