Michiko Villanueva

Mrs. Michiko Sakata Villanueva passed away on June 10, 2025, with her daughter by her side at Celeste Care Home. She had such a love of life and perseverance like no other. She was born on November 7, 1935, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan where she lived during her formative years with eight siblings. She had many hardships to overcome at a young age during World War II. She had many stories to tell about that era of life. She lost her father when she was in her 20’s and promised him that she would foster her family’s prosperity. She ensured that her older brother was established in his private home builder company and another brother primed to own the family fish market in Kita Kyushu. She, her sister Chieko and brother Teruo took charge of cultivating the passion for higher education for their younger siblings and encouraged them to move to Tokyo where the best opportunities were available. Yoshinori earned his undergraduate degree at Meiji University and doctorate degree at Chuo University in Social Sciences and became a distinguished professor, Mineko graduated with a degree in Japanese Studies and advanced her career as the Accounting Director of a Medical Office, and Yoshikatsu graduated from Chuo University and founded his Ei-Shin Gakuin, Private School.

She met the love of her life in Tokyo, Benjamin “Hideo” Villanueva. A three-year long-distance romance ensued as Hideo would commute from his home in Oahu Hawaii to Tokyo Japan for his United States Air Force Volleyball Tournaments. They were married and moved to Hawaii then to their forever home in California, dedicating their lives to raise their daughter Jocelyn “Hiroko”. She worked as a cook at the NCO Club at George Air Force Base and at an Apple Valley Nursing Facility, helping to support her daughter’s higher education. She always encouraged the aspirations to learn.

Michiko loved her family and would travel to Japan annually to visit her mother, siblings, nieces and nephews. She adored her grandchildren and cherished caring for them when they were born and then every Christmas, New Year and summer. Food was her love language with many memories of her creating buffets of Japanese cuisine for her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents Tadaji Sakata and Kimie Yuwami Sakata; her brother Yoshinori Sakata; her sister Toshiko Sakata Takishima; her brother Kyomi Sakata; her compadres Corina Pedraza Zarate and Rudolpho Orlando Zarate; and her devoted husband Benjamin “Hideo” Villanueva. Those who are planning to share her legacy are her daughter Jocelyn ‘Hiroko’ Villanueva Zarate; her son-in-law Rudolfo ‘Rudy’ Pedraza Zarate and adored grandchildren Corina Michiko Villanueva Zarate and Rudolfo ‘Baby Rudy’ Villanueva Zarate. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Teruo and Emiko Sakata; her sister Mineko Sakata Nakai; her brother and sister-in-law Yoshikatsu and Sumie Sakata; her nephews and nieces whom she revered; her loving Villanueva Ohana; and her “Yojo” Laura and Shaunda.

Michiko Villanueva, Obachan’s Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Friday August 15, 2025.

Fort Sam Houston Cemetery-Shelter 1 at 11:00 AM

1520 Harry Wurzbach Road

San Antonio TX 78209

Celebration of Life

Mi Tierra-Mariachi Bar at 1:00 PM

218 Produce Row

San Antonio TX 78207

Our family would like to extend our eternal gratitude to Dr. Lisa Davis; Claudia, Madison and her Amedisys Hospice family; and our Ate Bing and pamilya.