Mihoko Mukai

Mihoko Sato was born on December 14, 1935 in Nagasaki, Japan. She was 84 years old when she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at Little Company Mary Hospital in Torrance, CA, with family by her side.

Mihoko was the youngest daughter of Sadahei Sato and Yone Tanaka of Japan, and sister to Sadanori, Teruyo, Noriko, Toshinobu, Takeko, Nobuwatsu and Yasuhiro, all of whom preceded her in death.

Mihoko was an atomic bomb survivor – surviving the direct impact of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in August 1945 during World War II. She was 9 years old. Her father, oldest sister Teruyo, older brother Nobuwatsu, and her younger brother Yasuhiro did not survive the bombing.

Mihoko was married to Thomas Mamoru Mukai of Honolulu, HI, for 53 years, until his death in December 2008 at the age of 79.

Mihoko and Tom had 5 children together, plus 10 beloved grandchildren. Since Tom was in the U.S. Army, they lived in many places, including Japan, Italy, Maryland, Oklahoma and California. They settled down in Manhattan Beach, CA in 1964 and raised their family there for 25 years before moving to Torrance, CA in 1992.

Mihoko was a homemaker for many years, before she and Tom started their own wholesale goldfish business in the early 1970s. They continued their home-based business for 20+ years until opening a retail fish store in Torrance in the early 1990s.

Mihoko is survived by her sons Robert (wife Rubi), Roy (wife Esther), daughter Anita (husband Bob), and 10 beloved grandchildren: Katie, Ally, Rushien, Natalie, Amy, Jonathan, Jason, Andrew, Alyssa & Ava.

Although we will miss our beloved “Sama” and “Grandma” terribly, we are comforted knowing that she is finally able to rest and is at peace.

“To our beloved Sama and Grandma - you lived a truly meaningful life and touched so many lives. We love you and will miss you terribly. Your legacy will live on through your children, grandchildren, friends, and everyone who will come to hear your story in the years to come. Say hello to everyone “up there”. Until we see you again...”