Michael Bruce Okagaki
May 14, 1957 – December 18, 2023
Michael Bruce Okagaki died much as he lived: stoic and calm; caring and deeply introspective; wickedly funny yet unfailingly courteous; at peace with himself and his loved ones; and concerned most of all that his family was well cared for, meaning our decades-old cars were running, the heater thermostat was working, and our broken things were mended. He drew his last breath at UCSF Hospital on December 18, 2023 due to complications from prostate cancer. At age 66, his body was the one thing he could not repair.
Michael was born in San Jose, California on May 14,1957 to Thomas and Amy Okagaki. Michael and his sister Karen were often cared for by their unflappable issei grandmother, Okiyo Okagaki, whom they would send sprinting down the street after passing ice cream trucks. In the era of Shirley Temple, Amy enrolled her young children in tap dancing classes, sparking Michael’s first instance of community activism. At age six, he staged a sit-in with Karen, refusing to tap another step, giving him an early inkling that he would never again do something against his inner nature.
Growing up near San Jose’s Japantown, Michael was surrounded by dozens of uncles and aunts, and 34 Okagaki and Saito first cousins. His Auntie Janet taught Michael how to fish; his Uncles Calvin and Warren, who ran a TV and radio repair shop, taught him about tubes and electronics. With his cousins, Gregg Nakanishi and Ron Okagaki, he undertook his earliest chemistry experiments, cooking up gunpowder from potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur, hidden from parental view behind the shed in Ron’s backyard. But in elementary school, Michael fell very ill with nephritis, an infection of the kidneys, that kept him bedridden for a year. To stave off boredom, he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, thus explaining his many deep reservoirs of arcane knowledge. In bed, he built a remote control that turned the television on and off by clicking two pennies together.
Graduating in 1974 from Bellarmine College Preparatory, an all-boys Jesuit high school, Michael was one of only a handful of Asian Americans. As a Japanese American at Bellarmine, December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day) was a living nightmare. He’d find himself surrounded, pelted with racial slurs. But Michael found a small group of other misfits to befriend and took refuge in music: the Eagles, Beatles, Neil Young, Cream. In 1971, his father bought him a Martin D-18 guitar, and Michael spent countless hours lying on his bed, teaching himself to fingerpick like James Taylor.
By the early 70s, Michael found his tribe. He blossomed in the Wesley United Methodist Church’s Youth Fellowship program, where they explored their faith and identity as Japanese Americans, whose families were incarcerated by the US government during WWII. At Wesley, he met Peter Horikoshi, Keith Inouye, and Sandra Takimoto, who along with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, would form the nucleus of the band Yokohama, California, singing songs of Asian identity and protest. In 1977, a budding impresario, Steve Yamaguma, proposed cutting their first (and only) LP. The night before the album was completed, Michael realized he had something to say, so he dashed off a song on binder paper called Tomorrow. It became the final track on the record.
In 1972, Michael started attending Lake Sequoia Retreat near Fresno, a once venerable Christian camp for Japanese American youth that had become a magnet for long-haired, guitar-strumming 60s flower children. Michael fit right in. Then in 1977, he was randomly assigned to the same work, interest, and discussion groups as a high school junior from Oakland named Wendy Hanamura. He amused her with clever Mad Libs and enchanted her with his sweet folk songs. Soon they were exchanging long letters between San Jose and Oakland.
Michael asked his deepening crush, Wendy, to go to Leopold’s in Berkeley to pick up a rare LP he’d seen there: Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus. Their first outing was to a Japanese sword store in San Francisco’s J-Town where he plunked down $200 for his first rusty Edo-period blade. Their first “date” was to see Dexter Gordon at the Keystone Korner, where Michael was sorely disappointed when Wendy couldn’t stay for the second set. At 16, she had a strict curfew. Their next date was to see Sonny Rollins play with Donald Byrd at the Great American Music Hall. Vinyl, jazz and Japan would become golden threads woven through Michael’s life.
