Yae Nakato

She was preceded in death by her parents Tamikichi & Tsumo Tanaka. She was the youngest of 7 siblings.

During her youth she immersed herself in athletics as a track and field athlete, participating in the Nationals in Korea as a sprinter. She was nicknamed “Tsubame” or sparrow by her teammates and coach.

Yae married Takao Nakato in Japan. Although they didn’t have children of their own, her and her husband helped raise 10 children in their lifetime, sharing their love and devotion to them as their own.

Yae moved to the United States in 1974 from Japan to help the family venture in Atlanta, Georgia. She helped start Nakato Japanese Restaurant with her sister Tetsuko Nakato who has preceded her in death.

Through Nakato Japanese Restaurant, Yae touched the lives of many people creating longtime customers, friends, and family.

She is survived by her adoptive daughter Hiroe Nakato and son-in-law Kiyoshi Nakato and their daughters Sachiyo and Yukiko, and great granddaughter Naomi. She is also survived by her nephews Yasuo Nakato and Kenzo Nakato nieces Harumi Kurihara, Tomoe Minami, along with her great nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her niece Masako Yokota.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 9, 2011 from 5PM-8PM at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill.

The funeral service will be held at 2PM on Friday, June 10, 2011 at Happy Science Atlanta 1893 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30324.

Donations can be made to the Nakato Library at Georgia Japanese Language School.