Nisei - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nisei (二世, literally, "second generation") is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America and South America to name the children born to Japanese people who immigrated. The emigrants or immigrants who were born in Japan are called Issei; and their children born in the new country are called Nisei (second generation). The grandchildren of Issei are called Sansei (third generation).^[1]

The character and uniqueness of the Nisei is recognized in its social history.^[2]

The earliest organized group of Japanese emigrants settled in Mexico in 1897.^[3]

Imigration to Brazil began in 1908. Today, the community which grew from the Nisei children has become the largest Japanese emigrant population outside of Japan, including approximately 1.5 million Brazilians.^[4] Other communities of Nisei grew up in the United States,^[5] Canada,^[6] and Peru.^[7]

The use of the term Nisei was modeled after an Issei pattern or template. In the 1930s, the term Issei came into common use. The word replaced the term "immigrant" (ijusha). This change in usage mirrored an evolution in the way the Issei looked at themselves. The label Issei also included the idea of belonging to the new country.^[6]

The term Nikkei (日系) was created by sociologists in the late 20th century. The Nikkei include all of the world's Japanese immigrants and their descendants.^[8]

The Issei were born in Japan, and their cultural perspective was primarily Japanese; but they were in America by choice.^[9] Their Nisei sons and daughters grew up with a national and cultural point-of-view that was different from their parents.

Although the Issei kept an emotional connection with Japan, they created homes in a country far from Japan.^[10] The Nisei had never known a country other than the one into which they were born.

The Issei, Nisei and Sansei generations reflect distinctly different attitudes to authority, gender, non-Japanese involvement, and religious practice, and other matters.^[13]

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• Alberto Fujimori (1938- ), Peruvian politician, 1990-2000^[14]
• Luiz Gushiken(1950- ), Brazilian politician and activist^[15]
• Barney Hajiro (1916–2011), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[16]
• Mikio Hasemoto (1916–1943), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[17]
• Joe Hayashi (1920–1945), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[18]
• Shizuya Hayashi (1917–2008), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[19]
• William Hohri (1927–2010), American political activist^[20]
• Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), US Medal of Honor recipient World War II and US Senator from Hawaii^[21]
• Carlos Kasuga, Mexican businessman^[22]
• Yeiki Kobashigawa (1920–2005), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[23]
• Yuri Kochiyama (1921 - ), American civil rights activist^[24]
• Ford Konno (1933 - ), US Olympic athlete (1952, 1956), swimmer
• Tommy Kono (1930 - ), US Olympic athlete (1952, 1956, 1960), weightlifter^[25]
• Robert Kuroda (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[26]
• Ben Kuroki (1917–2015), US Army Air Force airman^[27]
• Mike Masaoka (1915–1991), American leader of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)^[28]
• Spark Matsunaga (1916–1990), US Senator from Hawaii^[29]
• Hiroshi Miyamura (1925 - ), US Medal of Honor recipient in Korean War^[30]
• Norman Mineta (1931 - ), US Congressman from California and US Secretary of Transportation^[31]
• Wataru Misaka (1923 - ), American basketball player, 1st non-Caucasian to play in the NBA in 1947^[32]
• Pat Morita (1932–2005), American actor^[33]
• Kaoru Moto (1917–1992), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[34]
• Sadao Munemori (1922–1945), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[35]
• Kiyoshi Muranaga (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[36]
• Mirai Nagasu (1993 - ), American Figure Skating champion in 2008^[37]
• Masato Nakae (1917–1998), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[38]
• Shinyei Nakamine (1920–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[39]
• William Nakamura (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[40]
• George Nakashima (1905–1990), American furniture designer and cabinetmaker^[41]
• Joe Nishimoto (1920–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[42]
• Allan Ohata (1918–1977), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[43]
• Apolo Anton Ohno (1982 - ) American Olympic athlete (2002, 2006, 2010), speed skater
• James Okubo (1920–1967), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[44]
• Yukio Okutsu (1921–2003), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[45]
• Frank Ono (1923–1980), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[46]
• Kazuo Otani (1918–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[47]
• George Sakato (1921 - ), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[48]
• James Shigeta (1933 - ), American actor
• Shinkichi Tajiri (1923–2009), American sculptor^[49]
• Ted Tanouye (1919–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II^[50]
• Yoshinobu Oyakawa, American Olympic athlete (1952), swimmer^[51]
• George Takei (1937 - ), American actor^[52]
• Minoru Yamasaki (1912–1986), American architect^[53]

• Japanese American Internment
• Manzanar

Media related to Internment of Japanese-Canadians at Wikimedia Commons Media related to Japanese American internment at Wikimedia Commons

• Japanese American National Museum
• Japanese American Historical Society
• Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
• Discover Nikkei