The anime industry is one of the most close-knit, competitive markets in Japan, but that did not stop the Isom brothers from breaking through. Arthell and Darnell Isom, twin brothers from New Jersey, both studied art in college.. In 2008, they moved to Tokyo and built their reputation through freelance animation projects with studios in Japan. Their work features on well-loved shows like Bleach and Ghost in the Shell. 

After 8 years as freelancers, Arthell and Darnell Isom co-founded D’Art Shtajio, a 2D animation studio in Tokyo in 2016. One of their biggest clients is Netflix, where they worked on their shows Dragon’s Dogma and Yasuke. Their involvement in Yasuke proved especially important, as the story centers on a Black samurai in feudal Japan. D’ART Shtajio has produced their own short films and worked on big franchises like Pokémon and Star Wars. Their production studio also produced the animated video for The Weeknd’s “Snowchild,” which has over 30 million views. 

2. Zion Suzuki 

Born in Arkansas and raised in Japan, Zion Suzuki is a Japanese-Ghanaian football sensation. His unique background makes him eligible to represent America, Ghana, and Japan at the national level. But he chose to represent the Japanese national football team – Samurai Blue. He made history at 16 as the youngest player to sign with the Urwa Reds, in the J1 league, the top tier of Japanese Football. 

As Japan’s 4th most valuable player, he currently plays as a goalkeeper for Parma in Italy’s Serie A. His transfer to Parma Calcio from Sit Truden in Belgium reportedly totaled $9.6 million. 

3. Naomi Osaka 

One of the most well-known Black-Japanese icons has to be Naomi Osaka. Born to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Osaka rose to prominence when she won the U.S. Open in 2018, and then the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. In 2020, Osaka gave up her American citizenship to represent Japan at the Olympics, making a statement and positioning herself as an ambassador for Japan. She has earned up to $ 58 million in brand endorsements from Japanese companies such as Panasonic, Sony, and Nissan. 

Osaka is not just a tennis player but also an entrepreneur. In 2022, she co-founded Evolve, a sports agency that represents athletes breaking stereotypes and driving modern culture. Her influence also extends far beyond sports. In 2021, Osaka founded KINLÒ, a beauty and skincare company that serves melanin-rich skin across East Asia, where it has historically been underserved. 

Related post: Disney’s First African Animation Series Iwájú Set In Futuristic Lagos Debuts. 

4. Crystal Kay Williams 

Crystal Kay Williams is a Japanese-American R&B artist who dominated the charts in the early 2000s. Born in Yokohama, she had a bass player for a father and a singer for a mother, making music a family affair. Her mother mentored her and managed her career, debuting with her first single at only 13 years old.

As an artist, her income comes from royalties on a catalog spanning two decades, commercial deals, and live performances. “Koi ni Ochitara” stands out as her biggest hit, and it was used as the theme song for the drama “Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seikō no Himitsu.” Williams’ albums regularly gained gold and platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. After over two decades in the industry, she has become a household name, paving the way for multicultural Japanese artists. 

5. Rui Hachimura 

Despite being born in Toyama Prefecture, Rui Hachimura’s basketball talent was so unquestionable that he made it all the way to the LA Lakers. The Japanese-Beninese basketball player witnessed early success in his high school basketball teams before embarking on his international career. 

He made his NCAA Division I debut with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2016, becoming the fifth Japanese-born player to reach that level. In his professional career, Hachimura played for the Washington Wizards and was traded to the LA Lakers, where he remains today. High-paying endorsements with companies like SoftBank, SMBC, G-Shock, and Cannondale dominate his financial profile.

Related post: How These 10 Black Billionaires Built Empires Beyond Entertainment & Sports

6. David and LaTonya Whitaker 

The duo, David and LaTonya Whitaker are not Japanese, but have become well known for owning the only authentic sit-down Soul Food restaurant in Tokyo. The couple was invited to Japan in the early 2010s by a Japanese pastor and his wife, whom LaTonya had befriended in grad school. 

They returned multiple times before deciding to move permanently. The concept for Soul Food House started when LaTonya was asked to host a Thanksgiving dinner. What started as a modest gathering has grown in numbers over the years, and her love for cooking and hosting people led them to found the restaurant in 2015. Today, they are community figures in Tokyo’s Black American circles and have introduced Japanese foodies to American Soul Food. 

7. Shaneka Williams 

American-born educator and entrepreneur Shaneka Williams is the founder of Little Mavericks, an online children’s clothing boutique. She moved to Japan in 2015 and began teaching children from military families.

Entrepreneurship has always been a part of Williams’ life. In the sixth grade, she started a business selling body creams and soap. Today, she sells children’s bodysuits and apparel with slogans that celebrate black culture and identity. Her e-commerce microbusiness serves the Black American expat community living in Japan and ships its products worldwide. 

8. Jero

Jerome White, professionally known as Jero, is the first black Enka singer to gain mainstream popularity in Japan. Enka is thought of as the Japanese Blues, featuring melancholic, sentimental ballads and soulful instrumentals. The African American singer of Japanese descent was introduced to Enka by his grandmother, who would often play him Enka records she kept in the house. 

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003, he moved to Japan and began performing in karaoke clubs and competitions. His sound blended traditional Enka with modern R&B and Hip-Hop. Jero was scouted by Victor Entertainment, and in 2008, his track “Umiyuki” (Ocean Snow) peaked at number 4 on the Oricon weekly singles chart. 

9. Ariana Miyamoto

In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto became the first woman of mixed Black and Asian descent to win Miss Universe Japan. Her success was a tremendous feat, but sparked widespread debate about Japanese identity and beauty aesthetics. 

Born to an African American father and a Japanese mother, and growing up in Sasebo, Miyamoto faced racial discrimination as a child. She moved to Arkansas with her father to escape the racism, but her heart remained in Japan. At 18, she returned home to pursue her passion and start her career, entering the Miss Universe Japan competition in 2015. Miyamoto was determined to expand the strict definition of what it means to be Japanese. Today, she uses her platform to speak out against racial discrimination and advocate for inclusion.

Related post: Forbes 2026 Self-Made 250: African American Trailblazers Who Made the List

10. Abdul Hakim Sani Brown

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown is Japan’s fastest short-distance sprinter. The Japanese-Ghanaian athlete has made history as one of three competitors to win double gold in the 100m and 200m sprints at the Youth Championships. 

In 2015, he won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year, positioning him as an up-and-coming athlete. Brown represented Japan in the 2020 Olympic Games, running a 100m qualifying time of 9.99 seconds. At the 2022 World Championships, he became the first person from Japan to qualify for the finals, running 9.98 in the heats and 10.06 in the finals, finishing seventh. 

Main Image: Arthell Isom, co-founder of D’ART Shtajio: Courtesy of Ben Gonzalez

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