Japanese Monuments In The Hanna Cemetery Transcribed
Bob Leathers
The Union Pacific Coal Company close its underground coal mines in Hanna in 1954. At that time the town had a large and vibrant Japanese community located near the No. 2 mine. When the mines closed the Japanese people moved away from Hanna searching for new employment opportunities, but those that died in Hanna were left behind in the cemetery.
Some of the Japanese monuments in the Hanna cemetery have been there for over a hundred years. During that time many people have viewed the monuments and wondered who the people were and where the they came from. The monuments are mostly written in Japanese making them unreadable by most visitors. On April 8, 2017, the thirty Japanese monuments in the Hanna cemetery were transcribed by Ayako and Noriaki Ohara. The transcribed information is in the process of being entered into the Hanna cemetery burial records.
Some of the Japanese monuments in the Hanna cemetery have been there for over a hundred years. During that time many people have viewed the monuments and wondered who the people were and where the they came from. The monuments are mostly written in Japanese making them unreadable by most visitors. On April 8, 2017, the thirty Japanese monuments in the Hanna cemetery were transcribed by Ayako and Noriaki Ohara. The transcribed information is in the process of being entered into the Hanna cemetery burial records.
Japanese Town
In Hanna it was called Jap Town. It was located near the No. 2 mine and most of the Japanese workers that lived there mined coal in the No. 2 mine. The No. 2 slope ran directly under the town. The Japanese people maintained a large garden during the summer months. (State of Wyoming Archives)
Hanna Basin Museum Japanese Translations in the Hanna Cemetery, April 5, 2017
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Images from While Family Collection by Bob Leathers, April 2017
Music: Tanko Bushi, Japanese Coal Mining Folk Song by Mogami Chiyo
Music: Tanko Bushi, Japanese Coal Mining Folk Song by Mogami Chiyo