Sumiko Yanagihara

Sumiko (Horiye) Yanagihara was born in Holtville, California, on May 27, 1935, to Tsunekichi and Shizuka (Nakano) Horiye. She passed away peacefully at home on October 7, 2026, following a four year battle with cancer.

The Horiye family farmed in the Imperial Valley until they were removed from their home and incarcerated at the Poston internment camp in Arizona in 1942,. After the end of World War II, the Horiye family relocated to San Diego. Sumiko graduated from San Diego High School in 1953 and went on to work for Bank of America.

On November 3, 1956, she married Tom Yosuke Yanagihara. They lived in Paramount, California, where their two oldest children were born, where Sumi and Tom worked at a chicken processing farm owned by Tom’s uncle. They later moved back to San Diego.

In 1969, Sumi and Tom purchased Ouchi Nursery from Tom’s uncle. Together, they ran the nursery and landscaping business until 2004, when they decided it was time to sell the business and retire.

Sumiko was active in the Japanese community and several nonprofit organizations. The Buddhist Temple of San Diego, (The House of Japan now) Japanese Friendship Garden, Kiku Gardens, San Diego Japanese American Historical Society, SD chapter Japanese American Citizens League and CA Assoc of Nurserymen. While Tom served on the boards of various organizations, Sumi was the dedicated worker behind the scenes, always ready to lend a hand wherever she was needed.

Sumiko loved sports, especially baseball, and was a lifelong San Diego Padres fan. She had been following the Padres since their days at Lane Field. She and Tom bowled in leagues together for many years, and she played in a softball league with her niece and friends. She also loved a little friendly competition and could often beat her grandchildren at a game of “HORSE.”

One of Sumi’s favorite pastimes was playing bingo and slot machines. She visited casinos several times a month and played bingo at several churches. Sumi was well known for her collection of frogs, especially frogs with their mouths open—because they caught more winnings!

Sumiko and Tom enjoyed traveling around the world with friends. But her most cherished trips were the family trips. She was a dedicated wife, sister, mother and grandmother. She leaves a profound void in her family and will be greatly missed.

Sumiko is survived by her three children, Susan Schraeder, Tom M. (Coleen) Yanagihara, and Carol (Michael) Yanagihara Baker; seven grandchildren, Caitlin (Brian) Yoshioka, Trevor (Deanna) Bliss, Charles Y. Baker, Dusty Schraeder, Kyle Y. Baker, Emma Yanagihara, and Ellie Yanagihara; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna Ito and Tsune Hashiguchi; two brothers, Handy Horiye and Isao Horiye; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Y. Yanagihara and five siblings: Emiko Ito, Sadako (T-Bone) Horiye, Ben Horiye, Charlie Horiye, and Hedy Fleisher.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations can be made to the Buddhist Temple of San Diego or the Japanese Friendship Garden in Sumiko’s name.

There will be a celebration of life. Details to come.