Misa Nishikawa, age 49, passed away on November 26, 2011 in her apartment at the Michigan Center, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. She was born in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan in April 1962 and is survived by her mother and father, Sachiko and Koichiro Iwabuchi and her younger brother, Masahide Iwabuchi.

Nishikawa-sensei taught Japanese at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) for 11 years. During this time she helped students acquire a solid foundation of Japanese though her unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to teaching. She was always willing to go the extra mile for her students; in class she would employ engaging and creative teaching materials and methods, and after class she was always willing to extend her office hours to make time for anyone who needed help.

Nishikawa-sensei was also actively engaged in JCMU cultural activities such as Koto and Tea Ceremony, through which she established close relationships with many of the local JCMU guest lecturers.

A farewell ceremony will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, November 30th at the Hikone City Ceremonial Hall in Japan. This service will be open to the public. Friends, family, students and colleagues are encouraged to share memories, stories and condolences on the JCMU Facebook page.