At Santa Clara University, Michael majored in Fine Art, painting enormous abstract canvases that he stretched himself. However, at his parents’ insistence, he switched majors to Chemistry and would go on to earn a Masters in Chemistry at San Francisco State University, investigating the properties of Laurencia algae. In 1981, in order to be closer to Wendy who was studying at Harvard, Michael drove cross country in the family Buick LeSabre with his patient father to enter a PhD program at Boston University. As a graduate student, Michael was so impoverished, Wendy’s roommates would sneak extra food to him in the dining hall so he could eat for free. Eventually, the cold and cockroaches proved too much for him, and he returned home the next year.
Moving together to Tokyo in 1984, Wendy studied architecture and Michael taught English to businessmen. He lived in company housing, a cinder-block one-room apartment that was so cold in winter that ice formed in the teapot. It was the beginning of Michael and Wendy’s long communion with Japan, a country they explored from the tip of the Noto Peninsula to the remote island of Sado, home to their favorite troupe of taiko drummers.
After dating for a dozen years, in 1989 Michael and Wendy finally tied the knot, bought a house in San Francisco, and promptly packed up and moved back to Japan. While Wendy worked throughout Asia as a television correspondent, Michael studied Japanese, learned to play the shakuhachi, and happily devoted himself to the arduous task of becoming a shakuhachi maker. He led an artist’s life, immersed in classical Japanese music in the school of Yamaguchi Goro, a National Living Treasure, and making instruments by painstakingly applying thin coats of lacquer to the inner bore of bamboo.
By 1992, their first son Jonathan was born and Michael became a stay-at-home dad. In patriarchal Japanese society, people openly stared everytime he got on a Tokyo subway with infant Jonathan on his chest. An avid collector, he never missed the weekly antique flea markets, amassing countless tansu, instruments, and lacquerware. Gomi Days, when people put their large refuse on the curb, were his favorite days of the year. In many ways, these were the healthiest and most carefree days of his life.
Michael, Wendy and the precociously curious Jonathan returned home to San Francisco, and in 1995, they were joined by baby Kenny, a good-natured soul with his dad’s sly sense of humor. After a six-year hiatus, Michael returned to work at DepoMed, a pharmaceutical start-up in Menlo Park. He would go on to work there for 17 years as a research chemist, eventually specializing in running and maintaining the intricate instruments in the lab. Together, the DepoMed team would succeed in developing the first extended-release form of Metformin, the world’s most widely prescribed diabetes medicine.
Michael’s passionate hobbies ran as deep as the sea. He studied watchmaking at San Francisco City College and became the protege of master watchmaker Ken Nihei. His record collection grew to 7,000 discs, mostly jazz but also encompassing the complete recordings of Broadway star Pat Suzuki; he amassed more than 20 guitars, ukuleles, and a mandolin, as well as ten Fender tube amps. Michael took great pride in maintaining his own cars. His first beloved car, a 1974 MGB, broke down so often his frustrated mechanic handed him the manual and said, “Here, learn to fix it yourself.” So he did.
Extending his scientific rigor to the kitchen, Michael approached each dish like a chemist, changing only one variable at a time, until he distilled each recipe to perfection. Thus his family and friends were treated to many iterations of yakitori, tri-tip, leg of lamb, homemade pizza, mabo-dofu, and chicken shawarma. Eating dinner from Michael’s kitchen was always a multi-course adventure. Tasting ojo and cabeza tacos in Santa Barbara once moved him to tears, as did David Kinch’s signature dish at Manresa, Tidal Pool.
As a partner and a parent, Michael was an empathetic listener, who always knew just what to say to make you feel better. Although a total introvert, he maintained long friendships with dozens of former co-workers, watchmakers, and technicians. He knew the life story of every clerk in our local Safeway and always greeted our postman by name. During his final illness, Michael took up the art of kintsugi, repairing broken pottery with glue and gold. But he repaired more than just broken dishes. He was a man who could sense your brokenness, who’d take time to help you heal your wounds.
Throughout his own life, Michael’s body would betray him time and again. He suffered a submacular hemorrhage in his left eye, total heart block, bilateral frozen shoulder syndrome, carpal tunnel, tinnitus, a burst appendix, long Covid, and finally prostate cancer that infiltrated the marrow of his bones. But Michael never let his illnesses define him. He was stoic in the face of great pain; utterly unafraid to die. In the hospital, he sensed his late father, Tom, tapping his foot, and as always, Tom’s presence comforted him.
