Sakae "Sak" Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 栄,[1] January 17, 1914 – June 28, 1997) was an American politician who served as the first Asian-American mayor of Carson, California.

[2] In 1960, he served on the board of the Dominguez-Carson Fact Finding Committee which determined to incorporate the area as a city.

[2] After six prior attempts, on February 6, 1968, a successful vote was made to incorporate and Yamamoto was elected to a two-year term on the City Council[2] along with John A. Marbut, who was named first mayor, John L. Junk, mayor pro tem, Gilbert D. Smith, and H. Rick Clark.

[4] In May 1979, a group denominated Carsonites Organized for Good Government filed a recall petition against Yamamoto and fellow councilman John Marbut for poor leadership, putting the interests of business ahead of the people,[5] and for awarding a new five-year garbage contract to other than the low bidder while also prematurely ending debate.

[6][7] Their political ally, then-mayor Kay Callas, was not recalled although she voted for the contract, she did not support ending debate.