List of Japanese Americans

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 US. The list includes a brief description of their reason for notability.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Japanese American or must have references showing they are Japanese American and are notable.

Arts and architecture

 * Nina Akamu, artist
 * Shusaku Arakawa (1936–2010), artist and architect
 * Ruth Asawa (1926–2013), sculptor
 * Hideo Date (1907–2005), painter associated with Synchromism movement
 * Isami Doi (1903–1965), printmaker and painter
 * Paul Horiuchi (1906–1999), painter and collagist
 * Ben Kamihira (1924–2004), artist and teacher
 * Jeff Matsuda, Emmy award-winning concept artist, comics artist, and animator
 * John Matsudaira (1922–2007), painter
 * George Matsumoto (1922–2016), architect and educator
 * Jimmy Mirikitani (1920–2012), painter
 * Luna H. Mitani, surrealist painter
 * Masayuki Oda (1950–2012), sculptor
 * Robert Murase (1938–2005), world-renowned landscape architect
 * Hashime Murayama (1879–1954), painter
 * George Nakashima (1905–1990), Nisei, woodworker, architect, and furniture maker
 * Hideo Noda (1908–1939), modernist painter and muralist
 * Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), artist, sculptor, designer
 * Kenjiro Nomura (1896–1956), painter
 * Chiura Obata (1885–1975), well-known artist and recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, for promoting goodwill and cultural understanding between the United States and Japan
 * Masi Oka, actor and digital effects artist, raised in the US
 * Arthur Okamura (1932–2009), 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
 * Yoko Ono (1933–), artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon
 * Sueo Serisawa (1910–2004), Issei, Californian Impressionist artist
 * Toshiko Takaezu (1922–2011), born and died in Hawaii; ceramic artist and painter; known for closed pots and cylindrical vessels
 * 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
 * Hiroaki Aoki, founder of Benihana
 * 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; former Dean of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
 * Wayne Inouye, former President and CEO of Gateway, Inc.
 * Roy Kusumoto, founder of Solectron
 * Nobu Matsuhisa, founder of Nobu and Matsuhisa
 * Bill Naito (1925–1996), prominent businessman in Portland, Oregon
 * Alice Sae Teshima Noda (1894—1964), businesswoman, dental hygienist, and beauty industry entrepreneur
 * Scott Oki, former Senior Vice President of sales and marketing at Microsoft
 * William Saito, founder of I/O Software, Inc. (acquired by Microsoft in 2004), venture capitalist and public policy consultant
 * Richard Sakai, producer and President of Gracie Films
 * George Shima (1864–1926), the first Japanese American millionaire
 * Gary A. Tanaka, financier
 * Dave Tatsuno, businessman and filmmaker
 * Kevin Tsujihara, CEO, Warner Brothers
 * Ken Uston, blackjack player, strategist, and author

