Kyoko Kakizaki
4th November 1964 – 22nd October 2022
Kyoko began scuba diving in her early 20s in Japan and went to Okinawa every summer and did more than 200 dives by the time she came to London in 1994. She made many friends through those dive trips and the friendship lasted even after her relocation to London.
She first joined the Argonauts in 1997 but left the club in 1998 due to pregnancy. She re-joined the Argonauts in 2015. As Kyoko put her family first, she came only a couple of club trips but she enjoyed the trips. Her last dive was at Swanage on 5th May 2019. Her last trip with us was to Swanage at the weekend of 24th / 25th September 2022.
Kyoko was shy and a listener rather than a speaker however, she became very chatty when she was asked about her dives in the past and passionately, fondly spoke about details of the dives and sea creatures which she had seen during the dives.
Kyoko organised a dive trip to Iriomote Island, the remote island in Okinawa, and took a couple of us there in 2007. She proudly introduced us to diving, food and the culture in Okinawa she loved so much.
Although Kyoko was shy, she was a strong person at core and, with the strength, bravely battled against the kidney cancer for three years. Kyoko always stayed positive and kept a smile on her face during the difficult three years. Sadly, she lost the fight in October 2022. We’ll miss her smile.
Memories of Kyoko by club members
Here are memories of Kyoko written by some members.
Kyoko organised one of the best dive trips of my life. It was to the island of Iriomote in the far south of Japan. The dive team were welcoming and I was always provided with a fork with my lunch. Kyoko was there with the rest of her family so that I could enjoy snorkelling with them as well.
The diving provided me with perhaps the most exciting dive experience ever; being surrounded by very big and inquisitive Manta Rays. Kyoko was a great diver and it was a privilege to have been her dive buddy in Japan.
by Phil G
Kyoko was always quiet and enjoyed listening to other people’s stories with a smile on her face rather than talking. But when she took her family and some of the club members to Okinawa where she had dived every summer in her 20s, I was surprised to see how much she was transformed there. She was a lot chattier and bouncing and was eager to show us around Iriomote Island where we stayed and dived. Under water, she was calm, relaxed but attentive and paid attention to details while maintaining brilliant buoyancy control. It was obvious how much she loved Okinawa.
During her brave battle against a kidney cancer, she taught me an important lesson: I should enjoy my life and make the use of every moment I have.
Kyoko opened the door for me to begin scuba diving at the beginning our friendship 24 years ago and opened my eyes to see what was important in my life at the end. She was a wonderful woman and I’ll miss her so much.
by Akiko
Memories of Kyoko in photos
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Created in January 2023