Someone mentioned Towa Tei…just wanted to mention he was in Deee-Lite (they were actually top 40 for a while). Sean Lennon is asian (and part of the previously mentioned Cibo Matto). The ‘asian guy from smashing pumpkins’-- James Iha-- would probably be considered a rock star-- they sold a pretty large number of albums. Jeff Lin from Harvey Danger is asian.
Azeri. As posted, born in Zanzibar, grew up in India and England. Not Asian in North American usage of the term, nor properly speaking British insofar as his ancestry is Caucasian (the region).
It should be pointed out that there are hundreds and hundreds of acts in Japan, Greater China and Korea that are HUGE in their respective countries, and indeed many of them have no need to become popular outside the region because they are too busy already just dealing with the Asian market.
The sad thing is there are a lot of greatly talented Asian artists which deserve recognition in the west but will never get it because we (more specifically, Americans) are totally turned off by foreign sounding languages. I don’t understand a word of Japanese but Chara is IMHO one of the greatest artists to come along in the past 10 years – anywhere (particularly if you get her lyrics translated). And many Japanese would agree. It’s a shame she will probably never get recognition for her craft outside Asia.
BTW, right now Puffy(AmiYumi) are touring the US. Go see them and you’ll experience a concert and music like nothing you’ve ever witnessed before.
Poi Dog Pondering. It’s true. I saw their act once.
GOD, how could I forget Guitar Wolf?
Japanese garage rock band. Fucking bad ass, loud, Japanese, and at least four albums on an American Label.
And they even stared in Wild Zero fighting zombies. How much more “popular” can you get?
I heard somewhere that Norah Jones is the daughter of Ravi Shankar (Indian sitar guru), however have found nothing that supports that claim. shrug
Check out the press releases on her website.
While Jones has been somewhat estranged from her father, they have had recent intermittent contact, and she does not hide the fact that he is her biological father.
Thanks, bordelond 
Cibo Matto rules the earth as far as I’m concerned. Great thing about living in NYC is we get to see all their kick ass side projects.
The only Japanese group that made some headway in the US that I can think of that has not been mentioned here yet is Super Junky Monkey. They had some success in Japan and scored a record contract with Sony USA, but only had one American release, entitled “Parasitic People.” It rocked. Sadly, the singer Mitsumi (??) died recently.
And let’s not forget the mighty mighty John Myung from Dream Theater, who I believe is of Korean descent. Worshiped as one the worlds greatest bassists in prog rock circles, the only bassist I like better is T. Lev himself!
(**flashing back to Jack Black’s “Bass Off” sketch from SNL 
)
Jeez, 48 posts and no-one’s mentioned Don Ho.