MIHARA, NOBUO JOSHUA, founding member of Paper Tree in San Francisco’s Japantown, peacefully passed away on October 4th, 2024 at age 93.

“Nob” as most of his friends and family called him, was born in San Francisco to Tokinobu and Hideko Mihara on March 2, 1931. During the war, the family was interned at Heart Mountain, Wyoming from 1942 to 1945. While in camp, he saw snow for the first time and was fascinated by it. He wrote about this and other observations in his unpublished book called Sagebrush Memories.

After camp, the family settled briefly in Salt Lake City, Utah, and eventually returned to San Francisco, where Nob graduated from George Washington High School and then received a BS in business from Golden Gate University. He helped his grandparents’ import business, Oriental Culture Book Company, until 1968, when Nob — together with his wife Shizuko ‘Shiz’ — opened Paper Tree in the newly completed Japan Center. Paper Tree continues to operate to this day as the second oldest business in Japantown.

A big supporter of San Francisco’s Japantown, Nob was involved in many community events. He was one of the original volunteers during the first Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in 1968, becoming co-chair in 1975.

Nob is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Shizuko Mihara, children Linda Mihara and Roger Mihara, grandchildren Christopher “CJ” Avery, Marie Mihara and Keaton Mihara, brother Samuel “Sam” Mihara & many relatives.

A Celebration of Life for Nobuo Mihara will be held on Sunday, November 3rd, 3 PM, at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), 1840 Sutter St, San Francisco. All are welcome.