Obituaries

Oct 25, 2023

Yasuko Harada, 95-year-old, Osaka Japan-born, resident of Valley Village peacefully passed away at Residence on October 25, 2023.  She is survived by her loving family; daughter, Kinuko Brown; son-in-law, William Brown; grandson, Bryan Yoshi Brown; also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Oct 21, 2023

MRS. ELLEN LEIKO ARAKAKI, 91, born in Hawaii, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on October 21st at her residence in Gardena.

She is predeceased by her dearest husband, Eugene; parents, Harry and Peggy; and brother, Thomas.

Ellen is survived by her family: daughter, Darlene (Armando); sons, Brian (Virginia,d'd) and Craig (Maria);...

Oct 17, 2023

Edwin Tsuruzo Fujii

Edwin Tsuruzo Fujii was born on July 22, 1936 in Hilo, Hawaii. and passed away peacefully on October 17, 2023 at LAC Harbor UCLA Medical Center.

He is survived by his loving wife, Iris; son, Ross Fujii; daughter, Kristi (Richard) Wagner; sister, Michiko (Hiro) Nishida; Grandchildren, Ashley, Jonathan and Tyler...

Oct 16, 2023

A private memorial service for the late Carol Fujimoto, 96-year-old, Washington born, resident of Altadena, who passed away on October 16, 2023, was held on Saturday, December 2 at Fukui Mortuary "Chapel in the Garden" in Los Angeles.

Predeceased by her husband, Toshio Fujimoto; she is survived by her son, Gary (Akiko) Fujimoto; granddaughter, Camille Fujimoto; she...

Oct 15, 2023

A private memorial service for the late Karen Makabe, 78-year-old, Arkansas born, resident of Hacienda Heights, who passed away on October 15, 2023, was held on Wednesday, November 15 at West Covina Christian Church.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin Makabe; brothers, Monte (Jean) and Kenny (Harriet) Furuya; she is also survived by nieces, nephews and...

Oct 13, 2023

Phyllis Mieko Oyama, 76-year-old, Honolulu-born, resident of Los Angeles peacefully passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on October 13. She is survived by her loving Family; daughter, Stephanie (Travis, Carson and Taylor Rose) Iseri; son, Mark (Cecilia, Cassandra and Diego) Oyama; also survived by her sisters Judy Onishi and Katherine Ng; brothers Wayne (Ruth) Okubo and William (Lois) Okubo;...

Oct 13, 2023

Tazue Hayashi, 96-year-old, Hawaii, Hilo-born, resident of Ceritos peacefully passed away at Residence on October 13. She is survived by her loving family; daughter, Wendy Hayashi; son, Stuart Hayashi; also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Funeral service was held at KOYASAN Buddhist Temple, Bishop Yuju Matsumoto officiating.

Oct 10, 2023

Craig Tsukasa Isobe

July 7, 1947 – October 10, 2023

Craig Isobe , born in Los Angeles, passed away at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance on October 10, 2023, at the age of 76.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Takeo and Kikue Isobe; sisters Donna Nagatani and Faye...

Oct 9, 2023

Sharon passed away on October 9, 2023 in Upland CA at the age of 71. Born on March 26, 1952 in Los Angeles, she was the younger daughter of Kiyoshi and Sumiye Okita.

Sharon's warm and welcoming spirit made her home a haven for many. She hosted countless family and friends over the years, always greeting them...

Oct 9, 2023

Tomiko Nakayama (95) passed away on October 9, 2023.

She is survived by her loving family: son, Dr. Kensaku Nakayama; daughter-in-law, Dr. Rumiko Nakayama; grandchildren, Karissa and Kendall Nakayama; brother, Masato Kawahara (of Japan); sisters, Takiko Ito and Hiroko Hoshizaki (the latter of Japan); also many nieces, nephews and other relatives here in the US and in...

Oct 8, 2023

Miyoko Nakama Nakamoto, 95-year-old resident of Gardena, CA, passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 8, 2023.  Born and raised in Lahaina, Hawaii, she spent most of her life in California after moving to Los Angeles in 1957.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Yoriyoshi "Danny".  She is survived by her daughters: Lori (Paul) Prybylla, Shari...

Oct 8, 2023

Nobuye (Komori) Ujita of Monterey Park, California went to be with the Lord on October 8, 2023.

She was born in Los Angeles in 1938 to Minoru and Haruyo Komori. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Hideto Ujita, her sister Kikuye Kanegawa, and her brother Nobuaki Komori. She is survived by her brothers Teruaki...

Oct 8, 2023

Shizumi Matsuda, 100-year-old, born in Garden Grove, California, resident of Los Angeles passed away peacefully on October 8, 2023. Memorial Service was held on Saturday, November 18 at Fukui Mortuary "Chapel in the Garden", officiated by Rev. Hibiki Murakami of Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.

She is survived by children, Dennis (Arlene) Matsuda, Alan Matsuda, Joanne (Henry) Ota,...

Oct 8, 2023

Joseph James Yukawa was born on November 3, 1944, a residence of Los Angeles, California passed away peacefully on October 8, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Jo and Gladyce Masaye Yukawa, and is survived by his loving wife, Amy Yukawa.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023...

Oct 6, 2023

Sumiko Mashiyama

Sumiko Mashiyama, born in Hawaii, passed away peacefully at her residence in Long Beach on October 6, 2023, at the age of 93. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 26, at noon at Koyasan Buddhist Temple, 342 E. First St., Los Angeles.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ernest Mashiyama....

Oct 4, 2023

September 2, 1961 – October 4, 2023

Fleta P. Gray, a Yonsei, was born on September 2, 1961, to Lylienne Seiko Kurisaki Gray and Paul D. Gray in Monterey Park, Calif.

She was proud of her Japanese heritage and her Nisei grandparents, Sachi Vivienne and Lyle Kuzuki Kurisaki Sr. She often spoke fondly of her...

Oct 3, 2023

Kenneth Shoichi Matsumura

November 25, 1930 – October 3, 2023

Kenneth Shoichi Matsumura was born in Hilo, Hawaii on November 25, 1930 and passed away at his residence on October 3, 2023 at the age of 92. Kenneth is preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite; brothers Julius, Walter, Herbert and Chester Matsumura. He is...

Oct 2, 2023

Tadao Sakamoto, an 87 year-old, Japan born, resident of Los Angeles, passed away on October 2, 2023.  Per his wishes, no services will be held.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Yoshiko Sakamoto; son, Hiroaki (Yoko) Ochiai; grandchildren, Trenton and Leila Ochiai; he is also survived by other relatives here and in Japan.

Sep 29, 2023

Noboru Ogi, a 95-year-old, Gilroy, California-born, resident of Los Angeles, passed away on September 29, 2023.

Predeceased by his beloved wife, Fumiyo Kazuyo Ogi; he is survived by his loving family: sons, Jeffrey (Alice) and Mitchell (Tammy) Ogi; daughter, Julie (Movses) Karakossian; 4 grandchildren, Sydney, Kayton, Ryland, Angelina; sibling, Yoneko Iwata and many nieces and nephews.

Sep 28, 2023

Longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, Yuriko Hohri died peacefully at home at the age of 94. Born May 25, 1929 in Long Beach, she was the first of four daughters born to Noboru (Tom) Katayama and Yaye Katayama (Kanow).

Rapidly developing world events intervened when her family was interned in Santa Anita racetrack after the Japanese attacked...