Michael is survived by his wife, Wendy, his sons Jonathan and Kenny, his mother Amy and sister, Karen, along with numerous cousins, nephews, as well as Jon’s exuberant corgi, Moose. We will celebrate his life at a service on Saturday, February 24, at 2 pm at Buena Vista Methodist Church in Alameda. The service will be followed by a reception featuring Michael’s favorite dishes. Please help the family plan by RSVPing here: https://bit.ly/49hAGNb
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in his memory can be made to KCSM Jazz 91, the public radio station that gave Michael so many decades of spiritual exploration through music. https://www.kcsm.org/
We hope you will join us either in person or via Zoom to remember this thoroughly good man, husband, father, chemist, musician, mechanic, watchmaker, repairman, and ever-loyal friend.
Know honor,
Yet keep humility.
Be the valley of the universe!
Being the valley of the universe,
Ever true and resourceful,
Return to the state of the uncarved block.
–Lao Tsu, from the Tao Te Ching
Sadako (Kai) Ikeda of San Jose, CA was born on July 16, 1926 in Santa Cruz, CA and passed away peacefully on September 9, 2023. She was the second child of Tsumoru and Yaeko Kai, from Hiroshima, Japan. She is survived by husband Sus Ikeda, son Ed (Suga), grandsons Kyle, Reid and Marcus; sister Eva Iwanaga, nephew Mark, niece Donna (Brad) Beutter; brother Butch (Celeese) Kai, nephews Trevor and Spencer; along with many other relatives. She was predeceased by her eldest sister Mary Kai.
Sadako attended Santa Cruz High School, and when World War II broke out, her father was taken by the FBI. The family was separated for much of WW II. With President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, the family was incarcerated in both Crystal City, TX and Poston, AZ, Camp 3, Block 316. Poston was one of 10 U.S. incarceration camps of some 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry. After WW II, the family relocated to Reedley, CA where Sadako worked on the family farm.
In the early 1950s, Sadako enrolled in sewing school in San Francisco. She met her future husband, Sus, at a picnic, were married a year later and bought a home in Santa Clara where they lived ever since. Sadako was a bookkeeper for several companies, arranged flowers in her cousin’s floral shop, but spent most of her working life with the Continuing Ed. Dept. at San Jose State University.
Sadako enjoyed growing vegetables, was a proficient baker, kept a neat and tidy home, and worked into the late evenings before sitting down to read the newspaper. She was a good cook and baker, canned her garden tomatoes, and made various Japanese dishes. She enjoyed trout fishing, played the organ, played bridge, joined a women’s golf league, hosted many parties and gatherings, traveled to Yosemite, Japan, Singapore, Bali, Branson, Reno, Maui golf trips; co-chaired and planned numerous Poston Camp 3 & Crystal City Reunions; joined a ladies investment club; enjoyed many arts & crafts including Japanese ‘bunka’ embroidery; and was a proficient seamstress.
Sadako was a long-time member and volunteer with the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin and several affiliate organizations. Private services were held on November 11, 2023.
Wayne Shimoda
January 20, 1941 – November 1, 2023
Resident of San Jose
Wayne Shimoda passed away after a short illness on November 1, 2023. Wayne was born in Denver, Colorado to George and Ethel Shimoda on January 20, 1941, and was the middle of seven children: Wilbert, Hylam, Elwyn, Wayne, Dwight, Wesley, and Eva Lynne. Growing up, he worked on the family truck farm and was on the Adams City High School wrestling team, where his nickname was “Tiger.”
Wayne enlisted in the Army in the Vietnam War era, was stationed in Washington State, and achieved the rank of sergeant. After he was honorably discharged, he worked at PGE in the San Jose area for 40 years before retiring in 2011.
Always ready with a joke, Wayne loved to laugh. He enjoyed good food and was always generous with the wait staff and kitchen crews. He loved his family and friends, and was loyal to all. His main hobbies were reading, watching sports, and visiting casinos. His chili was a hit and always in demand. While his mother was alive, he always returned to Colorado to help her prepare the garden soil for the winter.
