The list includes Issei (一世, "first generation") Japanese-born immigrants from Japan, and those who are multigenerational Japanese Americans. Cities considered to have significant Japanese American populations are large U.S. cities or municipalities with a critical mass of at least 1.0% of the total urban population; medium-sized cities with a critical mass of at least 2.0% of the total population; smaller communities in the continental United States with a critical mass of at least 2.5% of the total population; and smaller communities in Hawaii with a critical mass of at least 10.0% of the total population.

There are about 773,714 Japanese Americans, as of 2018.[1]

The two metropolitan areas with the highest Japanese populations according to the 2010 Census, were Greater Honolulu Combined Statistical Area (149,700), and the Greater Los Angeles Combined Statistical Area (134,600).[2]

Large cities

The list of large cities (population greater than 250,000) with a Japanese American population in excess of 1.0% of the total population.

RankCityStateJapanese-AmericansPercentage
1HonoluluHawaii86,612[3]23.3%
2SacramentoCalifornia6,642[4]1.6%
3SeattleWashington8,979[5]1.6%
4San FranciscoCalifornia11,410[6]1.5%
5San JoseCalifornia11,484[7]1.5%
6Los AngelesCalifornia36,992[8]1.0%

Medium-size cities

List of medium-sized cities (population between 100,000 and 250,000) with a Japanese American population of at least 2.0% of the total population.

RankCityStateJapanese-AmericansPercentage
1TorranceCalifornia13,991[9]10.1%
2IrvineCalifornia5,088[10]3.6%
3SunnyvaleCalifornia3,606[11]2.7%
4BellevueWashington2,838[12]2.6%
5BerkeleyCalifornia2,312[13]2.3%

Smaller communities in the continental United States

List of places in the continental United States with a population fewer than 100,000 and a Japanese American population of at least 2.5% of the total population.

RankCityStateJapanese-AmericansPercentage
1GardenaCalifornia6,712[14]11.6%
2Rancho Palos VerdesCalifornia3,268[15]7.9%
3Rolling Hills EstatesCalifornia598[16]7.8%
4Monterey ParkCalifornia4,433[17]7.4%
5CupertinoCalifornia2,331[18]4.6%
6NoviMichigan2,666[19]4.5%
7Palos Verdes EstatesCalifornia588[20]4.4%
8RyeNew York5783.9%
9CerritosCalifornia1,671[21]3.2%
10NewcastleWashington3002.9%
11LomitaCalifornia542[22]2.7%
12Mercer IslandWashington5822.6%
13Los AltosCalifornia717[23]2.6%
14Redondo BeachCalifornia1,618[24]2.6%
15DublinOhio1,0712.5%

Smaller communities in Hawaii

List of places in Hawaii with a population fewer than 100,000 and a Japanese American population of at least 10.0% of the total population.

RankCityStateJapanese-AmericansPercentage
1AieaHawaii2,877[25]31.9%
2Pearl CityHawaii9,621[26]31.1%
3WaimaluHawaii8,473[27]28.8%
4HiloHawaii10,863[28]26.7%
5Mililani TownHawaii7,126[29]24.9%
6KaneoheHawaii8,259[30]23.6%
7WaipioHawaii2,734[31]23.4%
8WailukuHawaii2,799[32]22.8%
9WahiawaHawaii3,342[33]20.7%
10HalawaHawaii2,802[34]20.2%
11WaipahuHawaii3,481[35]10.5%
12KapaaHawaii965[36]10.2%

References