Nisei

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).

The character and uniqueness of the Nisei is recognized in its social history.

History

The earliest organized group of Japanese emigrants settled in Mexico in 1897.

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. Other communities of Nisei grew up in the United States,  Canada,  and Peru. 

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.

Cultural profile 
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.

The Issei were born in Japan, and their cultural perspective was primarily Japanese; but they were in America by choice.  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.  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.

Select list of notable Nisei 
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 Alberto Fujimori (1938-  ), Peruvian politician, 1990-2000
 Luiz Gushiken(1950- ), Brazilian politician and activist
 Barney Hajiro (1916–2011), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Mikio Hasemoto (1916–1943), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Joe Hayashi (1920–1945), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Shizuya Hayashi (1917–2008), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 William Hohri (1927–2010), American political activist
 Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), US Medal of Honor recipient World War II and US Senator from Hawaii
 Carlos Kasuga, Mexican businessman 
 Yeiki Kobashigawa (1920–2005), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Yuri Kochiyama (1921 - ), American civil rights activist
 Ford Konno (1933 - ), US Olympic athlete (1952, 1956), swimmer
 Tommy Kono (1930 - ), US Olympic athlete (1952, 1956, 1960), weightlifter
 Robert Kuroda (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Ben Kuroki (1917–2015), US Army Air Force airman
 Mike Masaoka (1915–1991), American leader of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
 Spark Matsunaga (1916–1990), US Senator from Hawaii
 Hiroshi Miyamura (1925 - ), US Medal of Honor recipient in Korean War
 Norman Mineta (1931 - ), US Congressman from California and US Secretary of Transportation
 Wataru Misaka (1923 - ), American basketball player, 1st non-Caucasian to play in the NBA in 1947
 Pat Morita (1932–2005), American actor
 Kaoru Moto (1917–1992), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Sadao Munemori (1922–1945), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Kiyoshi Muranaga (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Mirai Nagasu (1993 - ), American Figure Skating champion in 2008
 Masato Nakae (1917–1998), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Shinyei Nakamine (1920–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 William Nakamura (1922–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 George Nakashima (1905–1990), American furniture designer and cabinetmaker
 Joe Nishimoto (1920–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Allan Ohata (1918–1977), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 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
 Yukio Okutsu (1921–2003), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Frank Ono (1923–1980), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Kazuo Otani (1918–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 George Sakato (1921 - ), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 James Shigeta (1933 - ), American actor
 Shinkichi Tajiri (1923–2009), American sculptor
 Ted Tanouye (1919–1944), US Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
 Yoshinobu Oyakawa, American Olympic athlete (1952), swimmer
 George Takei (1937 - ), American actor
 Minoru Yamasaki (1912–1986), American architect

Related pages
 Japanese American Internment
 Manzanar

References

Other websites

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

Japanese culture