Ishida, Takuzo Of Woodbury, MN peacefully passed away of lymphoma on April 25, 2019. Takuzo was born in Hirado, Japan in 1944. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry at Chiba University in Japan. In 1981, he moved from Tokyo to St. Paul, MN with his wife and three children to assume a position as a research chemist at 3M Imaging Technology Laboratory. He held over 20 patents in the field of dry process imaging technology, and his work was honored with a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1997.

Additionally, he volunteered his time tirelessly to promote awareness of and education about Japan, and friendly Japan-US relations. He served as the president and emeritus director of Japan America Society of Minnesota and a vice president of Kobe College Corporation, and was a founder of the Minneapolis Japanese School. Takuzo was a 2017 recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, conferred by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. A lover of classical music, he served as a board member of Chamber Music Society of Minnesota and the vice president of Bach Society of Minnesota. Takuzo will also be remembered for his passion for carpentry, bonsai, ceramicware, and his Japanese garden. He is survived by his wife Noriko, daughter Aki in Virginia, son Tetsunori in California, and daughter Mio in Minnesota. He will be entombed at the Garden Mausoleum of the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

A memorial service will be held at the Weisman Art Museum on June 12 from 4 to 7:30pm. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, sending memorial contributions to the Japan America Society of Minnesota, 43 Main Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, with instructions "For the Takuzo Ishida Memorial Scholarship," or by PayPal to jasm@us-japan.org through this link: mn-japan.org/2019/05/takuzo-ishida-memorial-scholarship-fund/.

Published on May 6, 2019