Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley

Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC BerkeleyJapanese American Women Alumnae of UC BerkeleyJapanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • History
      • Lives and Legacy
      • Leadership
    • Events and News
    • Scholarships
    • Outstanding Alumnae
    • Support
      • Become a Member
      • Contact Us
      • Donate
    • Keynote Speakers
    • Photo Gallery

Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley

Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC BerkeleyJapanese American Women Alumnae of UC BerkeleyJapanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley
  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Lives and Legacy
    • Leadership
  • Events and News
  • Scholarships
  • Outstanding Alumnae
  • Support
    • Become a Member
    • Contact Us
    • Donate
  • Keynote Speakers
  • Photo Gallery

2023 Outstanding Alumna

Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto

Photo courtesy of skmkoto.com

  • Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto ‘77 is a traditional Japanese koto master, jazz koto musician, teacher, band leader, and filmmaker. She produced Hidden Legacy: Japanese Traditional Performing Arts in the WWII Internment Camps about Japanese music, theater, and dance behind barbed wire.
  • Shirley earned her “Shihan” degree (instructor’s credentials) with “Yushusho” (highest) honors and her masters “Dai Shihan” from the Chikushi Kai School based in Fukuoka, Japan. 
  • Shirley is the director of the Murasaki Ensemble which features music from traditional to contemporary to jazz and rock, established in 1998.
  • In 2012, Shirley was honored by the Hokka Nichibei Kai Japanese American Cultural Association of America by being inducted into the Bunka Hall of Fame for her life-long dedication to teaching and performing on the Japanese koto.  


Photo courtesy of skmkoto.com

Find out more

About Outstanding Alumnae

In 1991, the Board of the Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley decided to honor an Outstanding Alumna annually.  The selection would be based on the individual’s:

  • academic career
  • contributions to the community
  • career accomplishments 

The recipients of this award have distinguished themselves in these areas and are truly deserving of this special recognition. Their names are placed on a plaque permanently displayed in the Alumni House on the UC Berkeley campus.


Please view the slide show below to learn about each of our outstanding alumnae.

Recipients (1991-present)

  • 1991  Yoshiye Togasaki, M.D.
  • 1992  Mary Murai, Ph.D.
  • 1993  Frances Yuge Kirihara
  • 1994  Evelyn Nakano Glenn, Ph.D.
  • 1995  Elsie Sata Baukol, M.D.
  • 1996  Michi Onuma
  • 1997  Ann Saito Howden
  • 1998  Lillian Iida Matsumoto
  • 1999  Chizu Kitano Iiyama
  • 2000  Michiko Fujii Uchida
  • 2001  Reiko Homma True, Ph.D.
  • 2002  Tomoye Nozawa Takahashi
  • 2003  Elsie Adachi Ogata
  • 2004  Pearl Kurokawa Kimura
  • 2005  Hideko Seto
  • 2006  Taeko Joanne Ono Iritani
  • 2007  Grace Noda
  • 2008  Irene T. Miura, Ph.D.
  • 2009  Dorothy S. Oda, RN, DNSc., FAAN
  • 2010  Doris O. Matsui
  • 2011  Joyce N. Takahashi, Ph.D.
  • 2012  Sara Ishikawa
  • 2013  Gloria Imagire
  • 2014  Grace Amemiya
  • 2015  Judy Sakaki, Ph.D.
  • 2016  Kiku Hori Funabiki
  • 2017  Amy Iwasaki Mass, DSW
  • 2018  Margaret Koide Kusaba
  • 2019  Lynn Nakada
  • 2020  Betty Sasaki Furuta
  • 2021  Chizu Omori
  • 2022  Midori Kono Thiel
  • 2023  Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto

Presenting our Outstanding Alumnae (1991 to present)


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