Dr. Yoko Yamamoto's expertise lies in the intersections of education, families, and child development within diverse sociocultural contexts. Integrating theories and research in psychology, sociology, and education, she has examined cultural beliefs and practices related to learning and home-school relations, in ethnic, immigrant, and socioeconomic contexts. She has conducted longitudinal research examining strengths and challenges in diverse families' socialization and children's development in Japan and the U.S.
Dr. Yamamoto was an Abe Fellow (2012) and a recipient of the Erin Phelps Award for her journal article (2017). From 2013 to the present, she has also served as an invited summer scholar at Osaka University, Japan. She has co-founded and co-chaired the Diversity Science Initiative Committee for the Society for the Study of Human Development (SSHD). She is deeply committed to community-engaged teaching and research, actively contributing to advancing these fields. She has offered advisory support to schools, nonprofit organizations, government and private institutions, and cross-cultural research initiatives.
| Yamamoto, Y., Li, J., & Bempechat, J. "A cultural model of family-school relations: East Asian immigrant parents’ involvement in children’s education." Critical analysis of parental involvement in school: Working with families across sociocultural context, edited by M. R. William-Johnson & N. P. Rickert, Routledge, 2025, pp. 13-34. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Li, J., Yang, H., & Zhan, I. "Guidance and respect: Chinese American preschoolers’ perceptions of parental support for children’s learning." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 69, no. 4, 2024, pp. 140-149. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Parental cultural beliefs and education." Culture, schooling, and children’s learning experiences , edited by R. Holmes & J. Roopnarine, Oxford University Press, 2024, pp. 13-30. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Education, cultural capital, and social class reproduction." Sustainability, diversity, and equality: Key challenges for Japan, edited by K. Tanaka & H. Selin, Springer, 2023, pp. 231-247. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Yabuta, N. "Immigrant children and early childhood education in Japan: Toward culturally responsive and empowering practices." Contemporary perspectives on research on immigration in early childhood education, edited by O. Saracho, Information Age Publishing Inc, 2023, pp. 53-72. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Li, J., Li, A., LaFave, R., & Reichling, C. J. "Raising humble learners: Asian immigrant families’ socialization and children’s school experiences." Composing storylines of possibilities: Immigrant and refugee families navigating school, edited by M. Strickland, Information Age Publishing Inc, 2022, pp. 37-53. |
| Yamamoto, Yoko, Li, Jin, Bempechat, Janine. "Reconceptualizing parental involvement: A sociocultural model explaining Chinese immigrant parents’ school-based and home-based involvement." Educational Psychologist, vol. 57, no. 4, 2022, pp. 267-280. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "学校と家庭の関係：アメリカの学校教育への保護者の関わり [School-home relations: family engagement in schooling in the U.S.]." Child Research Net, 2022. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Li, J., Bao, H., & Suh, W. "Demand and direct involvement: Chinese American and European American preschoolers’ perceptions of parental involvement in children’s schooling." Conceptual and methodological approaches to navigating immigrant ecologies, edited by H. Chu & B. Thelamour, New York, Springer, 2021, pp. 199-218. |
| "コロナ禍のアメリカの教育：個人のニーズへの対応と教育格差 [Education in the U.S. during Covid-19: Individual needs and educational inequality]." Child Reseach Net, 2021. |
| Sonnenschein, Susan, Yamamoto, Yoko. "Children’s perceptions of their learning and education: Introduction to special issue." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 50, 2020, pp. 1-2. |
| Yamamoto, Yoko. "Young children’s beliefs about school learning in Japan and the United States: Cultural and socioeconomic comparisons." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 50, 2020, pp. 28-37. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Satoh, E. "Ganbari: Cultivating perseverance and motivation in early childhood education in Japan." Contemporary research on motivation in early childhood education, edited by O. Saracho, Greenwich, CT, Information Age Publishing, 2019, pp. 229-248. |
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Yamamoto, Y.
"Single mothers in contemporary Japan: Motherhood, class, and reproductive practice (review)." Journal of Japanese Studies, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019, pp. 182-185.
