Obituaries

Aug 11, 2023

Robert Kiyoshi Higa, 96-year-old Nisei, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2023 in Torrance, CA. Born in Los Angeles, he worked as a certified public accountant most of his life. The third of four children in his family, he is predeceased by his brother Miyoshi and sister Florence Hattori.  He is survived by his wife Kazuko, younger sister Sadako...

Aug 11, 2023

Bill Nishitsuji, 90-year-old, Colorado-born, resident of Fullerton passed away on August 11.  He is survived by his loving family, daughters, Lori (Kevin Pratt), Wendy and Deron Nishitsuji; grandchildren, Matthew Jacoby, Amanda, Lauren and Lindsey Liu; sister, Irene Shimamoto; also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Memorial service will be held at Wintersburg Presbyterian Church on...

Aug 10, 2023

A celebration of life service for the late Julianne "Juli" Sachiko Yoshimura, 25-year-old, Los Angeles born, resident of Montebello, who passed away on August 10, 2023, will be held on Saturday, September 9, 10 a.m. at Lake Avenue Church 393 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena.  Casual attire is requested.  In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family kindly requests...

Aug 9, 2023

Tak Murase, 96, passed away on August 9, 2023.

Private family services were held on October 28, 2023. Tak was a beloved long-time member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the Monterey Park Japanese American Senior Citizens, and San Gabriel Nikkei Senior Clubs. He was an active volunteer at the Little Tokyo Koban in downtown Los Angeles.

Aug 7, 2023

Tina Mitsui Nonga, 66, of San Juan Capistrano passed away on August 7, 2023, of complications from diabetes. She was born on August 22, 1956, in Tokyo, Japan, to Manuel and Misao Nonga. She grew up in Hawaii until her family moved to Carson in 1972 when Tina was 15.

Tina graduated from Carson High School in...

Aug 5, 2023

Fumiko Shigemura, 95-year-old, Aomori, Japan-born, resident of Gardena peacefully passed away at Kei Ai South Bay Health Care Center on August 5.   She was predeceased by her loving husband, James Shigemura; She is survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives in Japan and USA.

Funeral service was held at FUKUI "Chapel in the Garden" on August...

Jul 30, 2023

Hideo Wataguchi, 93-year-old, Loomis-born, resident of Los Angeles peacefully passed away at Residence on July 30.   He is survived by his loving family; wife, Kayoko Wataguchi; sons, John M. (Cheryl), Alan R. (Stacie) Wataguchi;

Funeral service will be held at FUKUI "Chapel in the Garden" on Saturday, August 19 at 9:30 am, Reverend Hibiki Murakami of Hompa...

Jul 30, 2023

TBD

Jul 28, 2023

In loving memory, friends and colleagues will be gathering to Celebrate the Life of the beloved and late Martha Miiko Nakagawa, 56 year old, Los Angeles born, resident of Gardena, who passed away on July 28, 2023.

Ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 27, 11:00 AM at Fukui Mortuary "Chapel in the Garden" 707 E. Temple...

Jul 27, 2023

Thomas Teruo Asahino, age 98 of Laguna Niguel, California, went home to be with the Lord on July 27, 2023 after a brief illness. He was born in Mahukona, Hawaii on September 16, 1924, the second child of six, to parents Naoma and Sekino Asahino. Thomas graduated from Kohala High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Army...

Jul 26, 2023

Ellyn Toshiye Iwata was born on November 1, 1957 in Whittier, Calif. and passed away peacefully on July 28, 2023 at her residence.

She is survived by her sons, Warren, Derek and Jason Yamashita.

www.fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441

Jul 25, 2023

Masako Okamura

Masako Okamura, 89, born on January 1, 1934, in Norwalk, Calif. and a long-time resident of Montebello, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on July 25, 2023. A Sansei, her family moved around during her childhood, and evacuated from Arlington, Calif. to be incarcerated at Colorado River (Poston 1)...

Jul 23, 2023

Ruby Tamiko (Tashima) Mio

August 3, 1922 - July 23, 2023

Ruby Tamiko Mio, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 (eleven days short of turning 101) at Brookdale Senior Living in Torrance with her daughter by her side.  Born in Corinne, Utah, she was raised on...

Jul 22, 2023

A celebration of life event for the late Leland Hisato Hayashi, 83-year-old, longtime resident of San Gabriel, who passed away on July 22, 2023, will be held on Sunday, September 10, 11 a.m. at the Japanese American National Museum 100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012.  The family kindly requests in lieu of koden and flowers, donations be...

Jul 21, 2023

Elaine Hisae Komai, 72-year-old, Santa Monica-born, and resident of Temple City, Calif., passed away peacefully on July 21, 2023.

After graduating from high school, she enrolled as a student at Pasadena City College, where she earned an Associate's Degree and eventually found work in the school's Facilities and Safety/Police Services departments. After being employed at PCC for...

Jul 20, 2023

YOSHITAKA ENA February 11, 1940 - July 13, 2023 Yoshitaka Ena, 83, passed away peacefully in his home with his family by his side. He was born in Osaka, Japan and immigrated to Los Angeles to attend UCLA.  He opened New Japan Travel Center, a travel business servicing professional sports teams, Japanese media and the community of Little Tokyo...

Jul 18, 2023

Betty Kurakake passed away peacefully on July 18 a few days after her 96th birthday. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Melvin Kurakake. Betty was born into the Shiroishi Family of 8 children in Long Beach, CA.

At the outbreak of WW11, the family was moved to Santa Anita and later to Jerome Relocation Center in...

Jul 16, 2023

Mrs. Keiko Hataoka, 88, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2023.

She is predeceased by her sister in Japan.

She is survived by her loving family: son, Hiro Hataoka; brother, Kunio (Sachiko) Hataoka of Japan; 2 nieces and 1 nephew of Japan and many cousins and relatives.

Private family funeral services were held...

Jul 15, 2023

Reiko Sugahara of Los Angeles, California, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2023 at the age of 90.

Reiko was born on the Big Island of Hawaii, Kukaiau, HI, to Tsunematsu and Toyono Kuroiwa Sugahara

She suffered from Polio as a young child yet she persevered and graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute (1951) and the University...

Jul 14, 2023

Mary Mitsuko Shimomura, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii born resident of Artesia, CA passed away on July 14, 2023 at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years, Stanley, daughters, Kathy Suyetsugu and JoAnn, granddog Zoey, many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Services were held August 6 at Fukui Mortuary Chapel in the...