Mike Shinoda
Mohammad Fariz Abdullah / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Michael Kenji Shinoda
Place of Birth: Agoura Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: February 11, 1977
Ethnicity:
*father – Japanese
*mother – German, English
Mike Shinoda is an American musician, singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is famous for being a member of rock band Linkin Park. Other members of Linkin Park are Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn, and, until his death, Chester Bennington.
Mike’s father is a third generation Japanese-American who was interned during World War II because of his Japanese heritage. Mike’s mother is of German and English descent (it has been incorrectly reported that she is of Russian and/or Hungarian ancestry). Mike is married to author Anna Shinoda, with whom he has three children.
Mike released a song with his group Fort Minor called “Kenji” about his grandfather, who was interned during the war because of his Japanese heritage. Mike does not speak Japanese fluently, but he has read speeches in Japanese in front of Japanese crowds. One such speech can be seen here.
Mike’s paternal grandfather was Kuzo Shinoda (the son of Mitsutaro Shinoda and Kiku Hara). Kuzo was born in Japan.
Mike’s paternal grandmother was Sayo S. Shinoda (the daughter of Kurakichi Shinoda and Man Shinoda). Sayo was born in Japan.
Mike’s maternal grandfather was Troy Edgar Lovejoy (the son of Ulysses Grant Lovejoy and Julia Ann Honaker). Troy was born in West Virginia. Ulysses was the son of William Preston Lovejoy and Martha Hager. Julia was the daughter of James David Honaker and Susan Hartsella Linkous.
Mike’s maternal grandmother was Lydia Marie Linville (the daughter of Claude Linville and Emmer Blaine Cooper). Lydia was born in West Virginia.
Sources: Mike’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Death record of Mike’s paternal grandfather, Kuzo Shinoda – https://familysearch.org
Death record of Mike’s paternal grandmother, Sayo S. (Shinoda) Shinoda – https://familysearch.org
Obituaries of Mike’s maternal grandfather, Troy Edgar Lovejoy and Lydia Marie (Linville) Lovejoy – http://www.findagrave.com
Mike’s maternal grandmother, Lydia Marie Linville, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Yeah, he can pass as Central Asian. He may be more lighter skinned than they are on average, but he can pass.
He looks like a Turk to me (as some tend to have Asiatic features).
He’s cute btw.
I would like to add on his paternal side. I have found the birth record of his father, Mutsuo “Muto” Shinoda: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGKT-79Z
This is his paternal grandparents’ census: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K96J-X62
His paternal grandparents are Kuzo Shinoda (the son of ? Shinoda and K. Yoneda) and Sayo Shinoda (the daughter of ? Shinoda and ? Shinoda)
Kuzo Shinda’s death record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP4Z-WQW
Sayo Shinoda’s death record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPF1-X8X
Thank you.
He looks like a typical Mestizo Mexican.
According to Mike Shinoda himself, he is half Japanese and half largely European with a little Native American.
Several years ago, on his MySpace page, Shinoda stated emphatically, “i’m not half russian.”
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mike_Shinoda