Singaporeans Are Going To A Japanese Cemetery In Hougang For Instagram Photos

Locals and tourists are heading to a Singapore cemetery for Instagram photos recently, and we’re not quite sure how to feel about that.

The Japanese Cemetery Park near Hougang/ Kovan is the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia with 910 tombstones of the previous Japanese community in Singapore. The cemetery was declared a memorial park in 1987 by the Singapore government.

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The Japanese Cemetery park is beautiful and its well-maintained floral archways are somewhat reminiscent of the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom in springtime in Japan.

In recent years, a significant number of people have travelled to the memorial park to take photos under the vibrant bougainvillaea flowers.

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Is clout chasing a growing problem in our society? Nowadays, everyone is so focused on getting the perfect scenic photo for Instagram. Have people somehow forgotten that they are still in fact, at a burial ground of Singapore’s early Japanese community?

Although the Japanese Cemetery no doubt provides a beautiful backdrop for photos, it’s important to respect those who have passed on. Perhaps consider not being so camera trigger-happy like you’re in Disneyland – it’s still a burial site in the end.

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Previously, a massive backlash erupted over tourists who posed and posted photos at the Berlin Holocaust Memorial; this current Japanese Cemetery photo trend is just one offensive post away from being a social media scandal.

Do you think posing for photos at burial places for the gram is appropriate? I’m sure no one meant any harm, but let’s put more thought into our Instagram feed – especially when tombstones appear in the background prominently.

Japanese Cemetery Park: 22 Chuan Hoe Ave, Singapore 549854