10 Famous Japanese Models Who Took Fashion Global

Tokyo has always been one of the most exciting fashion cities in the world, but for decades its models rarely made it onto the big runways in Paris, Milan and New York. That started to change in the 1970s, and today Japanese models front campaigns for Chanel, Dior and Bulgari like it's nothing.

Some of the women below opened doors for everyone who came after them. Others jumped from the runway to Hollywood, and a new generation is building global careers straight from Instagram.

Here are 10 famous Japanese models, from the pioneers to the names you'll be seeing everywhere next.

The Pioneers

Sayoko Yamaguchi

With her sleek black bob and striking features, Sayoko Yamaguchi was one of the first Japanese models to walk European runways in the 1970s. She worked with designers like Issey Miyake and Yves Saint Laurent, then went on to act in films and design costumes. She passed away in 2007, but her look still pops up on fashion moodboards today.

Ai Tominaga

About two decades after Sayoko, Ai Tominaga started her career at New York Fashion Week when she was just 17. She went on to walk the big European shows in the early 2000s, at a time when very few Asian models were booked at that level. Her success made it a lot easier for the next wave to follow.

Runway Stars and Hollywood Crossovers

Tao Okamoto

Tao Okamoto started modeling at 14 and became one of the few East Asian faces on European runways in the 2000s. In 2009 she landed a Ralph Lauren campaign, and Vogue Nippon dedicated its entire November issue to her that same year. Then came Hollywood: she played Mariko in The Wolverine and later appeared in Hannibal, The Man in the High Castle and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Rila Fukushima

Rila Fukushima also made the jump from fashion to film in The Wolverine, playing the sword-wielding Yukio with her bright red bob. TV fans know her too, from her role as Tatsu Yamashiro in Arrow.

Kiko Mizuhara

Kiko Mizuhara was actually born in Dallas, Texas, and has Japanese, Korean and American roots. She started modeling at 12, became an exclusive face of the popular magazine ViVi, and made her acting debut in Norwegian Wood in 2010. She's walked for Alexander Wang in New York and starred in Marc Jacobs eyewear campaigns, with an edgy style that's totally her own. Thanks to her Korean heritage, she'd fit right in with our list of famous Korean models too.

Chiharu Okunugi

Chiharu Okunugi began modeling while she was still a student and quickly became one of the most-booked Asian faces at New York and Paris fashion weeks, working for Kenzo, Hermès, Dior and Chanel. She's also featured in our roundup of top Asian models, alongside Chinese supermodels Liu Wen and Fei Fei Sun.

The New Generation

Koki

Koki is the daughter of two of Japan's most famous entertainers, actor Takuya Kimura and singer Shizuka Kudo, but she's built a career that's very much her own. She made her debut on the cover of Elle Japon at just 15, became a Bulgari ambassador, and has also moved into acting and music.

Cocomi

Koki's older sister Cocomi is a trained flutist who also happens to be one of Japan's most in-demand young models. She's worked closely with Dior and has a refined, classic style that sets her apart from a lot of her peers.

Rola

Rola is one of the most-followed models in Japan, with a bubbly personality that made her a TV favorite. She has Japanese, Bangladeshi and Russian roots, and she made her Hollywood debut in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter alongside Milla Jovovich.

Nana Komatsu

Nana Komatsu started out as a magazine model before becoming one of Japan's busiest young actresses. She had a role in Martin Scorsese's Silence and has been a longtime face of Chanel, known for her doll-like features and effortlessly cool style.

Final Thoughts

From Sayoko Yamaguchi's 1970s runway debut to Koki's Bulgari campaigns, Japanese models have gone from rare exceptions to regular fixtures in global fashion. And with Tokyo's style scene as creative as ever, this list is only going to keep growing.

Curious how they stack up against the biggest names in the business? Check out our supermodels list, from Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell to Gigi and Bella Hadid.