List of Japanese Americans

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This is a list of Japanese Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants, but not Japanese nationals living or working in the U.S. The list includes a brief description of their reason for notability.

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completion. You can help by expanding it with sourced additions.

List of Japanese Americans

Arts and architecture

• Jeff Matsuda, Emmy award-winning concept artist, comics artist, and animator
• Jimmy Mirikitani, painter
• Luna H. Mitani, surrealist painter
• Robert Murase (1938 – 2005), a world renowned landscape architect
• George Nakashima (1905 - 1990), Nisei, woodworker, architect, and furniture maker
• Isamu Noguchi (1904 - 1988), artist, sculptor, designer
• Chiura Obata (1885 - 1975), a well-known artist and recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, for promoting good will and cultural understanding between the United States and Japan
• Arthur Okamura, California painter, illustrator and screen-printer associated with the San Francisco Renaissance
• Miné Okubo (1912 - 2001), Nisei, painter, author of Citizen 13660, her book documenting life during her confinement in the Japanese American internment.
• Sueo Serisawa (1910 - 2004), Issei, noted Californian Impressionist artist
• Adrian Tomine, graphic novelist ("Shortcomings")
• George Tsutakawa (1910 - 1997), sculptor and painter
• Minoru Yamasaki (1912 - 1986), Nisei, architect, best known for the New York World Trade Center "Twin Towers."

Business and economics

• Takeshi Amemiya, economist, Stanford professor
• Glen Fukushima, Co-President and Representative Director, NCR Japan, Ltd., and former President, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
• Francis Fukuyama, economist and historian
• Robert Hamada, Edward Eagle Brown Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and former Dean of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
• Wayne Inouye, former president & CEO of Gateway, Inc.
• Scott Oki, former senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Microsoft