Entertainment

 * Keiko Agena, actress (Gilmore Girls TV series)
 * Jhene Aiko, singer/songwriter; father is African-American, maternal grandfather is Japanese-American (Nisei), maternal grandmother is Spanish and Afro-Dominican
 * Asa Akira, pornographic actress and director
 * Toshiko Akiyoshi, Shin-Issei, musician, jazz pianist, composer, arranger and big band leader
 * Shuko Akune, actress
 * Thatcher Alcroft, actor and voice actor
 * Daniella Alonso, actress (father is of part Japanese descent)
 * Devon Aoki, model and actress (half Japanese)
 * Steve Aoki, house musician and record producer
 * Tsuru Aoki (1892–1961), Issei, actress
 * Gregg Araki, film director
 * Fred Armisen, actor and comedian
 * Nadia Azzi, pianist
 * Dean Cain, actor; paternal grandfather is of Japanese descent
 * Asia Carrera (née Jessica Andrea Steinhauser), former pornographic actress; half Japanese
 * Louis Ozawa Changchien, actor; half Japanese
 * Ian Anthony Dale, actor (Mr. 3000); mother is Japanese, father is French-English
 * Marié Digby, singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist; half Japanese
 * Marie Eguro, actress, model, musician
 * Yvonne Elliman, singer, songwriter (mother is Japanese)
 * 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 (1888–1963), Issei, silent movie actor, Essanay Studios of Chicago
 * Koichi Fukuda, Static X band member
 * Karen Fukuhara, actress
 * Umi Garrett, pianist
 * Tom Gorai, film producer
 * Midori Gotō, classical violinist and recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize
 * Ryu Goto, violinist
 * 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; half Japanese
 * Ryan Higa, YouTube celebrity, actor, comedian, and producer
 * Satoshi Hino, voice actor
 * Gina Hiraizumi, Yonsei, actress, singer
 * Shizuko Hoshi, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actress
 * James Iha, guitarist for The 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
 * Joe Inoue, pop and rock musician
 * Tatsuya Ishida, creator of the webcomic Sinfest
 * Miki Ishikawa, actress
 * Miyuki Melody Ishikawa, singer and former host of NHK World TV music show J-Melo
 * Maryanne Ito, soul singer, songwriter, and performer
 * Robert Ito, Nisei (Canadian-born), actor, best known as "Dr. Sam Fujiyama" on the TV series Quincy, M.E.
 * Yuna Ito, singer and actress, also of half Korean descent
 * Mila J, singer, rapper, dancer; sister of Jhene Aiko
 * Jero, born Jerome Charles White, Jr., enka singer in Japan; grandmother was Japanese
 * 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
 * Kane Kosugi, actor and martial artist, son of Sho Kosugi
 * 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
 * George Kuwa (1885-1931), actor
 * Bob Kuwahara, animator for Walt Disney and Terrytoons; created Hashimoto-san series
 * Dan Kwong, performance artist, writer, playwright (Be Like Water)
 * Jeff LaBar, guitarist of Cinderella
 * Jake E. Lee, heavy metal guitarist, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and in his own band Badlands
 * Sean Ono Lennon, Hapa Nisei, musician, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono
 * James Hiroyuki Liao, actor; half Japanese
 * Olivia Lufkin, singer, songwriter
 * Mackenyu, actor
 * Mako (1933–2006), Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), actor, Academy Award nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (The Sand Pebbles), Tony Award nominee for Best Actor (Pacific Overtures), 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; one-quarter Japanese on her mother's side
 * Anne Akiko Meyers, classical violinist
 * Derek Mio, Yonsei, actor (TV series Greek, Day One)
 * Kim Miyori, actress (St. Elsewhere TV series)
 * 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
 * Kent Nagano, conductor, Los Angeles Symphony
 * Robert A. Nakamura, filmmaker, co-founder of Visual Communications, 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)
 * Ken Narasaki, Sansei, actor, playwright
 * Hiro Narita, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), cinematographer
 * Lane Nishikawa, Sansei, actor, filmmaker, playwright and performance artist
 * Kevin "KevNish" Nishimura, musician, member of the Far East Movement (half Japanese)
 * George Nozuka, R&B singer
 * Justin Nozuka, singer, younger brother of George Nozuka
 * Philip Nozuka, actor, younger brother of George Nozuka
 * Sophie Tamiko 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
 * Josh Peck, actor and voice actor, father of partial Japanese descent
 * Ryan Potter, actor and martial artist
 * Douglas Robb, lead singer of Hoobastank, Japanese mother
 * Bianca Ryan, winner of America's Got Talent, mother is half Japanese
 * Nick Sakai, actor and producer
 * 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" section)
 * Tony Sano, game show host
 * Reiko Sato (1931–1981), Nisei, dancer and actress (Flower Drum Song, The Ugly American)
 * Kylee Saunders, singer based in Japan
 * Toshi Seeger, filmmaker and environmental activist, founder of the Clearwater Festival
 * James Shigeta (1929–2014), Sansei, actor (Bridge to the Sun, Crimson Kimono, Flower Drum Song, Walk Like A Dragon) and American popular standards singer
 * Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso
 * 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 Taiwanese 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)
 * 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 and 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 (1888–1963), Issei, poet, 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
 * Ayako Ishigaki (1903-1996), Issei, journalist and memoirist
 * Lawson Fusao Inada, Nisei, poet and current poet laureate of the state of Oregon
 * Cynthia Kadohata, novelist and winner of the Newbery Medal for children's literature
 * Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Nisei, poet, playwright, actor
 * Soji Kashiwagi, Sansei, playwright and producer (Grateful Crane Ensemble theater company)
 * David Mura (1952- ), poet, memoirist, and novelist
 * John Okada (1923–1971), author of No-No Boy
 * Julie Otsuka (1962– ), novelist
 * Ruth Ozeki (1956- ), novelist
 * Albert Saijo, poet
 * Toyo Suyemoto, poet, memoirist, and librarian
 * Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto (1874-1950), memoirist
 * Yoshiko Uchida (1921–1992), Nisei, author
 * Michi Weglyn, author
 * Hisaye Yamamoto (1921–2011), award-winning short story writer
 * Wakako Yamauchi, Nisei, playwright
 * Taro Yashima (1908–1994), author and illustrator

