Ross Mihara is a newscaster for NEWSLINE on NHK World.
He was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Hawaii after his parents moved there when he was 5 years old. He graduated from Iolani School in 1981. He then decided to attend college in Washington, eventually graduating with a degree in Business Administration from University of Washington School of Business in 1986.
After college, he started to work as a loan officer at a bank in Seattle, Washington but felt more compelled to work in broadcasting. He got his break working as a weeknight sports anchor at KGMB9 in Hawaii from 1990 to 1994.
He came to Japan in 1994 after his contract with KGMB9 wasn't going to be renewed. His plan was to attend Waseda University while getting in contact with people at NHK and if plans fell through, he could return home to Hawaii.
He was eventually hired and became the English annoucer for sumo matches in additition to being a newsanchor at NHK World.
External Links[]
Newpaper article about Ross Mihara
Interview with Ross Mihara (circa late 1990s)
Promotional clip of Ross Mihara and the sports department at KGMB9 (circa 1992)
Interivew with Ross Mihara about the tsunami and earthquake in 2011