Toshie KAWAHARA

Toshie Kawahara, a petite but mighty woman with a quiet strength and an admirable wealth of wisdom, passed on August 2, 2025, at the age of 100. She was predeceased by her husband, George Masaaki, and survived by several beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and relatives both in the U.S.A. and Japan.

She led her life with purpose and intention in all she did, ensuring herself that she was always doing the "right" thing for all. Born in Portland, Oregon, on June 8, 1925, the eldest of three in the family of Yoshi and Suyeno Sato, she never lost sight of her responsibility for the welfare of her two younger brothers. They spent their early years in Auburn, Washington, until 1942, when the family was ordered to evacuate to Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno, California, then were transferred to Tule Lake Relocation Camp near the Oregon/California border. This was their home for the next four years, their address, 5203D. Toshie described their living space as a "tar-papered barrack room measuring about 20x25, lined by army cots along one wall with a pot-bellied stove in the middle of the room, and a tiny space left to be used as the "kitchen/living" area. The stove kept us warm during the winter nights if we remembered to pick up the coal."

"Life in camp is something we would not wish on anybody," Toshie reminisced, "but I was able to graduate high school, take additional business classes, learn to design and sew shirts and jackets, crochet and had many friends. I was grateful. I stayed close to my brothers; one joined the United States Army, the other choosing not to sign the Loyalty Questionnaire and becoming known as one of the disloyal "No-Nos." Toshie stood by her brother, voicing only the injustice of the incarceration, never questioning her loyalty to the United States. They were detained at Tule Lake Segregation Center for an extended period.

After leaving Tule Lake at the age of 21, Toshie came to Spokane with few resources where she enrolled at Kinman Business School and worked at Oriental Café, downtown Spokane, where she met George who (in her words) "was an entertaining, funny, happy energetic person who loved helping people!"

While working at Bernards Women's Clothing as a bookkeeper for several years until their closing and retiring from the Department of Social and Health Services in 1991, she maintained a high level of involvement in the Spokane Buddhist Temple and Japanese community. She coordinated an opportunity for Gonzaga Preparatory School to host the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra of Tokyo to perform at the Spokane Opera House in the 1990s, hosted many of the dignitaries from Nishinomiya, Spokane's Sister City, and other high standing visitors from Japan. This became the social life of the couple intending to develop positive relationships between Japan and the greater community of Spokane. Toshie carried this to the age of 100. Her kindness and gracious manner will live with all who had a part of her years.

A private gathering is planned in Spokane. She and George will be laid to rest together at the Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, a service officiated by the Buddhist Temple of Seattle.

Our sincere gratitude to all who shared their lives with Toshie through the years. A special thanks to Tanya Bunker and her exceptional staff at The Classy Retreat - a loving home away from home.