List of foreign politicians of Japanese origin

This article contains a list of Wikipedia articles about politicians in countries outside Japan who are of Japanese origin.

Heads of state and heads of government

This is a list of former and current heads of state and heads of government of the sovereign countries who were/are of full or partial Japanese origin. This list does not include acting, interim, transitional, temporary or representative heads of state and government.

Argentina

• Mario Alberto Ishii - Mayor of José C. Paz Partido and Provincial Senator for Buenos Aires Province
• Laura Russo - National Deputy for Buenos Aires Province
• Alicia Terada - National Deputy for Chaco Province

Australia

• Rob Lucas – Treasurer of South Australia (1997-2002, 2018-2022)

Austria

• Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi – founding president of the Paneuropean Union (1923–1972)

Brazil

• Luiz Gushiken – Minister of Social Communication and Strategic Management (2003–2005), President of the Workers' Party (1988–1990) and Federal Deputy for São Paulo (1987–1999)
• Walter Ihoshi – Federal Deputy for São Paulo (1996–2007)
• Kim Kataguiri – Federal Deputy for São Paulo
• Luiz Nishimori – Federal Deputy for Paraná
• Keiko Ota – Federal Deputy for São Paulo
• Hatiro Shimomoto – State Deputy for São Paulo
• Hidekazu Takayama – Federal Deputy for Paraná

Canada

• Barry Morishita – Leader of the Alberta Party and former Mayor of Brooks, Alberta
• Bev Oda – Minister of International Cooperation (2007–2012) and Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women (2006–2007)
• David Tsubouchi – Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario
• Naomi Yamamoto – Minister in the Provincial Government of British Columbia

Chile

• Carlos Ominami - Minister of the Economy (1990–1992)

China

• Koxinga - 17th-century warlord and ruler of the Kingdom of Tungning (1661-1662)
• Zheng Jing – Ruler of the Kingdom of Tungning (1662-1681)
• Zheng Keshuang – Ruler of the Kingdom of Tungning (1681-1683)
• Zheng Kezang – Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Tungning

Czechia

• Tomio Okamura - Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and founder of Dawn – National Coalition and Freedom and Direct Democracy, presidential candidate
• Hayato Okamura - MP

Malaysia

• Fuad Stephens – Chief Minister (1963-1964 and 1976) and Yang di-Pertua Negeri (1973-1975 of Sabah and High Commissioner to Australia (1968–1973)

Marshall Islands

• Kunio Lemari – Acting president of the Marshall Islands (1996–1997)
• James Matayoshi – Mayor of Rongelap Atoll

Mexico

• René Fujiwara – Federal Deputy for the Federal District
• Gilberto Hirata – Federal Deputy for Baja California and Mayor of Ensenada
• Pedro Kumamoto – State Deputy of Jalisco
• Jesús Kumate Rodríguez – Secretary of Health (1988–1994)

Micronesia

• Hirosi Ismael – Vice President (1987–1991)
• Masao Nakayama – Ambassador to Japan (1989–1997)

Nauru

• Valdon Dowiyogo – Speaker of Parliament (2004–2007)

Nepal

• Takashi Miyahara – founder of the Nepal Rastriya Bikas Party

Netherlands

• Mariko Peters – Member of the House of Representatives

Norway

• Naomi Ichihara Røkkum – Substitute member of the Oslo City Council

Pakistan

• Hameeda Waheeduddin – Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab

Palau

• Santy Asanuma – Senator
• Elias Camsek Chin - Vice President (2005–2009)
• Hersey Kyota - Ambassador to the United States
• Peter Sugiyama – Senator

Peru

• Keiko Fujimori - Daughter of Alberto Fujimori, Congresswoman for Lima, President of Popular Force and three-time presidential candidate
• Kenji Fujimori - Son of Alberto Fujimori, Congressman for Lima
• Santiago Fujimori - Brother of Alberto Fujimori, Congressman for Lima
• Víctor García Toma - Minister of Justice (2010)
• Susana Higuchi - Former wife of Alberto Fujimori, Congresswoman for Lima
• Augusto Miyashiro - Mayor of Chorrillos District
• Rafael Yamashiro - Congressman for Ica Department
• Jaime Yoshiyama - President of the Democratic Constituent Congress (1992–1995)

Philippines

• Hori Horibata - Congressman for Camarines Sur

Russia

• Irina Khakamada – Deputy Chair of the State Duma (2000–2003)

Singapore

• Edmund W. Barker – Leader of the House (1968-1985), Minister for Law (1964-1988), Minister for National Development (1965-1975), Minister for Home Affairs (1972), Minister for the Environment (1975-1979) and Minister for Science and Technology (1977-1981)

Taiwan

• Mai Yamada - New Taipei City Councillor for Banqiao district (2022–present)
• Tjaravak Kadrangian - Minister of the Council of Aboriginal Affairs (1996–2000)
• Sisy Chen - Member of the Legislative Yuan for Taipei (2002–2005)
• Chiang Wei-kuo - Secretary-General of the National Security Council (1986–1993)
• Liao Liou-yi - Secretary-General of the Kuomintang (2011–2012), Secretary-General to the President (2009–2011) and Minister of the Interior (2008-2009)

