Akiko Yamamuro

Akiko Yamamuro (nee Maeda), age 96, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Born on January 1, 1929, in Sapporo, Japan, her father was an MD (internal medicine and pediatrics) with a PhD in pathology; her mother's family were aristocratic land-owners. Akiko's crest was the swallowtail butterfly. Akiko pursued a degree in nutrition, which she taught at a college in Sapporo. Her other pursuits included Japanese classical dance, classical koto music, the piano and ice skating. Her passion, however, was in dress design. This led her to Tokyo for specialized training. In 1952, she achieved national recognition when she won first prize in Japan's national dress design competition organized by American designer Tina Leser. This honor was marked by the presentation of a silver chalice from the wife of General MacArthur and an opportunity for further training. After moving to Australia in 1964, she produced numerous works with Japanese collage, and also oil paintings. After her move to Blacksburg in 1992, she focused on watercolor a medium through which she earned numerous awards. Throughout her life, Akiko was deeply devoted to her family. She shared decades of adventure with her husband Sadayuki until his passing in 2018. Together, they traveled the world. They remained steadfast supporters of their daughter's career, by being standby babysitters. Akiko is survived by her only child Yuriko; son-in-law Michael; three grandchildren: Sylvia (with Clay and their child Caleb), Marissa (with Adam and their child Oliver), and David (with Olivia and their child Kai). In lieu of flowers, her wish is for everyone to enjoy each moment. We thank the staff at Warm Hearth Village and medi-hospice.