Entertainment

• Keiko Agena, actress (Gilmore Girls TV series)
• Toshiko Akiyoshi, Shin-Issei, musician, jazz pianist, composer, arranger and big band leader
• Devon Aoki, model and actress
• Tsuru Aoki (1892 - 1961), Issei, actress
• Gregg Araki, film director
• Jadagrace Berry, child actress
• Dean Cain, actor; paternal grandfather is of Japanese decent
• Asia Carrera (née Jessica Andrea Steinhauser), former pornographic actress; she is 1/2 Japanese
• Ian Anthony Dale, actor (Mr. 3000);father is Japanese, mother is French-English
• Marié Digby, singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist; she is 1/2 Japanese
• Marie Eguro, actress, model, musician
• Takayo Fischer, Nisei, actress
• Tak Fujimoto, Nisei, cinematographer of many Hollywood films including The Silence of the Lambs and Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Jun Fujita, Issei, silent movie actor, (1888-1963), Essanay Studios of Chicago
• Midori Gotō, a classical violinist and recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize
• Ann Harada, actress (musical Avenue Q)
• Kayo Hatta (1958 - 2005), filmmaker (Sundance Award winner Picture Bride)
• Sessue Hayakawa (1889 - 1973), Issei, Academy Award nominated actor
• Matt Heafy, Lead vocalist of band Trivium - mother is Japanese
• Don Henrie, self-proclaimed vampire and an Alt on the short-lived Sci Fi Channel series Mad Mad House; 1/2 Japanese.
• Gina Hiraizumi, Yonsei, actress, singer
• Brian Hirano, dancer, winner of season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew (1/2 Japanese)
• Shizuko Hoshi, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actress
• James Iha, Guitarist for Smashing Pumpkins and A Perfect Circle
• Jeff Imada, actor, stuntman, stunt coordinator
• Grant Imahara, Yonsei, builder and host on MythBusters TV series on Discovery Channel
• Carrie Ann Inaba, dancer, actress
• Tatsuya Ishida, creator of the webcomic Sinfest
• Robert Ito, Nisei (Canadian-born), actor, best known as "Dr. Sam Fujiyama" on the popular TV series Quincy, M.E.
• Yuna Ito, singer and actress, also of half-Korean descent
• Miyuki Melody Ishikawa, singer and former host of NHK World TV music show, J-Melo.
• Rodney Kageyama, Nisei, actor
• Janice Kawaye, voice actress
• Hayley Kiyoko, actress, singer
• Ariane Koizumi, film actress
• Hokuto "Hok" Konishi, dancer and b-boy, member of the season three winning crew on "America's Best Dance Crew"
• Sho Kosugi, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actor and martial artist
• Shin Koyamada, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actor, producer, philanthropist, and martial artist
• Asako Kozuki, voice actress
• Emily Kuroda, actress (Gilmore Girls TV series)
• Karyn Kusama, director
• Clyde Kusatsu, actor
• Bob Kuwahara animator for Walt Disney and Terrytoons. Created Hashimoto-san series.
• Dan Kwong, performance artist, writer, playwright (Be Like Water)
• Sean Ono Lennon, Hapa Nisei, musician, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono
• Olivia Lufkin, singer, songwriter
• Mako (1933 - 2006), Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actor, Academy Award nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (The Sand Pebbles) and Tony Award nominee for Best Actor (Pacific Overtures Original Broadway Cast), Founder of East West Players
• Lily Mariye, actress (ER), filmmaker
• Keiko Matsui, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), jazz musician
• Kent Matsuoka, Nisei producer and location manager
• Nobu McCarthy (1934 - 2002), Kibei (Canadian-born), actress (Farewell to Manzanar, Wake Me When It's Over, Walk Like A Dragon)
• Meiko, L.A.-based singer/songwriter; she is 1/4 Japanese on her mother's side
• Anne Akiko Meyers, classical violinist
• Derek Mio, Yonsei, actor (Greek TV series, Day One TV series)
• Kim Miyori, actress (St. Elsewhere TV series)
• Diane Mizota, dancer, actress, TV host
• Pat Morita (1932 - 2005), Nisei, Academy Award nominated actor and comedian
• Glen Murakami, Animator, director, producer
• Doris Muramatsu, Girlyman band member
• Alan Muraoka, actor and theatre director who plays the current owner of Hooper's Store on Sesame Street
• Chad Michael Murray, actor from One Tree Hill (mother is half Japanese)
• Kent Nagano, conductor, Los Angeles Symphony
• Robert A. Nakamura, filmmaker, co-founder of Visual Communications (VC), teacher
• Suzy Nakamura, Sansei, actress
• Desmond Nakano, Sansei, film director (White Man's Burden, American Pastime) and screenwriter (Last Exit to Brooklyn, American Me, White Man's Burden, American Pastime)
• Hiro Narita, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), cinematographer
• Lane Nishikawa, Sansei, actor and filmmaker
• Sophie Oda (1991 - ) child actress
• Masi Oka, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), Golden Globe nominated television actor (Heroes)
• Daryn Okada, cinematographer, current president of American Society of Cinematographers
• Steven Okazaki, Sansei, Academy Award winning documentary filmmaker
• Ryo Okumoto, Spock's Beard band member
• Yuji Okumoto, Sansei, actor
• Lisa Onodera, film producer (Picture Bride, The Debut, Americanese)
• Ken and Miye Ota, champion ballroom dancers, martial artists (Aikido and Judo)
• Seiji Ozawa, conductor, director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1973-2002
• Douglas Robb, lead singer of Hoobastank, Japanese mother
• Bianca Ryan, winner of America's Got Talent, mother is 1/2 Japanese
• Stan Sakai, cartoonist, creator of Usagi Yojimbo comic series
• Harold Sakata (1920 - 1982), Nisei, actor ("Odd Job" from James Bond film Goldfinger) and wrestler (see also Sports below)
• Reiko Sato, (1931 - 1981), Nisei, dancer and actress (Flower Drum Song, The Ugly American)
• Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso
• James Shigeta, Sansei, actor (Bridge to the Sun, Crimson Kimono, Flower Drum Song, Walk Like A Dragon) and American popular standards singer
• Jenny Shimizu, fashion model
• Yuki Shimoda (1921 - 1981), Nisei, actor
• Sab Shimono, actor
• Larry Shinoda, automotive designer noted for his work on the Corvette and the Boss 302 Mustang
• Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park band member; father is Japanese.
• Jack Soo (Goro Suzuki) (1916 - 1979), Nisei, actor (Flower Drum Song, portrayed Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana in Barney Miller TV series)
• Stephanie, singer (half-Japanese)
• Pat Suzuki, Nisei, American popular standards singer and actress (Flower Drum Song Original Broadway Cast)
• Shoji Tabuchi, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), famous fiddler
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actor
• Kobe Tai, porn star (half Chinese and half Japanese)
• Rea Tajiri, Sansei, filmmaker
• Miiko Taka, Nisei, actress, starred opposite Marlon Brando in Sayonara
• Iwao Takamoto (1925 - 2007), Nisei, animator/producer for Hanna Barbera, creator of Scooby Doo
• Cyril Takayama, illusionist
• George Takei, Nisei, actor, "Sulu" from Star Trek TV series and films
• Sara Tanaka, actress
• Chris Tashima, Sansei, actor, Academy Award winning director (Visas and Virtue)
• Steve Terada, dancer/martial artist, Winner of Season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew
• Teppei Teranishi, Thrice band member
• Brian Tochi, Sansei, actor
• Tamlyn Tomita, Sansei on father's side (mother is Japanese/Filipina), actress
• Miyoshi Umeki (1929 - 2007), Shin-Issei, Academy Award winning actress (Sayonara) and American popular standards singer
• Michael Toshiyuki Uno, Academy Award nominated director
• Hikaru Utada, singer/songwriter. Multi-million selling Japanese pop music star. Topped Billboard Club chart with "Devil Inside" in 2004
• Gedde Watanabe, Sansei, actor, Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles
• Don "the Dragon" Wilson, Hapa, actor in Hollywood action films, mother is Japanese (see also Sports below)
• Rachael Yamagata, Hapa, Yonsei, singer, songwriter, pianist (Sansei father & German-Italian mother)
• Hiro Yamamoto, original bass player for Soundgarden
• Iris Yamashita, Academy Award nominated screenwriter (Letters from Iwo Jima)
• Sotaro Yasuda, actor
• Patti Yasutake, actress who played "Nurse Alyssa Ogawa" on Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series

