Janet Michiko Ikeda

Janet Michiko Ikeda, 95, passed away on March 6th, 2018. She lived most of her life in Mesa, Arizona. She was born in May 1922, in Los Angeles, CA, to Roy Nobuyoshi Sato and Rai Ohsawa of Japan, and had two older brothers, Carl and Sanford. She graduated from Belmont High School in Los Angeles in 1940 and was attending Los Angeles City College when World War II began. Her family moved to Mesa, Arizona on March 31, 1942, to be near her brother Carl Sato and his wife, Susie Ishikawa Sato. She married Tsutomu "Tom" Ikeda in November 1945, and considers this to be the greatest event of her life. The next "great events" were the births of her children: Virginia, Steven, Kathy, Sanford and Laurie. She and Tom led a very active life and she enjoyed being Tom's partner in the Rotary International world when Tom was president of a local chapter and was later elected District Governor. She studied Japanese classical dance in Los Angeles under Madame Fujima Kansuma from 1939 to 1941. In 1972 she attained the status of Natori Shihan, a certified instructor of the Fujima School of Odori, from the Grand Master Fujima Kanjuro VI of Japan, and was given the name of "Fujima Kansuju". She taught classical odori in Phoenix for many years and her dance group presented programs at local schools, churches, nursing homes, as well as the Phoenix Civic Center, the Arizona State Fair, Los Angeles Nisei Week and the Rose Bowl Parade. She taught Obon folk dances at the Arizona Buddhist Temple for over 30 years, and in November 1974 gave a recital with all her students at the Phoenix Little Theater. She was a member of the Arizona Buddhist Temple since 1942, served as a board member of the National Buddhist Churches of America, and served on the board of the Endowment Foundation of the Buddhist Churches of America in San Francisco from 1991-2001. She was affiliated with the Ikebana of Arizona (flower arranging) and was an adviser in the Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony both of which she served for many years. The Arizona Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens' League was also an important part of her life, and in 2004 she was one of five persons awarded the "The Gold Saguaro Tribute Award" for service to JACL, the Japanese community, and to the greater community. In 2006, she was named one of 10 "Arizona Cultural Keepers" for her outstanding contributions to the community. She was an avid patron of the arts and supported the New York Taiko group, "Soh Daiko," which her son Sanford co-founded, and also "San Jose Taiko." In 1957 she starred in the production of "Tea House of the August Moon," as "Lotus Blossom," at the Phoenix Little Theater. She served on the Mesa Fine Arts Board, and she and her family have been supporters of the Mesa Arts Center. After the passing of her husband Tom, she made a substantial donation in 2003 to the Mesa Arts Center, which then named the largest theater the "Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater." Over the years she often commented to family and friends how grateful she was for having such a full and happy life, a life provided by her husband so that she could live comfortably and with contentment. She truly appreciated all those who were kind to her, especially her family, and nieces and nephew Suzanne, Barbara and CK (Sato). She looked back over her entire life and was always amazed at all the things she had been a part of and felt great satisfaction in serving the community and her family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and daughter, Virginia. She is survived by her children Steven Ikeda (wife Akie), Kathy Ikeda, Sanford Ikeda (wife Jennifer Wada), Laurie Kagiyama, seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Visitation is Friday April 20th 5-8 pm at Meldrum's Mortuary 52 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 21st at the Mesa Hilton 1011 W. Holmes, Mesa, AZ 85210 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arizona Buddhist Temple 4142 W. Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85019 or Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85201. Previous Events Visitation APR 20. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (MT) Meldrum Mortuary 52 N Macdonald Mesa, AZ 85201 [email protected] https://www.meldrummortuary.com Loading map Memorial Service APR 21. 10:00 AM (MT) Hilton Hotel/Mesa 1011 W. Holmes Ave. Mesa, AZ 85210 Loading map