Akiko Miyamoto

Akiko Miyamoto died May 22 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. She was born Akiko Sato on August 5, 1928 in San Diego, California. She was the second of three children of Meijiro and Fusayo Sato. As a young girl, Akiko learned Japanese odori dancing from Fujima Kansuma. She also learned to play the koto, piano and organ.

Akiko transferred to USC and graduated from the USC School of Pharmacy in 1951. While at USC, she was also one of the “founding mothers” of Sigma Phi Omega, USC’s oldest Asian American sorority and third oldest in the United States.

Akiko worked as a pharmacist for over 40 years working in San Marino, Chicago, and Monterey Park. In retirement, she enjoyed golfing, traveling and time with her grandchildren.

Akiko is preceded in death by her husband, Osamu, her parents, and brother, Hank Sato. She is survived by her children: Karen Lim and husband Randy, Keith Miyamoto and wife, Debbie, Lynn Miyamoto and her husband Kevin Kroeker, and Kent Miyamoto and wife, Janet; her nine grandchildren: Kenny Lim (wife Rachel), Allyn Lim, Kyle Miyamoto, Corrina Kroeker, Brett Miyamoto, Kaylin Miyamoto, Saralyn Kroeker, Lauren Miyamoto, and Karly Miyamoto, and her great grandson, Lucas Lim; sister, Kazuye Tsuboi.