Margaret Miwako (Haraguchi) Iwamoto passed away unexpectedly on the evening of February 3, 2026, from a presumed heart aneurysm or heart attack. She was surrounded by her loving family and had been in good spirits earlier that day. Known for her kind-hearted nature and gentle presence, Margaret touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Margaret was born in Taiwan, and raised in Kagoshima, Japan, where she lived until the age of 13, when her family moved to Reedley, California. In 1970, she married Toshio Iwamoto and later settled in the Bay Area. There, she became deeply involved in the Japanese community and, in 1992, founded her own Japanese dance group, Miwa Kai. The group performed at numerous Japanese festivals throughout the Bay Area, and Margaret continued teaching and sharing her passion for nearly 30 years.
Margaret was widowed in 2018 after 48 years of marriage to her beloved husband, Toshio. She is survived by her devoted children: Erin Toy (Winston), Nyree Ngo (Bobby), and Marc Iwamoto (Freideleen); and her cherished grandchildren: Jaelyn and Ryan Toy, Tyler and Kylee Ngo, and Greyson, Myles, and Fynnalyn Iwamoto, all of Foster City. She is also survived by her siblings: Mike Haraguchi of Reedley, CA; Hatsuko Hanashiro of Fresno, CA; Tayoko Honda of Fowler, CA; and Junko Taniguchi of Bakersfield, CA.
Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple, 2 S. Claremont Street, San Mateo, on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.