Kazuko Araya Okamoto, age 90, died December 11, 2019 at St. Francis Hospital. Mrs. Okamoto, the daughter of Kozo and Chiye Araya, was born February 10, 1929, in Korea, where her father was manager of a Japanese bank. She was the youngest of seven children. There will be a private burial Monday, Jan. 6, at the Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery.
Kazuko was always interested in dance, learning ballet, tap and jazz as well as traditional Japanese dance. While still in high school, she auditioned for and was accepted into the Takarazuka, the all-female dance company made famous in the James A. Michenor’s novel and subsequent movie, “Sayonara.” Her mother refused to let her go into the company because she was too young and made sure she finished high school.
She did, however, become a professional dancer after World War II, when she joined the Ernie Pyle Dancers, a company named after the famous war correspondent. It was in the Ernie Pyle Theater when young American soldier Joe Y. Okamoto saw Kazuko on stage for the first time. His friend was dating another dancer in the company and introduced them. After meeting and courting, they were married and had four children in Japan, though the oldest son died two weeks after his birth. In 1959, Joe got orders to go to Fort Huachuca, Ariz. so at age 30, Kazuko left Japan for America, where she had to adapt to rearing children by herself and learning English and American culture. She became a U.S. citizen in 1966. The two youngest Okamoto daughters were born at Fort Huachuca.
The family then moved to Okinawa, Fort Benning and Fort Polk, La. Joe decided to retire in Columbus in 1988, where he worked at the W.C. Bradley Co., and died in 1991. While in high school, Kazuko learned cooking, sewing, needlework, crocheting, knitting and traditional Japanese crafts. Her handmade gifts delighted many friends and acquaintances here in Columbus and beyond. Up until a week before her death, she continued making crafts.
Kazuko is survived by her children, Sandra, Nancy Stacey, Fred (daughter-in-law Cheryl), Dorothy and Patricia Collins (son-in-law John). She loved her grandchildren, Michael Stacey (girlfriend Amanda Smith), Scott Okamoto (wife Susan) and Jessica Okamoto (husband Chris Field) and two great-grandchildren, Kaylee Stacey and Elijah Stacey. She also left behind many relatives and friends in Japan including her remaining surviving brother, Hide.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
