Chihiro “Joe” Sameshima, 98, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Chihiro was born to Kichiji and Natsuye Sameshima in El Centro, California, raised in Bansei, Kagoshima from age 6 to 19, and settled in Chicago in 1947. He is predeceased by his wife, Masako; siblings, Chizu (Roy) Manshio, Tazu (George) Okazaki, and Harumi and Tatsumi Sameshima; and sister-in-law, Tsuneko Sameshima. Survived by brother, Saburo Sameshima; sons, David and Glenn (Sandy) Sameshima, and daughter, Joyce (Richard) Yamashita from Culver City, Calif.; grandsons, Dylan and Cameron Sameshima, and Sam and Mark Yamashita; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Chihiro grew up on a farm in El Centro, Calif. until the sudden death of his father in 1933. Chihiro’s mother took the family to Bansei, Kagoshima to finish their education, with the goal to return to the U.S. As an American in Japan during World War II, he survived air raids and near starvation. He and his brother, Saburo returned to the U.S. in 1947 on the USS Marine Lynx, and made a new start in Chicago with the help of his sister, Chizu (Roy) Manshio. He worked at American Tara Carbon Paper Factory, while readjusting to life in the U.S. In 1961, Chihiro returned to Kagoshima to marry Masako Sonoda, and raised 3 children in Chicago. In 1975, Masako passed away and Chihiro was left to raise the family on his own. The family thrived while attending the Buddhist Temple of Chicago’s Sunday School and Japanese Language School and continued to volunteer at the annual Natsu Matsuri. Chihiro will be remembered for his kindness, meticulous handwriting, family genealogy work, and making sure we had group photos at every family gathering. A private service will be held by the family.