Rei "Ray" Fujiwara

Rei “Ray” Fujiwara passed away March 28, 2018, in Olympia, Washington. He was born November 27, 1948, to Roy Clifford Magnuson and Eiko Fujiwara in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. Ray graduated from Yokosuka Gakuin High School in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan. He married Misayo Sano February 15, 1982, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. He later married Yoko (Aoyama) Fujiwara on December 28, 2006, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Ray is survived by his wife, Yoko Fujiwara. He is also survived his first wife, Misayo Sano; daughter, Mai Watanabe, and her husband, Keisuke Watanabe; son, Jin Sano, and his wife, Rumi Sano; and two granddaughters, Reika Sano and Kotoha Sano. He was a professional trumpeter. He started to play trumpet when he was in junior high school. His profession started at U.S. Navy EM club in Yokosuka, Japan. He joined professional jazz orchestras: Yuichiro Nanri with Red Peppers and Charlie Ishiguro with Tokyo Panchos. While he was in Nobuo Hara with Sharps and Flats, he played trumpet for Diana Ross, Nancy Wilson, Vicki Carr and Sammy Davis Jr. He also played trumpet in the Tokyo Disneyland Jazz Band with Ira Nepus and Gary Matsuura. Later on, he created and lead a jazz orchestra, Ray Fujiwara with Associates, and played as solo trumpeter. He moved to Yelm, Washington, from Japan in 2011 with his wife, Yoko Fujiwara. He looked for his American relatives and met aunt, Marian Briggs, and her husband, Robert Briggs; cousin, Roy Briggs, and his wife, Denise Briggs, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He played trumpet in the Dukes of Swing Orchestra at Aberdeen and Long Beach. He played in Yelm, Olympia and Tumwater. He liked reading all his life. After he moved to Yelm, he started to enjoy gardening and driving. He loved playing with dog, Enn, and cat, Tepi. Please leave memories of Rei or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.