United Kingdom

• Jess Asato - Labour MP
• Iain Duncan Smith - Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2010–2016)

United States

Cabinet

• Norman Mineta – Secretary of Commerce (2000–2001) and Secretary of Transportation (2001–2006); also U.S. Representative from California (1975-1995) and Mayor of San Jose (1971–1975)
• Eric Shinseki – Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009-2014)

Congress

• Colleen Hanabusa – Representative from Hawaii
• S. I. Hayakawa – Senator from California
• Mazie Hirono – Senator from Hawaii
• Mike Honda – Representative from California
• Daniel Inouye - Representative and Senator from Hawaii; President pro tempore of the United States Senate (2010–2012)
• Bob Matsui – Representative from California
• Doris Matsui – Representative from California
• Spark Matsunaga - Representative and Senator from Hawaii
• Patsy Mink – Representative from Hawaii
• Pat Saiki – Representative from Hawaii
• Mark Takai – Representative from Hawaii
• Mark Takano – Representative from California
• Jill Tokuda – Representative from Hawaii

Governors and lieutenant governors

• Kazuhisa Abe – 12th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (2012-2018) and President of the Hawaii Senate (2010-2012)
• George Ariyoshi – 3rd Governor of Hawaii (1974–1986)
• Nelson Doi – 5th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (1974-1978) and President of the Hawaii Senate (1963-1964)
• David Ige – 8th Governor of Hawaii (2014–2022)
• Jean King – 6th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (1978-1982)

State and territory levels

• Earl Anzai – 12th Attorney General of Hawaii (1999-2002)
• Paul Bannai – Member of the California State Assembly
• Carol Fukunaga – Member of the Hawaii Senate and House of Representatives
• Warren Furutani – Member of the California State Assembly
• Bob Hasegawa – Member of the Washington Senate and House of Representatives
• Steve Hobbs – 16th Secretary of State of Washington (2021–present)
• Jani Iwamoto – Member of the Utah Senate
• Scott Kawasaki – Member of the Alaska Senate and House of Representatives
• Sam Kito III – Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
• Ron Kouchi – President of the Hawaii Senate (2015–present)
• Stan Matsunaka – President of the Colorado Senate (2001-2002)
• Al Muratsuchi – Member of the California State Assembly
• George Nakano – Member of the California State Assembly
• Curtis Oda – Member of the Utah House of Representatives
• Richard Onishi – Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Keiko Orrall – Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Scott Saiki – Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives (2017–present)
• Dean Sanpei – Member of the Utah House of Representatives
• Sharon Tomiko Santos – Member of the Washington House of Representatives
• Jackson Sayama – Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Brian Shiozawa – Member of the Utah Senate
• Monica Stonier – Member of the Washington House of Representatives
• Pat Takasugi – Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
• Tom Takubo – Majority Leader of the West Virginia Senate (2019–present)
• Tommy Tanaka – Speaker of the Guam Legislature (1979–1983)
• Chris Toshiro Todd – Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Clift Tsuji – Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Shan Tsutsui – President of the Hawaii Senate (1964-1965)
• Kip Tokuda – Member of the Washington House of Representatives
• Erika Uyterhoeven – Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Julie VanOrden – Member of the Idaho Senate and House of Representatives
• Glenn Wakai – Member of the Hawaii Senate and House of Representatives
• Dennis Yamada – Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Mariko Yamada – Member of the California State Assembly
• Julie Yamamoto – Member of the Idaho House of Representatives

County and city levels

• Bernard Akana – Mayor of Hawaii County (1988-1990)
• Alan Arakawa – Mayor of Maui County (2003-2007, 2011-2019)
• Bruce Harrell – Mayor of Seattle (2017, 2022–2026)
• Adena Ishii – Mayor of Berkeley, California
• James Kanno – Mayor of Fountain Valley, California
• Derek Kawakami – Mayor of Kauai (2018–present) and member of the Hawaii House of Representatives (2011-2016)
• Herbert Matayoshi – Mayor of Hawaii County (1974–1984)
• Kinjiro Matsudaira – Mayor of Edmonston, Maryland (1927, 1943)
• Ken Miyagishima – Mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico (2007–2023)
• Paul Miyamoto – Sheriff of San Francisco (2020–present)
• S. Floyd Mori – Mayor of Pleasanton, California (1974–1975)
• Alan Nakanishi – Mayor of Lodi, California (2001–2002, 2012–2014)
• Eunice Sato – Mayor of Long Beach, California (1980–1982)
• Nao Takasugi – Mayor of Oxnard, California (1982–1992)
• Paul Tanaka – Mayor of Gardena, California (2005–2016)
• Larry Tanimoto – Mayor of Hawaii County (1990)
• Charmaine Tavares – Mayor of Maui County (2007–2011)
• Stephen K. Yamashiro – Mayor of Hawaii County (1992–2000)

See also

• List of heads of state and government of Indian origin
• List of foreign politicians of Chinese origin
• List of foreign politicians of Korean origin
• List of foreign politicians of Indian origin
• List of foreign politicians of Vietnamese origin
• List of foreign politicians of Iranian origin

References