Spring 2019 Decoration Conferred on Ms. Yasuko Sakamoto
2019/7/26
On May 21, 2019, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of its Spring 2019 Decorations and within this consulate general's jurisdiction, Ms. Yasuko Sakamoto received the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays.
Ms. Yasuko Sakamoto was born in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture in 1948. Upon graduating from the Department of English at Meiji Gakuin University, she returned to the University to study social work, hoping to eventually become a case worker.
In 1976, Ms. Sakamoto moved to Los Angeles. She worked as a case manager for 1.5 years at Oriental Service Center, which was established as the first organization in Los Angeles providing social services for Asians and Pacific Islanders, then joined Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), which was newly established in 1980, as one of its first staff members. While working at LTSC, she completed a Master's Degree in Social Welfare at UCLA and later obtained a license as a clinical social worker (LCSW). As a Japanese-English bilingual social worker, Ms. Sakamoto has provided essential support for Japanese speakers, such as Issei (first generation) seniors and Shin-Issei (new first generation) families, who were unable to access English-only welfare services. She has also often worked alongside with other social services agencies, police departments, and courts on behalf of her clients.
Ms. Sakamoto has greatly contributed to the development of culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate mental health and social welfare services for the Nikkei community by building the foundation for LTSC to grow into a multi-faceted organization through development of numerous programs such as the Nikkei Family Counseling Program, and, after assuming a founding director of social services of LTSC in 1996, by supervising and training a cadre of social workers under her rich experience of practical work and leadership. In order to sustain the programs, Ms. Sakamoto applied for and received grants and collaborated with government agencies, foundations and private groups.
In 2018, being acknowledged with these achievements, she was inducted into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction at USC.
The conferment ceremony for Ms. Sakamoto was held on July 12, 2019 at 2pm at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan and was attended by approximately 45 guests, including Ms. Sakamoto's family and friends. After the ceremony a reception was held, which was enjoyed by all the guests.
Ms. Yasuko Sakamoto was born in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture in 1948. Upon graduating from the Department of English at Meiji Gakuin University, she returned to the University to study social work, hoping to eventually become a case worker.
In 1976, Ms. Sakamoto moved to Los Angeles. She worked as a case manager for 1.5 years at Oriental Service Center, which was established as the first organization in Los Angeles providing social services for Asians and Pacific Islanders, then joined Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), which was newly established in 1980, as one of its first staff members. While working at LTSC, she completed a Master's Degree in Social Welfare at UCLA and later obtained a license as a clinical social worker (LCSW). As a Japanese-English bilingual social worker, Ms. Sakamoto has provided essential support for Japanese speakers, such as Issei (first generation) seniors and Shin-Issei (new first generation) families, who were unable to access English-only welfare services. She has also often worked alongside with other social services agencies, police departments, and courts on behalf of her clients.
Ms. Sakamoto has greatly contributed to the development of culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate mental health and social welfare services for the Nikkei community by building the foundation for LTSC to grow into a multi-faceted organization through development of numerous programs such as the Nikkei Family Counseling Program, and, after assuming a founding director of social services of LTSC in 1996, by supervising and training a cadre of social workers under her rich experience of practical work and leadership. In order to sustain the programs, Ms. Sakamoto applied for and received grants and collaborated with government agencies, foundations and private groups.
In 2018, being acknowledged with these achievements, she was inducted into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction at USC.
The conferment ceremony for Ms. Sakamoto was held on July 12, 2019 at 2pm at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan and was attended by approximately 45 guests, including Ms. Sakamoto's family and friends. After the ceremony a reception was held, which was enjoyed by all the guests.