History

• Kwan-Ichi Asakawa (1873 - 1948), historian, professor at Yale
• Yamato Ichihashi (1878 - 1963), one of the first Asian academics in the US
• Yuji Ichioka (1936 - 2002), historian, coined the term Asian American
• Akira Iriye, historian, professor at Harvard
• Ronald Takaki (1939 - 2009), historian, University of California, Berkeley professor

Literature and poetry

• Jun Fujita, Issei, Poet, (1888-1963), Wrote the first American Tanka Poetry Book in 1923, TANKA: Poems in Exile
• Dale Furutani, novelist
• Philip Kan Gotanda, Sansei, playwright
• Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, Nisei, novelist, author of Farewell to Manzanar
• Naomi Iizuka, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), playwright
• Lawson Fusao Inada, Nisei, poet
• Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Nisei, poet, playwright, actor
• John Okada (1923 – 1971), author of 'No-No Boy'
• Hisaye Yamamoto, award winning short-story writer
• Wakako Yamauchi, Nisei, playwright

News/Media

• Ann Curry, anchor and correspondent for NBC News and The Today Show
• Jun Fujita, Issei, (1888-1963), photographer/photojournalist
• Rob Fukuzaki, sports anchor
• Joseph Heco (1837 - 1897), fisherman and writer, first to publish Japanese language newspaper
• Susan Hirasuna, anchor
• Michiko Kakutani, New York Times literary critic and author
• Guy Kawasaki, author, Apple evangelist
• Sachi Koto, former CNN News anchor
• Rob Mayeda, NBC Bay Area Weather Plus Meteorologist
• Kent Ninomiya, anchor, reporter and news executive
• Yuki Noguchi, correspondent NPR, Washington Post
• Scott Sassa, former President, NBC West Coast
• Roxana Saberi, reporter, mother is an immigrant from Japan.
• Tricia Takasugi, anchor, KTTV Fox 11, Los Angeles
• Iva Toguri (1916 - 2006), radio broadcaster who has been nicknamed "Tokyo Rose"
• Tritia Toyota, former anchor
• Jane Yamamoto, anchor, KTTV Fox 11, Los Angeles

