When the COVID-19 pandemic began more than two years ago, Mieko Nagao, 96, helped her neighbors and community by sewing masks out of material she found throughout her home.
This included everything from rice bags to special kimonos and clothing worn by her husband, the late Rev. Norito Nagao.
Despite her arthritis and glaucoma, Nagao has made over 3,000 masks which can be seen on Sundays at the Puna Hongwanji, as well as on the faces of those at Keaau Elementary, Vibrant Hawaii, Hawaii Care Choices, Hale Anuenue Restorative Center and the Life Care Center, along with other places her masks have been donated to across the Big Island.
Nagao first learned to sew in Japan. She was inspired by her mother, who was a self-taught seamstress.
“I went to sewing school and made clothes for my children while they were growing up,” Nagao said.
In addition to clothing, she also made a variety of patchwork quilts and blankets for her friends and family.
But her passion for the art was focused on traditional Japanese doll making, a skill she eventually went on to teach in Japan.
A few of her dolls are still on display in glass cases in her living room, featuring beautiful gowns and hair that Nagao recalled sewing with a single needle in a meticulous style, one-by-one.
Nagao’s masks are made in a special sewing room located at her Kurtistown home, complete with a big window showcasing widespread greenery and a glimpse of the ocean.
The home was built by her brother in 1954, around the same time Nagao acquired the converted pedal sewing machine she still uses today to make the masks.
“It’s a very old Singer sewing machine,” she said. “From the 1950s, and it’s still working.”
One of the first masks Nagao made was using material from her husband’s ceremonial kimono.
When her husband was training to become a minister, Nagao’s mother sewed a special white kimono for his final ceremony. During the pandemic, Mieko Nagao carefully took apart the special garment and used the soft material for the lining of the first few masks she made for the church, providing a blessing for a new generation in the Hongwanji community.
The Rev. Nagao was born in Mountain View and served in the World War II. Together, the couple lived in several locations throughout Hawaii including Lanai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
He went on to serve as the minister for the Honpa Hongwanji, where Nagao also took on the role of helping members throughout her community.
“Her husband was the minister, so she also assisted the minister and temple members when she was the temple spouse,” said Rev. Satoshi Tomioka, who currently serves as the minister at the Puna Hongwanji. “She’s still so active in coming to temple every Sunday with her children.”
As Nagao’s mask making continued throughout the pandemic, she started to get creative with her materials, using everything from recycled futon covers and bed sheets to rice bags and bon dance towels.
As she produced functional and beautiful masks for the church, members of the Hongwanji community started returning the favor, gathering materials and donating supplies to Nagao including unique fabrics, huge spools of thread, and elastic for the bridge of the nose.
Nagao currently is finishing up 100 new masks that she plans to donate at the end of this week to the Hongwanji.
“People are so impressed by her working action and are surprised,” said Tomioka, adding Nagao also participates in bread-making workshops and other temple activities for the church on a regular basis.
While her arthritis provides certain challenges, Nagao’s daughter, Arlene, helps out with cutting fabric and materials, as well as threading the needles for when Nagao uses her sewing machine.
“I think she really enjoys being able to do this,” her daughter said, adding prior to the pandemic, Nagao also made lap blankets and bibs for local nursing homes.
Instead of letting her arthritis deter her from sewing and making masks, Nagao continues to enjoy the process. Even Tomioka recalled a memory of when Nagao was first diagnosed.
“She went to see a doctor, and she was told that people using their hands so much will get arthritis. So, she said as the minister’s spouse, that was her responsibility — using her hands for so many things to help people at church,” Tomioka said. “She got arthritis because she was using her hands so much to help others. She said all the helping made her proud of it.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.