Koko Anna Sasaki

Koko Anna Sasaki, age 95, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a life rich in devotion to family, education, international friendship, and the arts. She was born on February 26, 1931, in Morioka, Japan, to her beloved parents, Misa Kitada and Kojima Sasaki.

On January 10, 1954, she married her husband, Yoshi Kazu Sasaki, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in mutual support and shared purpose. After completing her studies at Tokyo Women’s University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Japanese literature, she immigrated to the United States in 1956 alongside her husband as he pursued his career in meteorology.

Their journey brought them first to Chicago, Illinois, then to College Station, Texas, where her husband continued his work at Texas A&M University. In 1960, they settled in Norman, Oklahoma, which became their longtime home. Koko embraced her new life with grace and determination, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1977.

Throughout her life, Koko was deeply committed to cultural enrichment, education, and international understanding. She served as President of YKS International, LLC, and was a dedicated supporter of the University of Oklahoma Fine Arts program, contributing to its expansion and development. She and her husband were also key partners with government efforts to strengthen relationships between the United States, particularly Oklahoma, and Japan, helping foster cultural and professional exchange.

Her passion for literature, the arts, and cross-cultural connections remained a guiding force in her life. She also shared her cultural heritage through performances at the University of Oklahoma's fine arts events, playing the koto and performing traditional Japanese dance.

Koko and her husband found great joy in attending the University of Oklahoma football games and cherished their involvement in the OU football stadium suites, made possible through their close friends Greg and Barbara Cable, and David (deceased) and Diane Smith, who were responsible for the suites and whose companionship brought them lasting happiness.

In addition to her immediate family, Koko and her husband shared a special and enduring bond with Mr. Yasuhiro Osaki of Japan, whom they loved and regarded as a son. In 2019, she moved to Shreveport to live with her son Larry and daughter-in-law, Krista, where she spent her later years surrounded by the love of her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Yoshi Kazu Sasaki, and by her eldest son, Okko Sasaki. In the USA, she is survived by her children, James Sasaki, PhD; Larry Sasaki, MD; and Anna McGraw, as well as five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Koko Anna Sasaki will be remembered for her quiet strength, intellectual curiosity, and enduring dedication to her family, her community, and the bridge she helped build between nations. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the institutions she helped nurture. She is lovingly remembered by her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the dedicated nurses and caregivers at Montclair Park and St. Joseph Hospice, whose kindness, compassion, and attentive care brought comfort and dignity to Koko.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made in support of the Yoshi and Koko Sasaki Meteorology Enrichment Fund, Fund #32485, at the University of Oklahoma. Checks payable to the “OU Foundation” may be mailed to: The University of Oklahoma Foundation, P.O. Box 258856, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-8856.

A private celebration of life will be announced later.