Wayne is survived by brother and sister-in law Dwight and Adrienne Shimoda, sister-in-law Marilyn Shimoda, brother-in-law John Konz, aunt Yuri Shimoda, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. An informal service celebrating his life will be held at Willow Glen Funeral Home in San Jose, Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 11am-1pm. Refreshments will be served. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Roy Riichi Hatamiya, a prominent Marysville farmer of peaches, prunes, walnuts and almonds, died peacefully on Nov. 10 in Yuba City, at the age of 94. He was born in the District 10 area north of Marysville on Feb. 13, 1929, to the late Senichi and Satoki Hatamiya, pioneer immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan. He was preceded in death by three sisters: Kikue (Tad) Tomita of San Jose, Tamaki (Eiitsu) Sugaya of Sunnyvale, and Kimiko, who died in infancy. He is survived by sister Toshiko (Kenji) Minabe of Livingston and younger brothers George (Kashiwa) of Marysville and Robert (Lillian) of Gridley. Roy married Momoko Miriam Kawahara of San Lorenzo in 1961, and together they raised three children: Michael of Yuba City, Ford (Tracy) of Albany, and Leslie (Randy Schieber) of San Bruno. He had four grandchildren: Evan and Alison Schieber and Elle and Jude Hatamiya. Many nephews and nieces and their offspring fill the family tree. Roy completed elementary school in seven years at the District 10 rural grammar school in June 1942. The following month, he was incarcerated with his family at the Tule Lake concentration camp in northeastern California and later transferred to the Amache concentration camp in Colorado. He completed high school in three years, finishing at Amache High School. Upon his family’s return to Marysville at the conclusion of the war, Roy attended Yuba College and completed his education at the University of California at Davis, majoring in pomology. Roy joined his father in the management of H.B. Orchard Co., Inc., a farming enterprise founded by his father in 1919. Roy’s brothers later joined the operation. By the time the three brothers retired in 2005, H.B. Orchard Co. had grown from an 80-acre family farm into 1,100 acres of orchards. Roy had a gift for metalworking, and together with his brothers fabricated many pieces of farm equipment. Roy served as director and secretary of Reclamation District 10, director of Sunsweet Growers, director of the Federal Land Bank Association in Yuba City, member and president of the Marysville Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, member of UC Davis Alumni and Cal Bear Backers, and member of the Yuba County grand jury, as well as an appointed member to the California Cling Peach Advisory Board. Roy’s two avocations were music and fly fishing. He learned to play the French horn and trumpet in grammar school, and while incarcerated in the wartime camps, he played trumpet in dance bands. A 2012 documentary, “Searchlight Serenade,” produced by PBS station KEET of Eureka, presents the story of dance bands in the concentration camps. Roy was one of nine surviving musicians discovered and interviewed for the film. After starting to work on the ranch, Roy was persuaded to take up fly fishing by his cousin Tom Hatamiya. This led to many years of enjoyment, fishing for trophy rainbows and brown trout in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico with three longtime friends, Bob Kells, George Post and Bob Hanke, all of Yuba City. Trips to Canada and Argentina highlighted his experiences. At his request, no memorial service will be held. Donations may be made in his name to the Marysville Chapter of the JACL (P.O. Box 2253, Marysville, CA 95901, or go to marysvillejacl.org) or to the National Japanese American Historical Society (njahs.org).
Eiko Kimura, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 11. Eiko was born April 3, 1924 in Tottori City, Japan to Bunichi and Kimiye Chatani. She graduated from the Tokyo Women’s Christian University in 1944, with a degree in Japanese Literature. She married Katsumi Harry Kimura in Kobe, Japan in 1947. They came to Sacramento in December of 1952 where they lived happily with their four children; Lily, Ted, Judy, and Kathy. In 1975, they suffered a devastating loss when Katsumi passed away at the age of 54, yet she persevered. Eiko wrote a daily column for the Nichi Bei Times English/Japanese newspaper for over 40 years covering local events and Sacramento Japanese American Society. She was highly involved in the community, loved to dress up and socialize, making many long-lasting friendships. Always with a book, magazine, or newspaper, she was a voracious reader and especially loved mystery novels. Eiko was also a poet, winning many first place trophies for her writings in her native Japanese language and was often a judge for a Japanese Language Contest held by Sacramento State. She was an accomplished koto and shamisen player. She received the prestigious Natori Teacher License from Grandmaster Kineya Yajuri signifying an expert level of Nagauta Shamisen and performed throughout California. Eiko loved tea ceremony, Bunka embroidery, silk folding and flower arranging. Equally important to her was spending time at home tending to her Japanese garden and koi pond surrounded by her beautiful flowers. She also found enjoyment in growing orchids, sewing, crocheting and knitting afghans as well as one-of-a-kind sweaters. She was an avid Sacramento Kings fan. Eiko was lovingly called Nana by her grandchildren Kimie and Jason, Kayla, Dylan, and great-grandchildren Alessandra and Kellan. She loved to cook. Her home was always filled with delicious smells and was a second home to her grandchildren. No one ever left hungry or empty handed. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous relatives in Sacramento as well as Japan. To honor Eiko’s final wishes, no services will be held.
