| Name | Appointment | Credentials presented | Term of Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nov. 12, 2013 | Nov. 19, 2013 | Left post Jan. 18, 2017 |
 |
Aug. 16, 2009 | Aug. 20, 2009 | Left post Aug. 12, 2013 |
 |
March 17, 2005 | April 11, 2005 | Left post Jan. 15, 2009 |
 |
May 23, 2001 | July 5, 2001 | Left post Feb. 17, 2005 |
 |
Nov. 6, 1997 | Nov. 19, 1997 | Left post April 1, 2001 |
 Walter F. Mondale |
Aug. 13, 1993 | Sep. 22, 1993 | Left post Dec. 14, 1996 |
 Michael H. Armacost |
April 20, 1989 | May 15, 1989 | Left post July 19, 1993 |
 Michael J. Mansfield |
April 22, 1977 | June 10, 1977 | Left post Dec. 22, 1988 |
 James D. Hodgson |
Jun. 20, 1974 | July 19, 1974 | Left post Feb. 5, 1977 |
 Robert S. Ingersoll |
Feb. 29, 1972 | April 12, 1972 | Left post Nov. 8, 1973 |
 Armin H. Meyer |
May 27, 1969 | July 3, 1969 | Left post March 27, 1972 |
 U. Alexis Johnson |
Sept. 1, 1966 | Nov. 8, 1966 | Left post Jan. 15, 1969 |
 Edwin O. Reischauer |
March 29, 1961 | April 27, 1961 | Left post Aug. 19, 1966 |
 Douglas MacArthur |
Dec. 4, 1956 | – | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| Jan. 29, 1957 | Feb. 25, 1957 | Left post March 12, 1961 | |
 John M. Allison |
April 2, 1953 | May 28, 1953 | Left post Feb. 2, 1957 |
 Robert D. Murphy |
April 18, 1952 | May 9, 1952 | Relinquished charge, April 28, 1953 |
 Joseph C. Grew |
Feb. 19, 1932 | June 14, 1932 | Japan declared war on the U.S., Dec. 8, 1941 (Tokyo Time) |
 W. Cameron Forbes |
June 17, 1930 | Sept. 25, 1930 | Left Japan March 22, 1932 |
 William R. Castle, Jr. |
Dec. 11, 1929 | Jan. 24, 1930 | Left Japan May 27, 1930 |
 Charles MacVeagh |
Sept. 24, 1925 | Dec. 9, 1925 | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| Dec. 17, 1925 | – | Left Japan Dec. 6, 1928 | |
 Edgar A. Bancroft |
Sept. 23, 1924 | Nov. 19, 1924 | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| Jan. 21, 1925 | – | Died at Karuizawa, July 27, 1925 | |
 Cyrus E. Woods |
March 3, 1923 | July 21, 1923 | Left Japan June 5, 1924 |
 Charles B. Warren |
June 29, 1921 | Sept. 24, 1921 | Left Japan Jan. 28, 1922 |
 Roland S. Morris |
Aug. 1, 1917 | Oct. 30, 1917 | Left Japan May 15, 1920 |
 George W. Guthrie |
May 20, 1913 | Aug. 7, 1913 | Died at post, March 8, 1917 |
 Larz Anderson |
Nov. 14, 1912 | Feb. 1, 1913 | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| March 1, 1913 | – | Left Japan March 15, 1913 | |
 Charles Page Bryan |
Aug. 12, 1911 | Nov. 22, 1911 | Left post Oct. 1, 1912 |
 Thomas J. O’Brien |
June 11, 1907 | Oct. 15, 1907 | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| Dec. 12, 1907 | – | Left post Aug. 31, 1911 | |
 Luke E. Wright |
Jan. 25, 1906 | May 26, 1906 | Left Japan August 1907 |
 Lloyd C. Griscom |
Dec. 16, 1902 | June 22, 1903 | Left Japan Nov. 19, 1905 |
 Alfred E. Buck |
April 13, 1897 | July 3, 1893 | Died at post, Dec. 4, 1902 |
 Edwin Dun |
April 4, 1893 | July 14, 1893 | Presented recall, July 2, 1897 |
 Frank L. Coombs |
April 20, 1892 | June 13, 1892 | Presented recall, July 14, 1893 |
 John F. Swift |
March 12, 1889 | May 15, 1889 | Died at post, May 10, 1891 |
 Richard B. Hubbard |
April 2, 1885 | July 2, 1885 | Presented recall, May 15, 1889 |
 John A. Bingham |
May 31, 1873 | Oct. 7, 1873 | Recommissioned after confirmation |
 Charles E. De Long |
April 21, 1869 | Nov. 11, 1869 | Promoted to EE/MP |
| July 14, 1870 | June 9, 1872 | Had Farewell Audience, Oct. 7, 1873 | |
 Robert B. Van Valkenburgh |
Jan. 18, 1866 | May 4, 1867 | Presented recall, Nov. 11, 1869 |
 Chauncey M. Depew |
Nov. 15, 1865 | – | Confirmed as Minister to Japan by the Senate in 1865 but never presented credentials |
 Robert H. Pruyn |
Oct. 12, 1861 | – | Recommissioned after confirmation |
| Jan. 22, 1862 | May 17, 1862 | Left Japan April 28, 1865 | |
 Townsend Harris |
Jan. 19, 1859 | Nov. 5, 1859 | Presented recall, April 26, 1862 |