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| Li, Jin, Yamamoto, Yoko. "Western and East Asian sociocultural learning models: Evidence from cross‐cultural and immigrant research." Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2019. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "子育てに格差はあるのか？アメリカの子育てと教育研究の視点から [Are there parenting gaps? Research on child-rearing and education in the U.S.]." Gakuryoku wo sasaeru kazoku to kosodate senryaku [Families and child-rearing strategies supporting children's schooling: A longitudinal study in an urban city] , edited by Isa, N., Tokyo, Akashi, 2019, pp. 323-339. |
| Li J, Yamamoto Y, Kinnane JM, Shugarts BC, Ho CKK. "From learning beliefs to achievement among Chinese immigrant and European American preschool children." Child Dev, 2018. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Ganbari or grit? First graders' views in Japan and the United States." Child Research Net, 2018. |
| Vu, Kathy T. T., Cheah, Charissa S. L., Zhou, Nan, Leung, Christy Y. Y., Li, Jin, Yamamoto, Yoko. "The Socialization Areas in Which European American and Chinese Immigrant Mothers Express Warmth and Control." Parenting, vol. 18, no. 4, 2018, pp. 262-280. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Hosokawa, S. "Maternal aspirations and expectations for their children’s educational attainment in Japan: Relations to gender and mothers’ educational levels." International Psychology Bulletin, vol. 21, no. 3, 2017, pp. 25-33. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Hasegawa, S. "What is a happy life? Views of happiness related to children's education among mothers in Osaka, Japan." Child Research Net, 2017. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Because I feel happy”: First-graders’ views about schooling and well-being in Japan." Life course, happiness, and well-being in Japan., edited by B. Holthus, & W. Manzenreiter, New York, Routledge, 2017, pp. 45-56. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Li, J. & Liu, JL. "Does socioeconomic status matter for Chinese immigrants’ academic socialization? Family environment, parental engagement, and preschoolers’ outcomes." Research in Human Development, vol. 13, no. 3, 2016, pp. 191-206. |
| Yamamoto, Y. & Sonnenschein, S. "Family contexts of academic socialization: The role of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status." Research in Human Development, vol. 13, no. 3, 2016, pp. 183-190. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Gender and social class differences in Japanese mothers’ beliefs about children’s education and socialization." Gender and Education, vol. 28, no. 1, 2016, pp. 72-88. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Holloway, S.D., & Suzuki, S. "Parental engagement in children's education: Motivating factors in Japan and the U.S." School Community Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, 2016, pp. 45-66. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Watanabe, Y. "Revisiting the gender gap: Japanese mothers’ views of their children’s education, work, and future." Child Research Net, 2016. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Asian American students." The SAGE encyclopedia of classroom management, edited by G. W. Scarlett, Sage, 2015, pp. 42-44. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Social class and Japanese mothers' support for young children's education: A qualitative study." Journal of Early Childhood Research, vol. 13, no. 2, 2015, pp. 165-180. |
| Cheah CS, Li J, Zhou N, Yamamoto Y, Leung CY. "Understanding Chinese immigrant and European American mothers' expressions of warmth." Developmental Psychology, vol. 51, no. 12, 2015, pp. 1802-11. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Immigrant families and children’s schooling in Japan: Trends, challenges, and implications." Global perspectives in well-being in immigrant families. , edited by R. Dimitrova, M. Bender, & F. R. C. van de Vijver, Springer, 2014, pp. 55-74. |
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Yamamoto, Y.
"Impacts of cultural capital on student college choice process in China (review)." American Journal of Sociology, vol. 118, no. 1, 2012, pp. 238-240.
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| Yamamoto, Y., & Li, J. "Quiet in the eye of the beholder: Teacher perceptions of Asian immigrant children." The impact of immigration on children’s development. Contributions to Human Development., edited by C. Garcia Coll, Kargar, 2012, pp. 1-17. |
| Yamamoto, Y. "Raising children in a diverse society." Encyclopedia of diversity in education., edited by J. A. Banks, Sage, 2012, pp. 1765-1768. |
| Yamamoto, Yoko, Li, Jin. "What makes a high-quality preschool? Similarities and differences between Chinese immigrant and European American parents’ views." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 2, 2012, pp. 306-315. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Li, J. "Is being quiet a virtue or a problem? Implications of a study on Chinese immigrant children in the U.S." Child Research Net, 2011. |
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Yamamoto, Y.
"Minorities and education in multicultural Japan (review)." Pacific Affairs, vol. 84, no. 3, 2011, pp. 571-573.
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Yamamoto, Y.
"Challenges to Japanese education: Economics, reform, and human rights (review)." Comparative Education Review, vol. 54, no. 4, 2010, pp. 616-618.
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| Yamamoto, Y., & Brinton, M. C. "Cultural capital in East Asian educational systems: The case of Japan." Sociology of Education, vol. 83, no. 1, 2010, pp. 67-83. |
| Holloway, S.D., Yamamoto, Y., & Suzuki, S. "From kyoiku mama to monster parent: Changing images of Japanese mothers and their involvement in children's schooling." Child Research Net, 2010. |
| Yamamoto, Y., & Holloway, S. D. "Parental expectations and children's academic performance in sociocultural context." Educational Psychology Review, vol. 22, no. 3, 2010, pp. 189-214. |
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Holloway, S. D., Yamamoto, Y., & Suzuki, S.
