Takahashi Market Owner Dies at 89

Kenge Takahashi, a World War II veteran and longtime owner of Takahashi Market in San Mateo, Calif. died July 28. He was 89.

The family has run the market for over a century. Located at 221 South Claremont Street, Takahashi Market offers Japanese and Hawaiian specialties.

Issei Tokutaro Takahashi started the business as a horse and buggy operation before opening a general merchandise store to cater to San Mateo’s growing Japanese American population.

During WWII Kenge Takahashi and his family were incarcerated at Topaz. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the segregated 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team.

He was a JACL Thousand Club member.

Takahashi was preceded in death by his wife Sachiko, brother Noboru and sisters Tsuya and Masa Oida. He is survived by his children Gene (Phylis), Norma (Charles), Jack (Karrie) and Anne (Wilbur); grandchildren Stacy, Bobby and Samantha; nephew Yukio Oida; and cousins Shig (Best) and Moto (Tazu).

IN MEMORIAM

Chang, Joanie, 41
July 31; Civil rights attorney who worked on the nation’s first paid family medical leave law. Survived by partner Luna Yasui, daughters Ayumi and Yuuki Chang-Yasui, parents Sakae and Bilin and brothers Steven and Thomas.

Fukiage, Gwendolyn M., 80
Vale, Ore.; Aug. 4; a member of the Treasure Valley Spinners and Weavers Guild; preceded in death by husband, Kenzo “Ken”, daughter, Toni Fukiage Chan and brother, Gerald Yut. Survived by daughter Kimberly Rutten, grandchildren, Nathan and Nichole Rutten and sisters Janet Locke and Lois Yut.

Fukutomi, Joe
Oxnard, CA.; Aug. 2; born and raised in Gresham, Ore.; served in the U.S. Army and Civil Service in Japan. A strawberry grower in the three-generation family-run Ventura County business until his retirement. Survived by his wife of 61 years Setsuko, sons, Michael (Anna) and Gerald and daughter, Betty (Britt) Bayles, six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Furukawa, Lois, 97
May 26; survived by son Gordon, grandchildren and sisters; predeceased by husband Makoto Yamaguchi, the first president of the Cincinnati JACL.

Kikuno, Mamoru, 80
Torrance, CA.; Aug. 4; survived by wife Nariko, children, Dennis (Carrie), Barry (Wendy) and Kenny (Kazumi); 9 grandchildren, sister, Judy Masako (Frank) Nakatani. Also survived by many other
relatives in Japan.

Matsui, Everett, 87
Spokane, WA.; July 9; 100th Battalion/442nd RCT canon company and Purple Heart veteran preceded in death by parents, brothers Tak, Hank, Ben, Mas and sister Yaeko. Survived by wife Tsuyoko Sue, daughter Jennifer (Jon) Meyer, son Jeff, sister Aiko Kadaya, brother Mike, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Narita, Haruko, 96
Cortez, CA.; June 19; survived by children Leona, Carole, Ken, Ruby, Ilene Sato, Gail Creighton, Sandra Beattle and sisters.

Nishitani, Alice Yoshiko, 92
Nyssa, Ore.; Aug. 8; a gifted piano teacher for over 50 years who influenced hundreds of students to enjoy music. Survived by children David and Melissa, son-in-law Dave Forrey, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sasaki, Raymond, 81
Monterey Park, CA.; Aug. 6; husband of Sachiko, father of Bradley (Myo), grandfather of Sydney and brother of Henry. Survived by many other relatives.

Takahashi, Wesley Kiyoshi
Dinuba, CA.; May 17; worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 35 years before retiring in 1992 after 35 years of government service including the U.S. Air Force in Japan. Survived by wife Masako, brother Marvin Takahashi, sister Judy Ibarra and nieces.

Terada, Nobuo “Nobe”, 80
Nampa, ID.; Aug. 10; a row crop farmer who served in the U.S. Army from 1951-52. Survived by wife Keiko, sons Eddy, Jeff, Scott and Casey, sisters Kiyoko and Ayako, brother Bob and grandsons.

Tokuda, Tsuyoshi Tom, 86
Marina del Rey, CA.; Aug. 1; WWII veteran. Survived by wife Hideko, sister, Hideko Helen
Nakayama, sisters-in law Etsuko Tokuda and Yoshiko Muto, brother-in-law, Taro J. (Tsune) Inouye and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Tsubota, Thomas, 74
July 22; served two tours in Vietnam before becoming an ROTC instructor in North Dakota; survived by wife Irmgard of Salinas, ex-wife Aida Whetton of Gustine, sons Tom and Jonathan, daughter Sona Isakson and grandchildren.

Yamachika, Tetsuto, 87
Gardena, CA.; Aug. 5; served for 50 years as a Department of Defense civilian in Okinawa, Japan. Survived by wife Katherine, children, Gregg (Johnna Yorichi), Aileen Bunin (Nicholas), grandchildren Lindsay and Kyle, sisters Gladys Okamura and Mildred Morioka and brothers Henry and Edward.