Akiko Kinomoto

Akiko H. Kinomoto

October 7, 1917 ~ October 12, 2018

On October 12, 2018, Akiko Kinomoto at 101, peacefully passed away at her residence at the Bay Point Retirement Center in Bremerton, Washington.

Akiko was born October 7, 1917, in Spokane, Washington. She was one of six children born to Raishi and Matsue Hino. Akiko was raised in Seattle, Washington, where she attended the local Japanese School and graduated from Garfield High School.

On October 29, 1938, Akiko married Tom Kinomoto, and they would go on to have four children, Aiko, Mori, Yutaka, and Lynda. With the coming of the Pacific War they were forced to close Jim’s Café in downtown Seattle, and relocate to the interment camp in Minidoka, Idaho. After being released form interment in 1943, Akiko and Tom moved to Ogden, Utah. There they owned and operated American Eagle Café, and later Aki’s Variety Store at the I.R. S. Center.

After Tom passed away in 1999, she moved back to Washington State to be close to her daughters Aiko and Lynda. The return to Washington afforded Akiko the opportunity to further develop her innate artistic talents. She became a member of the Bremerton Art Guild. Although she had no formal training she produced notable works in acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, painted rocks, and Bunko Shishu. Akiko won many ribbons at the Kitsap Fair and put on a one woman art display at the Bremerton Library at the young age of 92.

Surviving are her three daughters, Aiko Diehl, Bremerton, Washington, Nori Kurose, Villa Park, California, and Lynda Aoki, Sammamish, Washington. Also surviving by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Akiko was preceded in death by Tom Kinomoto and her son, Tom Yutaka.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd. Services entrusted to Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary.

Akiko will be remembered for her sweet gentleness, her kindness, and loving nature.