Toshiko Miraflor

Toshiko Hirata Miraflor passed away on Thursday, July 31 in Seattle, Washington. She was with loved ones and the very caring nursing and hospice staff who she came to know as her second family.

Born in Okinawa on April 2, 1940, Toshiko grew up in Naha, but also spent time in her teen years living in Tokyo and Osaka.

In 1981, Toshiko moved to Stockton, California with her husband and two daughters. She rebuilt a life in America: took English classes at a community college, spent over 25 years as a waitress, took watercolor painting classes, was a regular at the local bingo halls, and developed a close network of friends.

After her husband's death, she moved to San Jose in 2011 to be closer to family and had to re-establish life again: participated in the adult literacy program at the library, mastered the public transportation system, was a frequent visitor of the Yu Ai Kai senior center, took exercise classes, and discovered she liked fish tacos.

She moved to Seattle in 2023 to be closer to family (again) and faced a number of health scares, but she still battled it out and was able to experience as much of life as she could.

Toshiko is survived by her two daughters, Mayumi (Mimi) and Angie.

Services to honor Toshiko will be held in Okinawa, Japan and Hilo, Hawaii where she can finally rest with those she loved dearly: her husband, mother, and brother.