News/media

 * Shannon Hori Cogan, anchor, WAVE 3, Louisville and former anchor, WFOR/CBS 4, Miami
 * Ann Curry, former network anchor and correspondent for NBC News and The Today Show
 * Dina Eastwood, anchor
 * Jun Fujita (1888–1963), Issei, photographer/photojournalist
 * Rob Fukuzaki, sports anchor, ABC7, Los Angeles
 * James Hattori, former network correspondent, CBS News and CNN and former weekend anchor, KRON, San Francisco
 * Joseph Heco (1837–1897), fisherman and writer, first to publish Japanese language newspaper
 * Harry Honda (1919-2013), Nisei, journalist, columnist, and editor, Pacific Citizen
 * Bill Hosokawa (1915-2007), Nisei, Denver Post journalist, columnist, editor, and author
 * Michiko Kakutani, New York Times literary critic and author
 * Ken Kashiwahara, former network correspondent and San Francisco bureau chief, ABC News
 * Fred Katayama, anchor, Reuters Television, New York
 * Guy Kawasaki, author, Apple evangelist
 * Sachi Koto, former CNN news anchor
 * Lori Matsukawa, anchor, KING 5, Seattle
 * Rob Mayeda, NBC Bay Area Weather Plus meteorologist
 * Denise Nakano, anchor, WCAU NBC 10, Philadelphia
 * Kent Ninomiya, anchor, reporter and news executive
 * Yuki Noguchi, correspondent, NPR, Washington, DC
 * James Omura (1912-1994), Nisei, journalist, editor, and civil rights leader
 * David Ono, anchor, ABC7, Los Angeles
 * Roxana Saberi, reporter, mother is an immigrant from Japan
 * James Sakamoto (1903-1955), Nisei, journalist, columnist, editor, and boxer, founded first English-language Japanese American newspaper
 * Scott Sassa, former President, NBC West Coast
 * Larry Tajiri (1914-1965), Nisei, journalist, columnist, and editor
 * Tricia Takasugi, anchor, KTTV Fox 11, Los Angeles
 * Iva Toguri (1916–2006), Nisei, radio broadcaster nicknamed "Tokyo Rose"
 * Wendy Tokuda, former anchor, KPIX and KRON, San Francisco and KNBC, Los Angeles
 * Gordon Tokumatsu, reporter, NBC4, Los Angeles
 * Tritia Toyota, former anchor, KNBC and KCBS, Los Angeles

