Ronald Yukio Nakasone

After graduating from Mid-Pacific Institute High School in 1961, he attended the University of Hawaii, where he earned a BA in Philosophy in 1965 and an MA in Oriental Art History in 1967. Following his marriage to Irene (née Fujioka) in 1968, the couple lived in Kyoto, Japan, from 1969 to 1975, where he obtained an MA in Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University. In 1976, they relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, where Ronald went on to earn a PhD in Buddhist Studies and a PhD minor in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin in 1980.

Before being ordained in 1983 in the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Buddhist tradition, his diverse early career included working as an illustrator for the University of Hawaii, a graphic artist for the Honolulu Planning Department, a translator for Oscar Mayer, an East Asian Languages lecturer, and a Japanese analyst with the US Army Publication Review Unit in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Ronald was an associate minister at the San Jose Buddhist Church from 1983 to 1986. He spent the following year as a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Center for the Study of World Religions. Upon returning to the Bay Area, he served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Subsequently he was a professor at the Pacific School of Religion and a core doctoral faculty member of Buddhist Art and Aesthetics at the Graduate Theological Union, teaching until April of 2026 when his final student received his PhD degree.

A calligrapher of the Japanese sho tradition, he shared his art through solo and group exhibitions across the globe with the Art of Ink International Society, serving as its president from 2016 to 2025. His exhibitions spanned domestic galleries in Alabama, Texas, Ohio, and throughout California, as well as international showcases in Japan, Chile, Thailand, and France.

An avid fan of classic samurai films, Ronald’s passion for watching chambara (sword fighting) likely inspired him to practice kendo. While living in Japan he achieved the rank of yon dan (fourth degree) and continued his practice back in the United States.

Ronald published four books spanning Buddhist philosophy and ethics, and the Okinawan diaspora and culture. He also wrote dozens of articles on topics such as biomedical ethics, spirituality, art, and aging.

At home, he was a skilled woodworker—a craft he learned from his father—building custom furniture and garden fixtures. He was also an avid gardener who took pride in his summer-blooming lotuses.

Known for his sense of humor and wit, even as he faced the challenges of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), his humor never diminished, and he frequently brought laughter to his doctors and care teams.

On July 31, 2026 Ronald passed away peacefully at home from complications of MSA. He was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Chris, Roy, and Carl. He is survived by his wife Irene; his daughter, Heather, and her husband, Abe Salamanca; and his younger sister, Karen. His ashes will be interred in the Nakasone family tomb in Hawaii sometime next year.

Details of his calligraphy exhibitions, talks/interviews, and publications can be found at formlessform.org.