Well, I live in the Hampton Rds area. What is growing in my yard is 3 japanese maples (crimson queen), pachysandra, dwarf mungo pine, azaleas. Other plants, perhaps not considered in the Japanese Style are: different varities of hostas, japanese hollys, wintergreen boxwood, ivy, other ground covers, 3 river birch, impations, lilys, 1 dogwood tree, 2 fatasia, wax myrtles, crepe myrtle, japanese ligustrums-many and a few other evergreens. (I could be wrong about my last statement about what totally belongs, I am far from being an expert.)

At any rate these are pretty much thriving here for me.

I also spend a lot of time driving around the area looking for what does well in the neighboorhoods.

I have a few books at home with some beautiful pics of Japanese Gardens with some descriptive info. If you are interested I can look for you and post what I have found in them.

i think judithva give a great starter plant list. and she's right about driving around the neighborhood to see which plants are doing well. a japanese style garden is reflective of its natural surroundings, so don't limit yourself to the plants of native japan. you live in norfolk. I'm in hampton as well.
,matsuo