Military

• Barney F. Hajiro, Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Mikio Hasemoto (1916 – 1943), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Joe Hayashi (1920 – 1945), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Shizuya Hayashi (1917 - 2008), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Daniel Inouye Senator from Hawaii, Medal of Honor recipient World War II
• Terry Teruo Kawamura (1949 - 1969), Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant First Class in Vietnam War
• Yeiki Kobashigawa (1920 – 2005), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Alice K. Kurashige, the first Japanese American woman to be commissioned in the United States Marine Corps
• Robert T. Kuroda (1922 – 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Ben Kuroki, only Japanese American Army Air Force pilot to fly combat missions in the Pacific theater in World War II
• Hiroshi Miyamura, Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal in Korean War
• Kenneth P. Moritsugu, former acting Surgeon General of the United States, Rear Admiral, USPHS
• Kaoru Moto (1917 – 1992), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Sadao Munemori (1922 - 1945), Medal of Honor recipient, Private First Class in World War II
• Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (1922 – 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Masato Nakae (1917 – 1998), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Shinyei Nakamine (1920 – 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• William K. Nakamura (1922 - 1944), Medal of Honor recipient, Private First Class in World War II
• Joe M. Nishimoto (1920 - 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Allan M. Ohata (1918 – 1977), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• James K. Okubo (1920 - 1967), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Yukio Okutsu (1921 – 2003), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Frank H. Ono (1923 – 1980), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Kazuo Otani (1918 – 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• George T. Sakato, Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Saito Shebato (1864 - 1939), served in the US Navy during World War I
• Eric Shinseki, United States Army General, Army Chief of Staff, 1999-2003, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2009
• Ted T. Tanouye (1919 – 1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Ehren Watada, first commissioned officer in the U.S. armed forces to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq.
• Bruce Yamashita, worked to expose racial discrimination in the United States Marine Corps
• Rodney James Takashi Yano (1943 - 1969), Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant First Class in Vietnam War

Politics and Law

• Richard Aoki (1938 - 2009), civil rights activist and co-founder of the Black Panther Party
• George Ariyoshi, first Asian American governor of a U.S. state, Hawaii
• Henry Hajimu Fujii, Civic Leader, Order of the Rising Sun recipient, Idaho
• Warren Furutani, California State Assemblyman, 55th District
• Colleen Hanabusa, member, Hawaii State Senate
• Bob Hasegawa, Member, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
• S. I. Hayakawa (1906 - 1992), Canadian, former Senator from California and linguistics scholar
• Gordon Hirabayashi, plaintiff in Hirabayashi v. United States, which challenged Japanese-American internment during World War II
• Mazie Hirono, former lieutenant governor of State of Hawaii, currently Congresswomen from Hawaii
• Mike Honda, Congressman from California
• Paul Igasaki, former Vice Chair and Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Daniel Inouye, Senator from Hawaii, Medal of Honor recipient
• Lance Ito, judge, presided over O.J. Simpson criminal trial
• Yuri Kochiyama, the Japanese American civil rights activist and friend of Malcolm X
• Russell S. Kokubun, member, Hawaii State Senate
• Fred Korematsu (1919 - 2005), Medal of Freedom reciepient who argued against the internment
• Mari Matsuda, first tenured Asian American, female law professor in the United States
• Doris Matsui, Congresswoman from California and widow of Robert Matsui
• Robert Matsui (1941 - 2005), late Congressman from California and former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
• Spark Matsunaga (1916 - 1990), US Senator from Hawaii
• Stan Matsunaka, Colorado State Senator
• Norman Mineta, Congressman from California and Secretary of Transportation
• Patsy Takemoto Mink (1927 - 2002), first Asian American Congresswoman, Hawaii
• Hermina Morita, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
• Kenneth P. Moritsugu, United States Surgeon General (acting) from 2006-2007
• Alan Nakanishi, California State Assemblyman, 10th District 2002-08
• George Nakano, Former California State Assemblyman
• Paula A. Nakayama, Associate Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court
• Karen Narasaki, Executive Director of the Asian American Justice Center
• Clarence K. Nishihara, member, Hawaii State Senate
• Scott Saiki, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
• Sharon Tomiko Santos, Majority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
• Maile Shimabukuro. member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
• Dwight Takamine, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
• Robert Mitsuhiro Takasugi (1930 - 2009), first Japanese-American appointed to the federal bench.
• Paul Tanaka, Mayor of the City of Gardena and Assistant Sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
• A. Wallace Tashima, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• Jill N. Tokuda, member, Hawaii State Senate
• Takuji Yamashita (1874 - 1959), early civil rights pioneer

