KOJIMOTO, SADAME, 88, after enduring Alzheimer’s Disease for twenty years, peacefully passed away on January 4, 2017.

Sadame was born on March 18, 1928, in San Francisco Chinatown, the youngest daughter of Tsunesuke and Setsu Hara. The Hara family lived next-door to the International Hotel on Kearny Street. Sadame’s parents operated a dry-cleaning business at that location. Sadame completed Jean Parker Elementary School and was attending Francisco Junior High School when the United States Government unjustly removed and incarcerated the Hara family during World War II, first at Tanforan, then the Santa Anita racetrack stables and finally Topaz, Utah.

After returning to San Francisco from Topaz, Sadame earned an Associate Degree at City College of San Francisco. Sadame married Mitsunobu Kojimoto on March 18, 1950 in San Francisco. They had three children: Keith, Kathy, and Carrie. Sadame worked for many years as a medical transcriptionist at the University of California, San Francisco. She was an active volunteer in the local Japanese American community: helping to launch the Oshogatsu New Year celebrations and Kimochi’s Nutrition Program; regularly attending the monthly speaker programs sponsored and organized by the Center for Japanese American Studies; faithfully coming to the Day of Remembrance events, and other activities. Sadame joined other Nisei to start the group Nikkei and Retirement and was a dedicated core member.

Sadame is survived by her children Keith (Priscilla), Kathy, and Carrie, granddaughter Gayle (Gary Hume) and great-grandchildren Kiana and Derek, her sister Michiko Kawaguchi, and nieces and nephews. Mits and sisters Taiko Hara and

Shizuko Itaya predeceased her. A private service was held.

The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude for the compassionate care that Sadame received at Irene Swindells Alzheimer’s Residential Care Program and Irene Swindells Center for Adult Day Services.