YORIO WAKATAKE

Dr. Yorio Wakatake was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan on April 19, 1907. He received his medical degree from the College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, California, in 1934. He interned at White Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, 1933-34. He practiced in Hawaii for several years and then returned to the mainland for more training. He was a resident in obstetrics and gynecology at the postgraduate school of the University of Pennsylvania in 1940-41, and at White Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, from 1941-43 and again from 1949-50. In 1945 he was a resident for 6 months at Kapiolani Maternity Hospital, Honolulu.

Dr. Wakatake was a member of the American Medical Association, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Honolulu County Medical Society, the Associated Evening Students of the Hawaii Chinese Educational Association (president 1967), the Waikiki Kiwanis Club (director; vice-president 1954), the Hawaii Aikido organization (president) and the United States Aikido Federation (charter president, 1976). In 1979, Dr. Wakatake was awarded the 5th Class Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government. He was described as a "triple success man viz. a successful physician, a proficient aikido exponent and a successful businessman. His newest venture in the business world is as a stockholder-officer of the great floating restaurant "Oceania"…"[Hawaii Medical Journal, Jan. 1974]. He also developed a proficiency in conversational Chinese.

Dr. Wakatake was married to Katsumi and they had two sons: Clifford and Peter. Mrs. Wakatake was an active blood bank volunteer.

Dr. Wakatake died on July 17, 1990.

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