List of Japanese Americans

The following is a list of notable Japanese Americans who have made significant contributions to the United States, or have appeared in the news numerous times:

List

Arts and architecture

* Tadashi Asoma, a contemporary art painter;in the television series "24"
* Jeff Matsuda, Emmy award-winning concept artist, comics artist, and animator
* Jimmy Mirikitani, painter
* Luna H. Mitani, Surrealism Painting Artist
* Robert Murase (1938 – 2005), a world renowned landscape architect
* George Nakashima (1905 - 1990), "Nisei", woodworker, architect, and furniture maker
* Isamu Noguchi (1904 - 1988), "Issei", 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
* 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
* 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.
* Roy Kusumoto, founder, Solectron
* Tomio Moriguchi, Chairman, Uwajimaya
* Robert Nakasone, former president & CEO of Toys "R" Us
* Koichi Nishimura, former CEO (1996-2003), Solectron
* 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
* Colin Imaoka, gay model and actor
* Tsuru Aoki (1892 - 1961), "Issei", actress
* Gregg Araki, film director
* Dean Cain, actor; he is 1/4 Japanese
* 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"
* John Fujioka, actor
* 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". He is half-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
* 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."
* Rodney Kageyama, "Nisei", actor
* Kenn Kashima, film editor, filmmaker
* Janice Kawaye, voice actress
* Ariane Koizumi, film actress
* Sho Kosugi, "Shin-Issei" (Japanese-born), actor and martial artist
* Eric Koyanagi, filmmaker
* Denise Kumagai, actress ("Night Court" TV series)
* Dan Kuramoto, "Sansei", musician, composer, band-leader of Hiroshima
* Emily Kuroda, actress ("Gilmore Girls" TV series)
* Clyde Kusatsu, actor
* Bob Kuwahara animator for Walt Disney and Terrytoons. Created "Hashimoto-san" series.
* Dan Kwong, performance artist, writer, playwright ("Be Like Water")
* Akira Lane, adult model known for her work with pantyhose
* 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
* Kim Miyori, actress ("St. Elsewhere" TV series)
* Diane Mizota, dancer, actress, TV host
* Pat Morita (1932 - 2005), "Nisei", Academy Award nominated actor and comedian
* 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
* Eric Nakamura, founder of "Giant Robot" magazine
* 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 and playwright (brother of Karen Narasaki)
* Hiro Narita, "Shin-Issei" (Japanese-born), cinematographer
* Lane Nishikawa, "Sansei", actor and filmmaker
*Sophie Oda (1991 - ) child actress [Oda - [http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=1f45a52f7943df2bf4ceb7027a094d1c&this_cateogry_id=171] "Born to a typical suburban Japanese American family, the daughter of Allan and Kathy..."]
*Masi Oka, "Shin-Issei" (Japanese-born), Golden Globe nominated television actor ("Heroes") [Oka - [http://superherohype.com/news/heroesnews.php?id=4807] "Oka: I was born in Japan. I moved to Los Angeles when I was 6, but I had to go to Saturday school, kind of like Hebrew School but for Japanese folks."]
* 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")
* Seiji Ozawa, conductor, director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1973-2002
* Douglas Robb, "Hapa", lead singer of Hoobastank, whose mother is Japanese American
* Bianca Ryan, "Hapa", winner of "America's Got Talent", Japanese American descent from mother's side
* 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
* Masahiko Shimo, classical pianist
* Yuki Shimoda (1921 - 1981), "Nisei", actor
* Gary Shimokawa, television actor, director
* Sab Shimono, actor
* Larry Shinoda, automotive designer noted for his work on the Corvette and the Boss 302 Mustang
* Mike Shinoda, "Hapa", 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)
* Hidetaro Suzuki, violinist and concertmaster of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra (1963-1978) and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (1978-2005)
* 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)
* Rene Tajima-Peña, Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker ("Who Killed Vincent Chin?")
* 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
* Marcus Toji, "Yonsei", actor
* Marilyn Tokuda, "Sansei", actress
* 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")
* Patti Yasutake, actress who played "Nurse Alyssa Ogawa" on "" 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
* Dennis Ogawa, author, historian, businessman, professor at University of Hawaii
* Ronald Takaki (author), historian, University of California, Berkeley professor

Literature and poetry

* Dale Furutani, novelist
* Philip Kan Gotanda, "Sansei", playwright
* Naomi Hirahara, novelist and journalist
* 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
* Ken Mochizuki, author
* John Okada (1923 – 1971), author of 'No-No Boy'
* Ed Sakamoto, "Nisei", playwright
* Jon Shirota, novelist and playwright
* Hisaye Yamamoto, award winning short-story writer
* Wakako Yamauchi, "Nisei", playwright