Marjorie Imaizumi Fletcher passed away on July 2. She was born in February 1929 in Gardena, Calif. She attended elementary school in Gardena before being relocated to the Santa Anita Racetrack, then later settling in Utah with her family after the war. She later moved to San Francisco to work for the federal government and later the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (The Center). She is preceded in death by her mother, Mito Imaizumi; father, Eiji Imaizumi; five siblings, Kenichi (Emiko), George (Mary), Yoneko (Shigeru Kiyomura), Hideo “Joe” and Florence (George Hamada). She is survived by her son, Stephen Oda; grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Services were held in Kaysville, Utah, officiated by Rev. Jerry Hirano from Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.
Mae Yoshiko Nakajima
4/14/1928-8/1/2023
Mae Yoshiko Nakajima passed away peacefully in her sleep at The Eskaton Assisted Living in Granite Bay, CA on Aug. 1. She was born on April 14, 1928 in Loomis, CA. Mae was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years Michio Nakajima, her parents Takeo and Sakuyo(Uyemori), Brothers Ichiro, Ted Tetsuo, Mitsugi, and Sisters Shizuye Kawada and Frances Fusako Shibata. She is survived by her sister-in-law Nancy Nakajima, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mae graduated from Penryn Elementary, Gross Point High in Michigan, and received her Associate in Arts Degree at City College of San Francisco. Mae worked as an Administrative Assistant at Aerospace for over 25 years.
Mae met the love of her life Michio on a double date. They went to see a show called South Pacific in San Francisco. Mich and Mae moved several times from Northern California to Southern California and to the East Coast and finally retired in 1987. They moved to the Monterey Peninsula in California, and finally to Granite Bay, California. Mae enjoyed reading, sewing, exercising, yoga, tai chi, and going for long walks and watching programs on the Hallmark Channel. Mae enjoyed listening to Dr. Chu’s Saturday Meditation and Sunday Acupuncture lectures on her IPAD. He emailed her weekly lessons and she would study them before the lectures. Mae also loved participating in the exercise classes, movie days, and all the various activities offered at the Eskaton. Mae loved going to the Beauty Salon to get her hair cut and styled and to have a manicure and pedicure. Before moving to the Eskaton Mae and Mich enjoyed going to Johnson Ranch Sports Club every day to work out and visit with their many friends. She loved spending time with her husband Mich and traveling all over the East Coast visiting many historical sites.
Mae was a very kind and caring person. She will be forever loved and greatly missed. The Nakagawa family would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time.
A Memorial Service will be on Sunday, Sept. 3, from 10 to 12 p.m. at the Lambert Funeral Home located at 400 Douglas Blvd, Roseville, CA. Relatives and Friends are welcome to attend.
Nancy Jayne Yoshimoto
8/29/1954 to 7/22/2023
Nancy Yoshimoto passed away 7/22/23 at the age of 68 after losing her battle with cancer. Nancy is survived by brother Gary Alan Yoshimoto, sisters Gayle (Richard) Povlsen and Susan Osterreicher, plus many members of the Yoshimoto, Kohaya, and Shintaku families including nieces/nephews/aunts/uncles/cousins. She was preceded in death by father Kiyoshi Kay Yoshimoto, mother Alice Kohaya Barboza and brother John Steven Shintaku and brother-in-law David Osterreicher. She was born and grew up in San Mateo, having worked for Dalmo Victor and subsequent companies including Northrup Grumman & L3 Communications. Nancy loved animals, enjoyed good food, bowling, and gambling trips. Her vibrant and caring personality will be missed by all who knew her. Per Nancy’s request, no memorial will be held.
