Gosei (fifth-generation Nikkei)

- _For other uses, see Gosei._
 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); and their great-grandchildren are called _Yonsei_.  The children of the _Yonsei_  are the great-great-grandchilderen of _Issei_ ancestors; and these children are called _Gosei_.  In other words, the children of at least one _Yonsei_ parent are called _Gosei._

The character and uniqueness of the _Gosei_ can be seen in their social history.  The _Gosei_ are the subject of on-going academic research in the United States and in Japan.

## History

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

Immigration to Brazil began in 1908.  Today, the community which grew from these early immigrants has become the largest Japanese emigrant population outside of Japan, including approximately 1.5 million Brazilians. Other communities of _Yonsei_ grew up in the United States,  Canada,  and Peru.

The use of the term _Gosei_ was based on the term _Issei_ (first generation)_,_ which came into common use in the 1930s. The word replaced the term "immigrant" (_ijusha_).  This change in usage reflected changes in the way the _Issei_ looked at themselves, including 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 point-of-view was primarily Japanese; but they were in another country by choice.  Their _Gosei_ great-great-grandsons and great-great-granddaughters 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 _Gosei_ had never known a country other than the one into which they were born.

|width="15%"|Generation|width="55%"|Cohort description|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|_Issei_ (一世)|The generation of people born in Japan who immigrated to another country.|||
|_Nisei_ (二世)|The generation of people born in North America, Latin America, Australia, Hawaii, or any country outside of Japan either to at least one _Issei_ parent.|||
|_Sansei_ (三世)|The generation of people born to at least one _Nisei_ parent.|||
|_Yonsei_ (四世)|The generation of people born to at least one _Sansei_ parent|||
|_Gosei_ (五世)|The generation of people born to at least one _Yonsei_ parent|||

The _Issei,_ _Nisei_, _Sansei_, _Yonsei_ and _Gosei_ generations all show different attitudes to authority, gender, religious practice, and other matters.

Differences among _Gosei_ in various counties developed because of the histories of their Japanese emigrant ancestors.

### _Gosei_ in Brazil

Japanese-Brazilian (_Nipo-brasileiro_) _Gosei_ are a small part of an ethnic minority in Brazil. In 1990, 0.8% of the _Nipo-Brasileiros_ community were _Gosei._

### _Gosei_ in Canada

Japanese-Canadian _Gosei_ are typical for any ethnic group.

### _Gosei_ in Peru

Japanese-Peruvian (_Nipo-peruano_) _Gosei_ make up less than 1.0% of the _Nikkei_ population in 2000.

### _Gosei_ in the US

The lives of the Japanese-Americans of earlier generations contrasts with the _Gosei_ because they have English-speaking grandparents.  According to a 2011 columnist in _The Rafu Shimpo_ of Los Angeles, "Younger Japanese Americans are more culturally American than Japanese" and "other than some vestigial cultural affiliations, a _Yonsei_ or _Gosei_ is simply another American."

## Other websites

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