News/Media

* Guy Aoki, founder of Media Action Network for Asian Americans
* Ann Curry, anchor and correspondent for NBC News and The Today Show
* Rob Fukuzaki, sports anchor for KABC-TV in Los Angeles
* Akiko Fujita, reporter, KOMO News (Channel 4), Seattle
* James Hattori, pioneering network news correspondent
* Susan Hirasuna, Fox 11 News anchor (Los Angeles)
* Joseph Heco (1837 - 1897), fisherman and writer, first to publish Japanese language newspaper
* Mike Inouye, NBC 11 Traffic Anchor (SF Bay Area)
* Michiko Kakutani, "New York Times" literary critic and author
* Ken Kashiwahara, Emmy winning television journalist
* Guy Kawasaki, author, Apple evangelist
* Sachi Koto, former CNN News anchor
* Lori Matsukawa, co-anchor in Seattle and former Miss Teenage America in 1974
* Gordon Morioka, photojournalist based in Cincinnati, Ohio (formerly with the Dayton Journal Herald and the Cincinnati Enquirer)
* Kent Ninomiya, anchor, reporter and news executive
* Yuki Noguchi, reporter, NPR
* David Ono, anchorman for KABC-TV in Los Angeles
* Scott Sassa, former President, NBC West Coast
* Dean Takahashi, journalist/blogger with VentureBeat, formerly with San Jose Mercury
* Iva Toguri (1916 - 2006), radio broadcaster who has been nicknamed "Tokyo Rose"
* Wendy Tokuda, anchorwoman for San Francisco KPIX 5, previously for KRON 4
* Tritia Toyota, former anchorwoman, founder of Asian American Journalists Association

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
* 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
* Kaoru Moto (1917 – 1992), Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
* James H. Mukoyama, Major General, first Asian American to command an Army division
* 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
* Jiro Shimoda, Sergeant in World War II
* Eric Shinseki, United States Army General, Army Chief of Staff, 1999-2003
* Francis Takemoto, first Japanese-American general officer
* 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

* Margaret Abe-Koga, Vice Mayor & City Council member, Mountain View, CA
* Richard Aoki, 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
* Carol Fukunaga, member, Hawaii State Senate
* 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
* Lloyd Hara, Vice Chairman, Seattle Port Commission
* 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
* Les Ihara, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Ronald Ikejiri, City Council Member, Gardena, CA
* Daniel Inouye, Senator from Hawaii, Medal of Honor recipient
* Lorraine R. Inouye, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Ken Ito, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Lance Ito, judge, presided over O.J. Simpson criminal trial
* Jon Riki Karamatsu, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Yoriko Kishimoto, City Council member, Palo Alto, CA
* Yuri Kochiyama, the Japanese American civil rights activist and friend of Malcolm X
* Russell S. Kokubun, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Kimi Kondo, judge, Municipal Court of Seattle
* Fred Korematsu (1919 - 2005), Medal of Freedom reciepient who argued against the internment
* Ron Mamiya, judge, Municipal Court of Seattle
* Barbara Marumoto member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* 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
* John Mizuno, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Hermina Morita, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Kenneth P. Moritsugu, United States Surgeon General (acting) from 2006-2007
* Alan Nakanishi, California Assemblyman
* George Nakano, Former California Assemblyman
* Bob Nakasone, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Paula A. Nakayama, Associate Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court
* Karen Narasaki, Executive Director of the Asian American Justice Center
* Scott Nishimoto, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Clarence K. Nishihara, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Blake Oshiro, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Marcus Oshiro, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Scott Saiki, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Norman Sakamoto, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Sharon Tomiko Santos, Majority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
* Maile Shimabukuro. member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Mark Takai, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Dwight Takamine, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Roy Takumi, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Paul Tanaka, Mayor of the City of Gardena and Assistant Sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
* Brian T. Taniguchi, member, Hawaii State Senate
* A. Wallace Tashima, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
* James Tokioka, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Jill N. Tokuda, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Kip Tokuda, former member, House of Representatives, Washington State Legislature
* Clift Tsuji, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Shan S. Tsutsui, member, Hawaii State Senate
* Glenn Wakai, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Ryan Yamane, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* Kyle Yamashita, member, House of Representatives, Hawaii State Legislature
* 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

cience and technology

* Keiiti Aki (1930 - 2005), seismologist
* Ted Fujita (1920 - 1998), creator of the Fujita scale
* Harvey Itano, biochemist and member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
* Michio Kaku, scientist known for his string field 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

ports

* Bryan Clay, won the decathlon gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, the silver medal in the 2004 Olympics, and was the sport's 2005 world champion.
* 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.
* 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, Olympic bronze medalist in swimming in 1952.
* Ford Konno, U.S.A Olympic swimmer and Olympic champion (two golds and a silver in 1952; silver in 1956).
* Tommy Kono, Olympic gold medalist (1952, 1956) and silver medalist (1960) weightlifter.
* 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 former US champion (2005).
* Keo Nakama swimmer and world record holder
* Corey Nakatani, jockey with seven wins in Breeders' Cup races
* Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic short track speed skating competitor.
* Lance Otsubo, won the 2004 U.S. Individual National Spearfishing Championships.
* Yoshinobu Oyakawa, U.S.A Olympic swimmer and Olympic champion (1952).
* Dave Roberts, MLB player
* Soichi Sakamoto, Olympic swimming coach and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
* Harold Sakata (1920 - 1982), 1948 Olympic medalist weightlifter, actor, and wrestler.
* Lenn Sakata, Professional baseball player for the World Series Champions Baltimore Orioles.
* Kurt Suzuki, MLB player
* Paula Suzuki, bodybuilder and powerlifter
* Derek Tatsuno, baseball player and selected to the All-Time All-Star Team of Collegiate Baseball America.
* Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater
* Lindsey Yamasaki, Professional basketball player (Miami Sol, New York Liberty, San Jose Spiders), Stanford University (basketball, volleyball)
* Roger Yasukawa, auto-racing driver (IRL)
* Jason Yokoyama, a notable athlete in both cross country and lacrosse.
* 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

*Ethnic Japanese

References