Takeshi Chikamura

Takeshi Chikamura passed on the morning of November 17, 2022, at the age of 96. Takeshi was born on November 7, 1926 to Kaizo and Yēki Chikamura. He was the middle sibling of three – Kaiji “Jim,” Takeshi, and Amy. He graduated from Hunt High School in 1945 and later earned a Commercial Baking degree in 1953.

While most of Takeshi’s life was spent in Seattle, during WWII, he was interned along with his parents and siblings at the Minidoka Internment Camp in Hunt, Idaho from 1942-1945.

Family

Takeshi married Midori Nakahara on May 2, 1954, they were married for 65 years. They raised four children, Eileen, Michael, Richard, and Roger.

Life in Minidoka

Growing up, his children often asked Takeshi about his time in Minidoka. He vividly recalled it was a very difficult time of his life. When Takeshi turned 18 he registered for the Military Selective Service and proceeded to go through the induction process but because of his severe near-sightedness in his left eye, he was rejected. This was a big disappointment because Takeshi’s older brother Jim and many of his friends were already enlisted in the Army. As time went on, to get out of the confines of the internment camp, he volunteered to work on nearby farms. He remembered how working on a farm was so hard but it kept him busy and gave him some freedom. After that experience, he respected the hard work farmers had to endure to make a living.

Life between Camp and Army

Immediately after returning from Minidoka, Takeshi worked as a fabric runner at Farwest Garment Factory in Seattle. After working there a few years, he went on to attend Seattle Central Community College’s Edison Technical school. He tried to get into a program for engine mechanics but there were no open spots so dad chose commercial baking. After attending one year of classes, Takeshi applied at the United States Postal Service but failed an eye test; again he was denied an opportunity because of his extreme near-sightedness. Soon after that incident he was drafted into the US Army; during his physical, he was given an eye exam and passed by memorizing the eye chart. He was accepted into the Army and Takeshi recalled he was happy to finally have the opportunity to serve his country.

Military Service

Takeshi’s military service started at Fort Riley, Kansas with the 1st Infantry Division. After completing basic training, he was transferred to Camp Atterbury in South-Central Indiana with the 467 Chemical Mortar Battalion. He was assigned as a cook because of his baking experience and was sent back to Fort Riley to attend cooking and baking school. From there he was shipped over to Germany where he served one year as a cook in the 28th Tank Division.

Takeshi’s youngest son Roger asked him, what were some of the challenges you faced as an Army cook? Takeshi laughed, "Make tender steaks out of the poorest quality meat so the soldiers would be happy but the most difficult task was trying to stretch the limited rations.”

Career

After being discharged from the Army, Takeshi returned to school and earned his Associates Degree in Commercial Baking. After graduation, he worked at Edgar Brothers Bakery, Bert Graham Bakery, and Gai’s Bakery where he spent 34 years before retiring.

One special honor Takeshi received was during Gai’s Bakery 50th Anniversary Celebration, he and other longtime employees were inducted into Gai’s Bakery “Ring of Honor.”

His work as a commercial baker was physically demanding yet very satisfying. Takeshi took great pride in his craft and often brought his family in for tours to show them the inner workings of a commercial bakery. Takeshi’s specialty was making sourdough and regular French bread, his children recalled him coming home with a warm loaf of French bread late at night ready for butter and their eating pleasure. If you ever ate at the Spaghetti Factory, Ivar’s, or other restaurants back in the day, and ate French bread, you probably ate one of his creations.

Memories

Takeshi had a passion for golf, baseball, and classic movies. He was one of the founders of the Masters Golf Club of which is still in existence today. He shared his love of baseball by taking his children to a Seattle Pilots baseball game at the old Sick's Stadium on Rainier Avenue. His children recalled his enthusiasm and his knowledge of baseball.

Takeshi loved to watch old classic movies and musicals. His family was impressed with his vivid memory of all the finite details of each movie and musical. He was able to recall the release date of the movie, the storyline, the actors in the movie, the song lyrics, and when he first saw the movie as a teen or young adult when movies cost 10-20 cents in the theater.

The eldest child Eileen reflected how her memories of her father were the simple, everyday ways that he took care of his family. The children felt their parents provided a stable, safe, and loving home environment.

Takeshi worked the evening shift so he was the one who usually prepared the family dinners, shopped for groceries, took his children to their medical appointments, or was home with them when they were not feeling well. Eileen had memories of her father taking her to her never ending monthly orthodontist appointments and tagging along with him while he grocery shopped. While grocery shopping, he taught her how to smartly buy produce using his “Rule of 3” of which Eileen uses to this day.

In his golden years, he loved to visit his grandkids Travis and Elliott in California and take gambling trips to Reno and Las Vegas with his wife Midori.

The youngest son, Roger shared a personal note, as a young boy he recalled Takeshi teaching him the game of golf and sharing his love of the game with him. As Roger started to love the game, he was fortunate to play many rounds with his father and his friends in the Masters Golf Club which always included a lot of fun competition, good hearted ribbing, and lots of laughter. Those were some of his most cherished and fun times with his father. A few years ago, knowing his playing days were finally over, Takeshi gave Roger his first putter, a classic blade style putter that Roger cherishes and uses today to honor his father and to carry on his golf legacy.

Closing

Takeshi was a kind, caring, strong, resilient, hardworking, and proud, yet modest individual. He was supportive and always gave the family 100% unconditional love. He taught his family the importance of friendships. Takeshi had a group of friends from childhood and as a young adult with whom he kept in touch with over the years, he really cherished and valued those friendships. One such lasting friendship was with Shobo Tananka.

We will miss Takeshi but the memories and the lessons learned are with us forever. We will hold him in our hearts, along with the wonderful memories we have and count our blessings that he was in our lives, either as a wonderful father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, brother, or friend.