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 U.S. 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.

List of Japanese Americans

Arts and architecture

• Shusaku Arakawa (1936–2010), artist and architect
• 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
• Masi Oka - Actor Japanese and digital effects artist raiced in United States.
• 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–), Issei, 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, 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
• 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 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 at Microsoft
• Richard Sakai, producer and President of Gracie Films
• George Shima (1864–1926), the first Japanese American millionaire.
• Gary A. Tanaka - financier, convicted fraudster
• Ken Uston, blackjack player, strategist, and author

Entertainment

• Keiko Agena, actress (Gilmore Girls TV series)
• Toshiko Akiyoshi, Shin-Issei, musician, jazz pianist, composer, arranger and big band leader
• Daniella Alonso, actress (Her father is part of Japanese descent)
• Devon Aoki, model and actress (half-Japanese)
• Tsuru Aoki (1892–1961), Issei, actress
• Gregg Araki, film director
• Fred Armisen, actor　and comedian
• Dean Cain, actor; paternal grandfather is of Japanese descent
• Asia Carrera (née Jessica Andrea Steinhauser), former pornographic actress; she is 1/2 Japanese
• Louis Ozawa Changchien, actor; he 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
• Alaura Eden, porn star
• 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
• Koichi Fukuda, Static X band member
• 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
• 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
• Joe Inoue, a Japanese-American pop and rock musician
• 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
• Jero, born Jerome Charles White, Jr., enka singer in Japan; grandmother was Japanese
• Miyuki Melody Ishikawa, singer and former host of NHK World TV music show, J-Melo.
• Austin St. John, actor (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).
• 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"
• Nadia Azzi, pianist
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• Kyrie Maezumi, actress and musician
• 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
• 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)
• Ken Narasaki, Sansei, actor, playwright
• Hiro Narita, Shin-Issei (Japanese-born), cinematographer
• Lane Nishikawa, Sansei, actor and filmmaker
• Kevin "KevNish" Nishimura, musician, member of Far East Movement (half-Japanese)
• 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 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 & 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 and current poet laureate of the state of Oregon
• Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Nisei, poet, playwright, actor
• Soji Kashiwagi, Sansei playwright and producer (Grateful Crane Ensemble)
• John Okada (1923–1971), author of 'No-No Boy'
• Yoshiko Uchida (1921–1992), Nisei, author
• Hisaye Yamamoto (1921–2011), award winning short-story writer
• Wakako Yamauchi, Nisei, playwright

News/Media

• Ann Curry, anchor and correspondent for NBC News and The Today Show
• Dina Eastwood,anchor
• Jun Fujita, Issei, (1888–1963), photographer/photojournalist
• Joseph Heco (1837–1897), fisherman and writer, first to publish Japanese language newspaper
• 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
• Denise Nakano, Anchor, WCAU NBC 10, Philadelphia
• Kent Ninomiya, anchor, reporter and news executive
• 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

Martial arts

• Toshihiro Oshiro - a martial arts master and instructor from Haneji, Okinawa, Japan and a founder of the Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai (RBKD).
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Susan K. Mashiko Major General (Two Stars) United States Air Force, November 2009–Present
• 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
• Vincent Okamoto, highly decorated veteran of 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
• 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
• 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, 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
• 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
• 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 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, 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
• 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 recipient 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
• 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
• 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 (1920–2010), 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
• Charles J. Pedersen (1904–1989), 1987 Nobel laureate in Chemistry; his mother was Japanese
• Gordon H. Sato, 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, pioneer in the cloning field and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences

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, 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
• 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 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
• 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
• Hikaru Nakamura, chess grandmaster and US champion (2005 and 2009)
• Keo Nakama (1920–2011), swimmer and world record holder
• 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
• Ichiro Suzuki, MLB player, batting record holder
• Kurt Suzuki, MLB player
• Robert Swift, NBA 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
• 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, as well as a professional baseball player in Nippon Professional Baseball League

See also

• Foreign-born Japanese
• List of Japanese people