Masao Ashizawa

1925 - 2016

Masao Ashizawa

May 31, 1925 to March 31, 2016

Masao Ashizawa, 90, owner of Soko Hardware in Japantown, was born in San Francisco. Mas grew up in the City. He and his family were sent to Topaz, Utah internment camp during World War II. After the war, he graduated from University of California, Berkeley and took over Soko Hardware Co. which by then had moved to the corner of Post and Buchanan Streets.
He was founding President of the Nihonmachi Community Development Corp in 1964 and an active member of the Japantown community.
He married Agnes Mori in 1949. Agnes and Mas raised three children: Mark, Brenda and Philip. Agnes preceded Mas in death in 1983. He married Yuki Shibata in 1992.
Mas is survived by wife Yuki Ashizawa, and her daughters, Carol (Tom), Karen and Susan (Tim). Also by his sons Mark and Philip (Eunice), daughter Brenda Katekaru (Alvin); sister Asaye Takagi, and four grandchildren. He is preceded in death by brother, Kiyoshi Ashizawa.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday May 15th at 3:00pm at the San Francisco Buddhist Church located at 1881 Pine Street. In lieu of flowers and koden, donations can be made in memory of Masao Ashizawa to either the San Francisco Buddhist Church, 1881 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 or Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA. 94115.