Toshiko Sakata

Toshiko Sakata was born April 29, 1925 at home in Clarksburg, CA.  Her Father, Sadami Shimada, told her we remember that date as it was the Japan’s Emperor’s birthdate. Toshiko was born the 2nd child of Sadami & Yoshiko Shimada and had 3 siblings, Hatsue, Jim & David. During the Depression Era, Sadami took the family to Japan for one year. They returned to the US and lived in Clarksburg where she attended Clarksburg Elementary School during the week and the Holland Japanese School on Saturdays. She lived in Clarksburg until the start of WWII when her family was directed to the Florin Buddhist Church, loaded onto a Greyhound bus to the Arboga Assembly Center near Marysville. They stayed there from February to June 1942 until they moved to Tule Lake Concentration Camp. Camp records show that Toshiko left Tule Lake in December 1945 for Reno where she was a governess for a judge’s family.  She married Sam Sakata in 1946 and had 4 children:  Steve, Janet, Barry & Allen. She and Sam cleared pear trees and built their home in Clarksburg in 1960. She raised her family in Clarksburg and lived there till her death. Toshiko loved to be out and was always ready to hop in a car.  She was an active member of the Walnut Grove Buddhist Church participating in all their activities.  She also was a member of the Clarksburg Garden Club, Asian Community Center, and local knitting circle.

Family requests “no koden”. Donations in Mom’s name may be made to your charity, Walnut Grove Buddhist Church (PO Box 336, Walnut Grove, CA 95690) or ACC Senior Services (7334 Park City Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831). Thank you.