Martial arts

 * Taky Kimura, martial arts practitioner and instructor certified by Bruce Lee to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu or Jeet Kune Do
 * Toshihiro Oshiro, martial arts master and instructor from Haneji, Okinawa; a founder of the Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai
 * Don "The Dragon" Wilson, former world champion kickboxer and action movie star

Military

 * Barney F. Hajiro (1916–2011), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 * Harry B. Harris Jr. Admiral (four stars) United States Navy, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet
 * 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 (1924-2012), former Senator from Hawaii, Medal of Honor recipient World War II
 * Terry Teruo Kawamura (1949–1969), Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant First Class in the Vietnam War
 * Yeiki Kobashigawa (1920–2005), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 * Robert T. Kuroda (1922–1944), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 * Ben Kuroki (1917–2015), the only Japanese American Army Air Force pilot to fly combat missions in the Pacific theater in World War II
 * Susan K. Mashiko, Major General (two stars) United States Air Force, November 2009–present
 * Roy Matsumoto (1913–2014), Master sergeant, U.S. Army; member of Merrill's Marauders; inductee of the U.S. Army Rangers Hall of Fame and the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame
 * 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
 * Michael K. Nagata, United States Army Major General
 * 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
 * Vincent Okamoto, highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War
 * 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
 * Allen K. Ono, first Japanese American Lieutenant General
 * 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 (1921-2015), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 * Eric Shinseki, United States Army General, Army Chief of Staff (1999–2003), Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–2014)
 * 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, discharged "under Other-Than-Honorable-Conditions" in 2009
 * 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 the Vietnam War

Politics, law and government

 * Sanji Abe (1895–1982), first Japanese American in the Hawaii Territorial Senate (1940–1943)
 * 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)
 * Sue Kunitomi Embrey (1923-2006), co-founder of the Manzanar Committee who worked to gain National Historic Site status for the former concentration camp
 * Henry Hajimu Fujii, civic leader, Order of the Rising Sun recipient, Idaho
 * Warren Furutani, California State Assemblyman, 55th District
 * Colleen Hanabusa, Congresswoman from Hawaii
 * Bob Hasegawa, Member, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
 * S. I. Hayakawa (1906–1992), Canadian, former Senator from California and linguistics scholar
 * Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, civil rights activist and lead researcher of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
 * Gordon Hirabayashi (1918–2012), plaintiff in Hirabayashi v. United States, which challenged Japanese American internment during World War II
 * Mazie Hirono, former lieutenant governor of Hawaii, currently Senator from Hawaii
 * Mike Honda, Congressman from California
 * Paul Igasaki, former vice-chair and Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
 * David Ige, governor of Hawaii since 2014
 * Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), former Senator from Hawaii, Medal of Honor recipient, former President pro tempore of the United States Senate, and third in the United States presidential line of succession
 * Lance Ito, judge, presided over O.J. Simpson criminal trial
 * Jani Iwamoto, Democratic Utah Senator
 * Lincoln Kanai (1908-1982), plaintiff in ex parte Kanai, which challenged the constitutionality of the WWII incarceration
 * Yuri Kochiyama (1921–2014), Japanese American civil rights activist and friend of Malcolm X
 * Russell S. Kokubun, member, Hawaii State Senate
 * Fred Korematsu (1919–2005), Medal of Freedom recipient who argued against the internment
 * Aki Kurose (1925-2008), activist and educator who helped establish Seattle's first Head Start Program
 * 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
 * Steere Noda (1892–1986), politician, lawyer, and baseball player in the State of Hawaii
 * Blake Oshiro, lawyer, former deputy chief of staff to the Governor of Hawaii and Majority Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives
 * Pete Rouse, interim White House Chief of Staff in the Barack Obama administration
 * Scott Saiki, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
 * Thomas Sakakihara (1900–1976), member 1932–1954, House of Representatives, Hawaii Territorial Legislature
 * Sharon Tomiko Santos, Majority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
 * Maile Shimabukuro, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
 * Mark Takai, former member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
 * Dwight Takamine, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
 * Mark Takano (2013–), Congressman representing the 41st Congressional District of California; first LGBT person of color to be elected to Congress
 * Gregg Takayama, 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
 * Adney Y. Komatsu, first person of Asian descent to become a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * 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, 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 (1920–2010), biochemist and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
 * Mizuko Ito, cultural anthropologist at the University of California, Irvine
 * Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist specializing in string field theory
 * Akihiro Kanamori, mathematician specializing in set theory
 * Jay Kochi (1927-2008), chemist
 * Dorinne K. Kondo, anthropologist
 * John Maeda, computer scientist, artist, professor at MIT
 * Teruhisa Matsusaka (1926–2006), mathematician specializing in algebraic geometry
 * Yoky Matsuoka, computer scientist; 2007 MacArthur Fellow
 * Shuji Nakamura, 2014 Nobel Laureate in Physics
 * Yoichiro Nambu (1921–2015), 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 President University of Cincinnati
 * Takashi Ono, mathematician
 * Charles J. Pedersen (1904–1989), 1987 Nobel laureate in Chemistry; his mother was Japanese
 * Gordon H. Sato (1927-2017), cell biologist and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
 * Tsutomu Shimomura, computer security expert
 * Daniel M. Tani, astronaut
 * Takeshi Utsumi, computer simulationist
 * Ryuzo Yanagimachi, reproductive biologist and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
 * Sho Yano, physician and former child prodigy

