Mieko Taketa is a Senior Professor of Ikenobo (Katoku), a rank she achieved in 2000. Born in Wakayama-ken, Japan, she immigrated to the USA to rejoin her husband in 1958 along with her two sons. She became a US citizen in 1967. Her work can often be seen on display at the San Francisco Ikenobo Headquarters. Mieko began studying ikebana in 1968 with Mrs. Ryokusho Arita and later with Mrs. Suiho Fukuyama. Since 1987 she has taught in El Cerrito, and later also began teaching ikebana to seniors at the Japanese American Services of the East Bay. For five years she owned and operated Taketa's Flower and Gift Shop in El Cerrito. She has chaired the East Bay Ikenobo Flower Show and exhibited at the Oakland Museum, East Bay Garden Center, East Bay Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Northern California Chapter, the Ikebana Teachers Federation, San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as many garden clubs and Ikebana International. In addition to her ikebana expertise, she is a prizewinning quilt maker.