Toshiko Nakamura

Toshiko is survived by Steve Nakamura (son), Dina Masamoto (daughter), James Masamoto (son-in-law), April Mc Culloch (daughter), Michael Mc Culloch (son-in-law), Kathy Nakamura (daughter), and Kazumi Uyechi (sister.) She is also survived by five grandchildren, Race Nakamura, Tylyn Nakamura, Kaili Masamoto, Lani Masamoto, and Maia Masamoto, and many nieces and nephews.

Toshiko’s early childhood was spent on a farm in El Centro, California. She was the youngest of Kanjiro and Kimiyo Tsuchiyama’s five children. Life was abruptly altered when she was among the thousands of US citizens that suffered the loss of liberty and property with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. At the age of seven, she witnessed her father’s arrest by the FBI and was relocated to an internment camp in Poston, AZ with her mother and siblings. After the war, her family lived under a water tower in Downey, California. She endured racist taunts, but didn't let that dampen her spirit. She was known for her joyous nature and laughter.

Toshiko lived her post war years in Los Angeles. She acquired the nickname "Jo" because people had a hard time pronouncing and spelling her name. Toshiko loved to sing and made it the highlight of her high school career. She eventually met the love of her life, Tetsuo Nakamura, at a funeral. They married in November 1959. They had four children: Steve, Dina, April, and Kathy and raised their family in Carson California. Education was a priority for Toshiko and Tets since they didn't have the opportunity to attend university. They were able to live a modest comfortable life and send Steve, Dina, and April to college.

Family life was filled with Toshiko’s homemade meals punctuated with a TV dinner or take-out meal as a surprise or when Toshiko and Tets went out on a date night. Toshiko volunteered at the children’s schools. She filled the house with laughter. When the children returned home from school they would find her working on various art projects in the craft room of the house. She would help the kids with their homework as she cooked dinner. Toshiko planned annual family road trips usually to the Sierras since Toshiko and Tets enjoyed fishing and the beauty of the outdoors.

Toshiko and Tetsuo moved to Oceanside California after Tets retired and they became grandparents. They loved doting on their grandchildren by taking them to Ruby’s on the pier, attending all their school events, inviting them over for meals, and vacationing with them. Toshiko took up oil painting in her later life and produced multiple beautiful paintings with flowers being her most favored subject.

After Tetsuo passed away in December 2012, Toshiko had to learn to live without her husband of 53 years. She turned her energy toward continued care of Kathy and ensuring she had a fulfilling life. In 2014 after fracturing her ankle, she and Kathy moved in with Dina. Toshiko continued to express her creativity through ikebana and water color painting. Vascular dementia and a broken collar bone eventually increased the care Toshiko needed. Even through the pandemic, she continued to care for Kathy via video calls. Kathy and Toshiko had daily video calls talking about what each other ate and what they had done since their last chat. Toshiko went peacefully on January 4 after listening to Kathy talk about her day knowing she would be okay.