Eiko Narazaki

Eiko (Mizota) Narazaki was a quietly humble and generous soul who dedicated her life to the vision of world peace through prayer and raising her four children. She died on September 16, 2026 in Seattle, WA. She was 96 years old.

Eiko was the only child of Shuichi (George) Mizota and Itsuyo Mizota (née Maki). She was born on January 2, 1930 and was raised in Tokyo, Japan. Her primary through secondary education was at Jiyu Gakuen, translated as Freedom School or School of the Free Spirit. Jiyu Gakuen focused on cultivating self-learning and independent thinking skills and learning to transform oneself and society. Music is taught, not merely as an isolated academic subject, but as part of daily life, self-expression, and community building.

Eiko exemplified these values of Jiyu Gakuen. She had a love for music, nature, bird-watching, gardening, travel, reading, and cooking. Her famous inari-zushi and chirashi-zushi dishes were potluck staples for neighbors, colleagues, and friends.

After World War II, Eiko moved to LaGrange, Georgia to attend LaGrange College on a Rotary Club scholarship to study piano. When asked by her close friend what her father did for a living, she said he sold fish, but failed to mention as an executive of a large fishing company. After one year at LaGrange College, she transferred to the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

Eiko was shy and had difficulty with small talk and meeting new people, but communicated clearly and beautifully through her music.

While in New York, she met her husband, Tokuro (Jerry) Narazaki and would remain there for the next decade. With two children in tow, they moved to Hong Kong where they lived for four years and then to Tokyo, with an additional two children. All four children graduated from the American School in Japan.

After her children finished high school, Eiko travelled extensively as part of her peace movement and was deeply committed to this cause until the end of her life. May peace prevail on earth.

Eiko is survived by her children David Narazaki (of Kailua Kona, HI), Georgine Price (of Seattle, WA), and Terry Narazaki (of Houston, TX); sons-in-law Richard Price and Scott McRee; daughter-in-law Miki Ushiba; and grandchildren Melia, Mariko, Kosuke and Kimiko. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Narazaki.

The family is planning a private celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the peace organization, Byakko Shinko kai, at https://byakko.org/support/donate/ or Kline Galland Hospice, whose amazing staff brought great comfort to Eiko and her family at the end of her life, at https://www.klinegalland.org/philanthropy/donate-now/.