"What is a good mother? Competing models and experiences in urban Japan." Reframing parenthood and childhood: Global trends, institutional transformations, and local responses , edited by T. Thelen & H. Haukanes, U.K. & VT, USA, Ashgate, 2010, pp. 35-56.
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| Li, Jin, Yamamoto, Yoko, Luo, Lily, Batchelor, Andrea K., Bresnahan, Richard M. "Why attend school? Chinese immigrant and European American preschoolers' views and outcomes." Developmental Psychology, vol. 46, no. 6, 2010, pp. 1637-1650. |
| Suzuki, S., Holloway, S. D., Yamamoto, Y., & Mindnich, J. D. "Parenting self-efficacy and social support in Japan and the United States." Journal of Family Issues, vol. 30, no. 11, 2009, pp. 1505-1526. |
| Yamamoto, Y., Holloway, S. D., & Suzuki, S. "The dilemma of support: Parenting and mother-networks in Japan." Child Research Net, 2009. |
| Holloway, S. D., Yamamoto, Y., & Suzuki, S., & Dalesandro, J. "Determinants of parental involvement in early schooling: Evidence from Japan." Early Chilhood Research & Practice, vol. 10, no. 1, 2008. |
| Holloway, S. D., & Yamamoto, Y. "Parental expectations." Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology, edited by N. J. Salkind, Sage, 2008, pp. 753-755. |
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Yamamoto, Y.
"Education and social inequality: Contemporary educational credentialism in Japan." Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter, vol. 41, 2007, pp. 75-76.
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| Yamamoto, Y., Holloway, S. D., & Suzuki, S. "Maternal involvement in preschool children's education in Japan: Relation to parenting beliefs and socioeconomic status." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 3, 2006, pp. 332-346. |
| Holloway, S. D., Suzuki, S., Yamamoto, Y., & Dalesandro, J. "Relation of maternal role concepts to parenting employment choices, and life satisfaction among Japanese mothers." Sex Roles, vol. 54, no. 3, 2006, pp. 235-249. |
| Holloway, S. D., Yamamoto, Y., & Suzuki, S. "Exploring the gender gap: Women speak out about working and raising children in contemporary Japan." Child Research Net, 2005. |
| Holloway, S., Suzuki, S., Yamamoto, Y., & Behrens, K. "Parenting self-efficacy among Japanese mothers." Journal of Comparative Family Studies, vol. 36, no. 1, 2005, pp. 61-76. |
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Holloway, S., & Yamamoto, Y.
"Sensei! Early childhood education teachers in Japan." Contemporary perspectives in early childhood education: Studying teachers in early childhood setting , edited by Saracho, O. and Spodek, B., Information Age Publishing, 2003, pp. 181-207.
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Yamamoto, Y.
"The duality of socialization and education: The impact of formal schooling on child-rearing in Japan." Harvard Asia Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 3, 2001, pp. 24-31.
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Yoko Yamamoto has conducted extensive research on families and schooling within diverse sociocultural contexts. Her work explores the influence of cultural beliefs, practices, and family engagement in children’s learning, with a particular focus on the intersections of socioeconomic status, culture, and immigrant experiences. She seeks to understand how empowering and culturally responsive home-school relationships can promote and enhance students' socioemotional and academic development. She leads several research projects examining parenting, socialization processes, and family-school partnerships in both Japan and the United States.
Principal Investigator. "Social stratification and early educational processes: Student beliefs about learning in Japan and the U.S."
Social Science Research Council, The American Council of Learned Societies, The Japan Foundation.
Principal Investigator. "Meanings, values, and development of 'ganbari' in socialization and child development in Japan." Mayekawa Foundation.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | PhD | University of California, Berkeley |
| 2003 | MA | University of California, Berkeley |
| 1993 | MA | Kobe College |
| 1991 | BA | Kobe College |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Li, Jin | Professor of Education |
| Kindergarten teacher license (Japan) | - |
| EDUC 1190 - Family Engagement in Education |
| EDUC 1450 - The Psychology of Teaching and Learning |
| EDUC 1655 - Human Development and Education in East Asia |
| EDUC 1675 - The Psychology of Teaching and Learning |
| EDUC 1870 - Education and Human Development in East Asia |
| EDUC 1890 - Family Engagement in Education |
