Profile Text
Yamagata in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Rachael Amanda Yamagata
Place of Birth: Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 23, 1974
Ethnicity: * father – Japanese * maternal grandfather – German, English, Scottish * maternal grandmother – Italian
Rachael Yamagata is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Her father is a lawyer. Her mother is an artist based in New York City. Her maternal half-brother is actor, writer, and director Josh Ruben .
Rachael’s paternal grandfather was John Yukio Yamagata (the son of Sannosuke Yamagata and Chiyo Minowa). John was born in Idaho, to Japanese parents. Sannosuke was born in Wakuya, Miyagi, the son of Sanshiro Abe and Hatsu Yamagata. Chiyo was born in Tamamura, Gunma, the daughter of Chugoro Minowa and Chika Okura.
Rachael’s paternal grandmother was Donna Fumiye Matsuura (the daughter of Seiichiro Matsuura and Tsuruyo Kanamoto). Donna was born in Idaho, to Japanese parents. Seiichirio was born in Hiba District, Hiroshima, the son of Kiwasuke Matsuura and Sayo Oda. Tsuruyo was born in Niimi, Okayama, the daughter of Kataji Kanamoto and Naoko Kajiya.
Rachael’s maternal grandfather was Daniel Charles Kleine (the son of Charles Wilhelm Kleine and Lillian Louise “Lulu” MacDaniel). Daniel was born in New York. Charles was born in New York, to German parents, Carl August Kleine and Johanna Wellman. Lillian was born in New York, the daughter of Nathaniel T. MacDaniel and Sarah Louisa Taylor.
Rachael’s maternal grandmother was Marie C. Lieto (the daughter of Joseph Lieto and Anna Amato). Marie was born in New York, to Italian parents, who were from Minori, province of Salerno, Campania.
Sources: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr
Obituary of Rachael’s paternal grandfather, John Yukio Yamagata – https://www.legacy.com
Obituary of Rachael’s paternal grandmother, Donna (Matsuura) Yamagata – https://www.legacy.com
Obituary of Rachael’s maternal aunt – https://www.legacy.com
Passport application record of Rachael’s maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Lieto – https://www.familysearch.org