Sports

 * Darwin Barney, MLB player, grandmother is from Japan and grandfather is from Korea.
 * Bryan Clay, 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon
 * Rickie Fowler, professional golfer, maternal grandfather is Japanese
 * Paul Fujii, professional boxer and WBA Junior Welterweight champion
 * Tadd Fujikawa, teen golfer
 * Corey Gaines, NBA player
 * Miki Gorman (1935–2015), 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, mother is of Japanese descent
 * Atlee Hammaker, All-Star MLB player, mother is of Japanese descent
 * Hiroto Hirashima, member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame
 * Christian Hosoi, professional skateboarder
 * Bryan Iguchi, professional snowboarder
 * Kyoko Ina, first place in the 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (pairs)
 * Rena Inoue, first place in the 2004 and 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (pairs)
 * Travis Ishikawa, MLB player
 * Evelyn Kawamoto (1933-2017), 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 (1930-2016), former world record holder, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting (1952, 1956, and 1960)
 * Shogo Kubo, professional skateboarder
 * Kyle Larson, Sansei, Winner in all three NASCAR national series.
 * Brandon League, MLB player
 * Mike Lum, first American of Japanese ancestry to play in the major leagues
 * 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
 * Keo Nakama (1920–2011), swimmer and world record holder
 * Haruki Nakamura, NFL safety, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers
 * Hikaru Nakamura, chess grandmaster and US champion (2005, 2009, and 2012)
 * Corey Nakatani, jockey with seven wins in Breeders' Cup races
 * Teiko Nishi, Sansei, women's basketball starter for UCLA
 * Apolo Anton Ohno, won eight Olympic medals in short-track speed skating (two gold) in 2002, 2006, and 2010, 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
 * Alex Shibutani, figure skater
 * Maia Shibutani, figure skater; Alex Shibutani's younger sister
 * Kinji Shibuya, professional wrestler and actor
 * Ashima Shiraishi an American rock climber.
 * Erik Shoji, US National team volleyball player
 * Kawika Shoji, US National team volleyball player and Erik Shoji's brother
 * Kurt Suzuki, MLB player
 * Robert Swift, NBA player
 * Derek Tatsuno, baseball player 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
 * Rex Walters, NBA player
 * Kristi Yamaguchi, Yonsei, won three national figure skating 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 (1925–2011), football player; first Japanese American in the NFL; professional baseball player in Nippon Professional Baseball League