Nanako Oguri

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana was born on May 1, 1937. Here she is with her siblings: Satoko, Chiyoko, Toyokichi, Mikihiko, Isako, and Teruko.

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana with Toyo (brother) and Kanzo (her dad).

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana with family. The last photo is Kanzo and Augusta with Auntie Nana about 1941.

Kanzo Oguri Actually 1946-1947. The photo with three is Teruko, Isako, and Auntie Nana. The other is Satoko and Auntie Nana.

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana on horse. My Dad (Mikihiko) used to tell me stories about her horse riding - she was very good and loved horses. But one would rub her off by riding her under a tree. Sometimes the horse would win and sometimes Auntie Nana. I think of it as a clash between two forces of nature.

Kanzo Oguri Kanzo, Augusta, Auntie Nana, Tetsuo, and Baby Kaoru.

Tets Miyabara Nana and Satako in New York apartment

Tets Miyabara Miko, Janice, and Nana at Pete & Yin's wedding.

Tets Miyabara Teruko, Jill, and Nana at Pete and Yin's wedding in Hilo.

Kanzo Oguri Satoko's memorial at Mikihiko's house in California.

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana at her brother's (Mikihiko) memorial in Huntington Beach, California. Through the years, Auntie Nana kept in touch with her brothers and sisters. And later, with their kids. And later, with their grandkids. Family MATTERED to Auntie Nana.

Mariko Barbee Such a lovely, elegant and classy lady! At a party in California with Dan and Mari.

Kaoru Oguri A visit with Nana in Flushing House.

pete itokazu Visiting Aunty Nana in 2017

Mariko Barbee Running errands with Auntie Nanako. New York Strong, New York Wise and New York Independent!!!

Mariko Barbee Bringing Nana to honor and decorate the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Daniel Oguri Visiting Auntie Nana while in NYC for a performance

Mariko Barbee Oana, Nana, Tomiko and Mariko. Testuo in 2nd picture. Visit Auntie Nanako with a surprise Congratulations to newlyweds Oana and Tets.

Jokichi Oguri From the Oguri family album, here are some pictures of the Nana with her siblings back in the day. When I was a kid, and Nana came to visit, she would always tease me by threatening to give me a big fat slurpy kiss, and chase me around the house. That never got old! We'll miss you Nana!

Michiyo Wellington-Oguri The last time I saw Auntie Nana was during a work trip a few years ago—I arrived early and spent the night with her in Flushing House. I was looking back through my photos to see if I had any of us, but the only picture I took (in true Oguri fashion) is of food: I went out to get us a meal and took a picture of our noodles as they were being hand-pulled. We talked about family, and she told me a funny story about my grandpa (Miki) and Uncle Toyo as kids trying to recruit new patients off the street for their dad's medical practice, much to their mother's embarrassment. She showed me pictures she had around her apartment of family; I loved seeing my grandpa as a young man and even as a toddler in a picture with his siblings. When I was a kid I was terrified (granted, I was pretty shy) of interacting with Auntie Nana face-to-face. Most of our interactions were via the mail—she sent my sister and I cards or presents, we'd send her thank you notes, she might write us back. In her letters she was a loving Auntie who thanked us for the origami we'd sent and invited us to visit her in New York. But whenever we saw her at Grandpa and Grandma's house—eep! I never knew what she might say to me. I distinctly remember being scolded for NOT eating a piece of chocolate because it was there to be EATEN. Auntie Nana and I had emailed each other sporadically over the years, but after my visit to New York we stayed in contact via text. I had never gotten in trouble when we were emailing, but somehow transitioning to texting put me back in her sights! I can't complain, though—it was her badgering that got me out for a great dinner with Pete, Yin, and Kailee on another work trip. Her last texts to me were two months ago, when she told me how happy my husband and I looked in photos from our wedding & how thrilled she was to be home from the hospital. I wish I knew more texts from Auntie Nana were in my future.

Daniel Oguri Dedicated to Auntie Nana - Love, Daniel and Shelly

Kanzo Oguri Auntie Nana was a force of nature - she was impossible to miss ... anywhere. She was forthright (and forceful) but loving, and scary, and extraordinarily loyal and defensive of those she cared for. And definitely not shy. (Yah, I know, too many "ands" but you can't describe Auntie Nana without a lot of them.) And quietly supportive when she wanted to be. Sometimes she didn't want to be so quietly supportive. We were in a restaurant (where else?) and she decided she would pay the bill. Realizing the no-one could fight off Auntie Nana, I decided to simply go around - I'd follow the waiter and pay before he could even bring the bill. Oddly enough, it didn't work. I came to a sudden, screeching halt when my loving, gentle, elderly, and slow (hah!) aunt grabbed me from behind and tripped me. We both ended up on the ground (guess which one on top). I managed to hold up a credit card. The waiter grabbed it and ran for his life! I looked up and saw an entire restaurant looking at us. Mom (Tamaki Marjorie) was looking horrified. Auntie Nana was looking innocent (and succeeding!) Her brother, my Dad (Miki), was looking on with absolute glee... So the first pictures are for us. The last is for Auntie Nana - who also appreciated the ridiculous.