Fumiko Tomoyama Togasaki

Fumiko Tomoyama Togasaki, 82, passed away on March 15, 2014, at Sterling House. She is survived by her husband, Robert K. Togasaki. Born January 16th, 1932, in Tokyo, Japan, she was the oldest of the six children of Yoshio Tomoyama (electric engineer) and Sato Tomoyama (nurse and midwife). She graduated with a degree in English from Keisen Junior College (a Christian school) in 1953, then worked as a secretary in the Humanities Department of International Christian University (Tokyo) from 1953 to 1958. In 1959 she married Bob Togasaki, accompanying him to Cornell U, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A., where Bob began his studies as a graduate student in biochemistry. While in Ithaca, she worked as a receptionist in the office of the dean of the College of Agriculture, and later as a Japanese language instructor. In 1964 she moved to Cambridge, MA, where Bob began his postdoctoral work at Harvard University. There she assisted Bob in his laboratory and also began to seek out her own academic interest. In 1968 the Togasakis moved to Bloomington, IN, where Bob joined the Botany Department and Fumiko entered Indiana University as a BA student. She received her BA (1972) and MA (1977) in Art History with Prof. T. Bowie as advisor. In 1980 she entered the doctoral program of the East Asian Languages and Cultures Department, receiving her Ph.D. in Japanese Literature and Art in 1995 with Professor S. Jones as her advisor. In 1989 she joined the Foreign Languages Department and East Asian Studies Program at Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH. There she taught courses in the language, literature, art, and film of Japan, while continuing her research on 17th and 18th century Japanese arts and literature--presenting papersat international conferences in Toronto, Canada; Claremont, CA; and Hamburg, Germany. In 2000 she retired from Wittenberg University and returned to Bloomington with five adopted cats. Besides continuing her research, she participated in the IU Adultfitnes program ( 2000-2006), and Y-Fitness for Life program at the YMCA (2006-2008). Fumiko is survived by her husband, Bob (Bloomington); her sisters Chikako T. Hoshi (Tokyo), Mitsuko T. Chikami (Tokyo) and Eiko Yamami (Nagoya); and a brother, Yoshiharu Tomoyama (Tokyo). She loved people, the arts and literature, and flowers; she had a great sense of humor and most memorable laughter. Above all, she could observe the beauty that surrounds her, both in people and in things. The time and place for an informal gathering in her memory will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the IU Health Hospice in memory of Fumiko. Allen Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Friends can send condolences to www.allenfuneralhome.org

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Fumiko Tomoyama Togasaki

January 16, 1932 - March 15, 2014