Masako Shibuya

Masako (Shimada) SHIBUYA 6/19/1922 ~ 3/12/2011 Masako passed away on March 12th in Kirkland Washington. She was born in Seattle on June 19, 1922 to Yataro and Miyoshi Shimada. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Fumiko, all in Japan. Masako grew up in Seattle until 1939 at which time her mother took the two daughters on a trip to Japan. Due to family health problems and the war, they were unable to return to the US. In 1944 she married, had her son, Toshiaki, in 1945, divorced and worked for the US Military Government before she returned to the US in 1948. After several years of campaigning on behalf of her son, in 1952 Toshiaki was able to enter the US by a special Act of Congress signed by President Harry S Truman. Masako was married in 1957 to Masanari "Mas" Shibuya. They shared over 45 happy years together before his death in 2004. Masako was a very active member of the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple devoting long hours of work on the temple archives. She was an excellent cook and seamstress and maintained her lifelong interest in Japanese culture. She is survived by her son, Gene Toshiaki Shimada (Paula) and grandchildren, Seth and Erin Shimada.She is also survived by numerous cousins in Japan. We want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Therese Law for her many years of care, to Dr. Wm. Hammond, Dr. Derel Finch, ARNP Heather Hinds and their staff members for the kind and special attention given to Masako. We also extend our appreciation to the staff of Merrill Gardens, Kirkland, for their concern and thoughtful care. A memorial service for family and close friends will be held on Tuesday, March 22nd at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple at 1:00 p.m. Memorial gifts may be made to the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, 1427 South Main Street, Seattle WA 98144 or a charity of your choice.