Yasuo Kikuchi - Rafu Shimpo

Yasuo Kikuchi
January 13, 1933 — February 24, 2021

Business owner and loving husband, father and grandfather Yasuo Kikuchi, 88, died peacefully on February 24, 2021, at his home in Torrance, Calif.

Yasuo was born on January 13, 1933, in Ikata in the Ehime Prefecture of Japan where his family owns a tangerine orchard. An adventurous soul, he wanted to move to America, which he did in 1954 when he was 21. In 1959, Yasuo married May Kinomoto, and they had three daughters — Nancy, Donna and June.

Yasuo owned three successful businesses, the last one a retail hardware store that he ran with his wife for about 30 years before retiring in 2002. He was a long-time member and former president of Nanka Ehime Kenjinkai and regularly volunteered in Little Tokyo alongside his daughter, Nancy.

A kindhearted and generous man, Yasuo was known for his sense of humor, hearty laugh and devotion to his family. He took great joy in being jichan to his four grandchildren.

Having lived the American dream, Yasuo considered himself to be the luckiest man because he did everything he wanted to do.

Yasuo is survived by May, his wife of 61 years; his daughters Donna (Marty) Hernandez and June (Lonnie) Akers; and his grandchildren — Marissa and Alana Hernandez, and Jake and Janna Akers. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nancy in 2014. He also leaves behind family in Ehime, including siblings Hitoshi (Atsuko) Kikuchi and Teruko (Toshiaki) Hashimoto.

Due to COVID restrictions, no public memorial will be held. In April, the family will hold a private graveside service, officiated by Rev. Taisen Miyata, Bishop Emeritus of Koyasan Buddhist Temple.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Little Tokyo Public Safety (Koban).