Robert Lester Hiraoka, best known as Bobby, was born in San Francisco on April 3, 1989 to Robert and Jodi Hiraoka. He was the eldest child and only brother to his sister, Nichole Hiraoka. He resided in Daly City for most of his life and until his final days.
Bobby had a huge love for bowling, Disney, and spending quality time with his family and friends – whether it was playing games, doing puzzles, singing karaoke, or just hanging out in the living room and laughing straight from the belly.
A lifelong bowler, Bobby’s passion for bowling was felt in his mission to expand the sport for all bowlers in the Bay Area. Whether it was for juniors, adults, or seniors, he always looked forward to running the next big tournament. A few of Bobby’s greatest achievements in the sport include shooting 10+ 300 games, 5-800 series, holding the JANBA Singles Record with 868, and shooting 300 on the same day with his sister in two different states.
Bobby took pride in meshing all of his worlds into one, bringing his family and high school friends into the bowling world, introducing bowling friends into random tournaments he loved, and seeing all of his friends eventually become family with one another.
Bobby will be sorely missed but we hope his legacy lives on through all those who love him.
Edith Sasaki
Aug. 13, 1941 – May 13, 2023
Resident of San Jose
Edith Sasaki passed away on May 13 at the age of 81. She was born on Aug. 13, 1941, and is the oldest of four siblings. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1959. On May 12, 1963, she married Henry Sasaki after he completed his service in the United States Air Force. She graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies in 1988 and from the Graduate Theological Union with a Masters of Arts degree in Buddhism in 2000. In 2016, she became a lay minister after completing her coursework at the Bright Dawn Center of Oneness Buddhism. She was given the Buddhist name “Kiyo” which means “Joyful Sun.”
Edith is survived by her husband, Henry Sasaki; daughter, Melina (Duane) Takahashi; son, Walter (Eileen) Sasaki; son, Li (Thanatporn) Sasaki; and two grandchildren, Kevin and Samantha Sasaki.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at Willow Glen Funeral Home, 1039 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose.
Gary Miyamura, 71, passed away on April 11. He is survived by his sister, Gladys (Gary); daughter, Melanie (Mike), granddaughter, Malikah, and great-grandchildren, Aiko and Ali. He is also survived by Melissa, Jenna, Jennifer (Justin), Julie, Lillian, Jordan, and many cousins; and ex-wife Maureen (Bob). Gary was a Vietnam veteran, having served in 1971 until moving to the reserves in 1973. Gary was an avid bowler and golfer. He had a unique voice and laugh that would bring a smile to your face. The viewing for Gary will be held at the George L. Klumpp Chapel of Flowers on Thursday, May 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., located at 2691 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento. The service will be held the next day at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento on Friday, May 26, at 2 p.m. The address is 2401 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento. Everyone who knew Gary is invited to the viewing and service.
Mae Miyamura, 96, passed away in her sleep on April 11. She was the seventh of nine children. She is survived by her younger sister, Helen; daughter, Gladys (Gary); grandchildren, Melanie (Mike), Jennifer (Justin), and Julie; great-grandchildren, Malikah, Lillian, and Jordan, and her great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. When Executive Order 9066 was issued, Mae had to move to Tule Lake internment camp where she stayed the majority of the time followed by some time in Amache. She was a lifelong fan of bowling and she also loved to sing and play penny slots. She was a most kind and generous individual, who always lent a hand and opened up her home to many family members over the years. The viewing for Mae will be held at the George L. Klumpp Chapel of Flowers on Thursday, May 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., located at 2691 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento. The service will be held the next day at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento on Friday, May 26, at 2 p.m. The address is 2401 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento. Everyone who knew Mae is invited to the viewing and service.
Rev. Dr. Seigen Yamaoka, a retired Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji-ha overseas minister, former bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America, and Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, passed away on Dec. 21 at the age of 89.
