Nobuko Ohazama's Obituary
Nobuko Ohazama passed away peacefully on May 21, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 82. She was born on March 18, 1943, in Yonezawa, Japan - a place that deeply shaped her identity and remained a proud part of who she was throughout her life.
On October 3, 1969, she married Tasuku Ohazama, beginning a partnership grounded in love, respect, and mutual support. Soon after, she made the brave decision to leave Japan and join Tasuku in the United States, where they built a life and a family together.
Nobuko was the unwavering center of that family. She raised her two children, Chikai and Aki, with deep care, resilience, and fierce love. She was her husband’s greatest supporter, always guiding and encouraging him in his career and life. She believed in family above all else, and her life was a constant expression of that belief.
In 2005, Nobuko introduced Tasuku to Tai Chi - a gentle gift that would become vital years later. As Nobuko faced the slow progression of dementia in the final chapter of her life, Tasuku turned to Tai Chi for strength, balance, and peace. It gave him the courage and endurance to support her through the emotional and physical challenges of her illness. Even in decline, Nobuko continued to shape and support those around her, in ways both visible and quietly profound.
She carried a kind yet fierce spirit - a grace that was gentle but never passive. Her strength was quiet, steady, and deeply rooted. She passed that strength on to her children, and in her later years, took great joy in her four grandchildren: Caden, Mason, Naomi, and Noelle. Through them, her love and spirit continue.
Nobuko took pride in her Japanese heritage. She kept its traditions alive and meaningful in her American home, ensuring that her children and grandchildren would always know where they came from. She was a bridge between cultures - a bearer of memory and legacy.
Her life may not have sought attention, but it made a profound impact. She lived with dignity, gave with love, and held her family together with quiet power.
Nobuko Ohazama is survived by her husband of 55 years, Tasuku Ohazama; son Chikai Ohazama (wife Mira Waldman) of San Francisco, CA; daughter Aki Ohazama (husband Brian Cray) of Atlanta, GA. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Caden Ohazama, Mason Ohazama, Naomi Cray, Noelle Cray.
A private service will be held by the family. In honoring Nobuko’s life, her loved ones invite others to remember her through acts of strength, kindness, and deep devotion to family - just as she lived every day.
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