Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn greets Nakamura at his 100th birthday celebration on June 30, 2025 at Liberty Community Plaza in Whittier. (Photo courtesy of Supervisor Hahn’s Office)
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and the Whittier community mourn the passing of Yoshio "Yosh" Nakamura, a beloved artist, educator, and decorated World War II veteran.
Nakamura passed away on November 22, 2025, at the age of 100. His life stands as a testament to courage, creativity, and the enduring power of education. As JANM President and CEO Ann Burroughs stated, “His service to his country, his dedication to his students, and his personal mission to share the Nisei soldier story inspires us to be our best selves and work towards a more just future.”
Born in Rosemead, California, Nakamura was unjustly incarcerated with his family at the Tulare temporary detention center and the Gila River concentration camp during World War II. Despite these hardships, he was later drafted into the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RTC), a unit composed of Americans of Japanese ancestry.
Serving as a Staff Sergeant, he saw combat in France and Italy, and was honorably discharged in 1946. While stationed in Italy, Nakamura discovered his passion for art, drawing inspiration from the works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael—a passion that would shape his life's work.
After the war, Nakamura earned both his bachelor's and master’s degrees in Fine Art from University of Southern California. He began teaching art at Whittier High School in 1952, where he became one of the school’s most popular teachers, known for encouraging his students’ creativity and self-expression. In 1963, he joined Rio Hondo College as its first art professor, later serving as dean and vice president of community services and institutional development over nearly thirty years.
Nakamura’s artistic legacy was celebrated in October 2023 with a retrospective at the Whittier Art Gallery, “Yoshio Nakamura: 75 Years of Artistry.” In March 2024, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees dedicated the Whittier High School Fine Arts building in his honor. That same year, he was recognized for his service in the 442nd RTC and presented the Legacy Award to David Ono during JANM’s annual Benefit.
He celebrated his 100th birthday in June 2025, an event commemorated by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who described him as “a one-of-a-kind American hero” whose life was marked by love, service, and resilience in the face of adversity.