Religion

• Robert T. Hoshibata, Bishop of the United Methodist Church
• Roy I. Sano, Bishop of the United Methodist Church
• Nyogen Senzaki (1876-1958), one of the 20th century's leading proponents of Zen Buddhism
• Sam K. Shimabukuro, member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Taitetsu Unno, a Buddhist scholar, lecturer, and author

Science and technology

• Keiiti Aki (1930 - 2005), seismologist
• George I. Fujimoto, chemist
• Ted Fujita (1920 - 1998), creator of the Fujita scale
• Harvey Itano, biochemist and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
• Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist specializing in string field theory
• Akihiro Kanamori, mathematician specializing in set theory
• Dorinne K. Kondo, anthropologist
• John Maeda, computer scientist, artist, professor at MIT
• Yoky Matsuoka, computer scientist, and a 2007 MacArthur Fellow
• Yoichiro Nambu, 2008 Nobel Laureate in physics
• Susumu Ohno (1928 – 2000), geneticist and evolutionary biologist
• Ellison Onizuka (1946 - 1986), first Asian American astronaut; one of the "Challenger Seven"
• Ken Ono, mathematician specializing in number theory
• Santa J. Ono, immunologist, biologist, university administrator Emory University
• Gordon H. Sato, cell biologist
• Tsutomu Shimomura, computer security expert
• Takeshi Utsumi, computer simulationist
• Ryuzo Yanagimachi, pioneer in the cloning field and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences

Sports

• Paul Fujii, professional boxer and WBA Junior Welterweight Champion
• Tadd Fujikawa, Teen golf phenom
• Miki Gorman, two-time winner of both the Boston and New York City marathons; former American and unofficial world record holder in the marathon
• Jeremy Guthrie, MLB player
• Hiroto Hirashima, member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame
• Christian Hosoi, professional skateboarder
• Bryan Iguchi, professional snowboarder
• Rena Inoue, first place in the 2004 and 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (pairs)
• Travis Ishikawa, MLB player
• Evelyn Kawamoto won two Olympic bronze medals in swimming in 1952.
• Ford Konno former world record holder, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic silver medalist in swimming (1952 and 1956).
• Tommy Kono former world record holder, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting (1952, 1956, and 1960).
• Shogo Kubo, professional skateboarder
• Wataru Misaka, professional basketball pioneer broke the NBA color barrier in 1947
• Mirai Nagasu, won the singles title at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
• Hikaru Nakamura, chess grandmaster and US champion (2005 and 2009)
• Keo Nakama swimmer and world record holder
• Corey Nakatani, jockey with seven wins in Breeders' Cup races
• Apolo Anton Ohno, won five Olympic medals in short-track speed skating (two gold) in 2002 and 2006, as well as a world cup championship.
• Yoshinobu Oyakawa former world record holder and 1952 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter backstroke.
• Harold Sakata (1920 - 1982), 1948 Olympic silver medalist weightlifter, actor, and wrestler
• Lenn Sakata, Professional baseball player for the World Series Champions Baltimore Orioles
• Eric Sato won an 1988 Olympic gold medal in volleyball
• Liane Sato won an 1992 Olympic bronze medal in volleyball
• Kurt Suzuki, MLB player
• Derek Tatsuno, baseball player and selected to the All-Time All-Star Team of Collegiate Baseball America
• Shane Victorino, Sansei, MLB player
• Don Wakamatsu, Yonsei, Major League Baseball's first Japanese-American manager
• Kristi Yamaguchi, Yonsei, won three national figureskating championships, two world titles, and the 1992 Olympic Gold medal.
• Lindsey Yamasaki, Professional basketball player (Miami Sol, New York Liberty, San Jose Spiders), Stanford University (basketball, volleyball)
• Roger Yasukawa, auto-racing driver (IRL)
• Wally Kaname Yonamine, Football player, first Japanese American in the NFL, as well as a professional baseball player in Nippon Professional Baseball League

See also

• Foreign-born Japanese
• List of Japanese people

References