Yonsei (fourth-generation Nikkei)

This article is about fourth-generation Japanese immigrants or emigrants.  For other uses, see Yonsei.
 is a Japanese language term used in North America and South America for the great-grandchildren of Japanese people who immigrated (moved to another country). 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 generation names come from the numbers "one, two, three" in the Japanese language.  The first three Japanese numbers are "ichi, ni, san."  The fourth number is "yon". The children of Yonsei are called Gosei (fifth generation).

The character and uniqueness of the Yonsei can be seen in their social history.Numrich, Paul David. (2008). North  American Buddhists in Social Context, p. 110.  The Yonsei are the subject of on-going academic research in the United States and Japan.国立大学法人 東京学芸大学 (Tokyo Gakugei University),  "Socioeconomic Status, Acculturation, Discrimination, and Health of Japanese Americans: Generational Differences" by Takashi Asakura et al., 2004; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant# 12490011; retrieved 2012-12-24.

History
The earliest organized group of Japanese emigrants settled in Mexico in 1897.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA),  Japan-Mexico Foreign Relations; retrieved 2012-11-25.

Immigration to Brazil began in 1908.  Today, the community which grew from these first immigrants has become the largest Japanese emigrant population outside of Japan, including around 1.5 million Brazilians.MOFA, "Japan-Brazil Relations"; retrieved 2012-11-25. Other communities of Yonsei grew up in the United States,Sakata, Yasuo. (1992). Fading Footsteps of the Issei, p. 1.  Canada,McLellan, Janet. (1999).  Many Petals of the Lotus: Five Asian Buddhist Communities in Toronto, p. 36.  and Peru."Fujimori Secures Japanese Haven," BBCNews, 12 December 2000; retrieved 2012-11-25. 

The use of the term Yonsei 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.Japanese American National Museum, "What is Nikkei?" ; retrieved 2012-11-25.

The Issei were born in Japan, and their cultural point-of-view was primarily Japanese; but they were in the Americas by choice.Smithsonian,  "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942 - 1946", Yoshitsuchi Ikemoto ; excerpt, "... one of hundreds of Issei (first-generation) 'bachelor' laborers who were unable to send for their wives or a picture bride because the U.S. government cut off all immigration from Japan in 1924"; retrieved 2012-11-25.  Their Yonsei great-grandsons and great-granddaughters grew up with a national and cultural point-of-view that was different from their great-grandparents.

Although the Issei kept an emotional connection with Japan, they created homes in a country far from Japan.Yenne, Bill. (2007). Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II, p. xv.  The Yonsei had never known a country other than the one into which they were born.

 Generation  Cohort descriptionIssei (一世) The generation of people born in Japan who immigrated to another country."Issei" Densho Encyclopedia; retrieved 2012-11-25.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 parentGosei (五世) The generation of people born to at least one Yonsei parentIkezoe-Halevi, Jean.  "Voices of Chicago: Day of Remembrance 2006," Discover Nikkei (US). October 31,  2006; retrieved 2012-11-25.

The Issei, Nisei and Sansei and Yonsei generations all show very different attitudes to authority, gender, non-Japanese involvement, religious practice, and other matters. McLellan,  p. 59.

 Select list of notable Yonsei 
This list is not finished; you can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

 Warren Furutani (1947- ), American politicianDiscovering Nikkei:  Furutani bio 
 Colleen Hanabusa (1951- ), US CongresswomanRees, Robert M.  "Queen of the Senate: Colleen Hanabusa of Wai‘anae has what most Hawai‘i politicians don't: character."  Honolulu Weekly (US). June 12, 2002>
 Gina Hiraizumi (1980 - ), American actress and singer"Gina Hiraizumi Interview,"  J-Pop World (Japan). May 27, 2009.
 Garrett Hongo (1951 - ), American poetArakawa, Suzanne K. (2005). "Hongo, Garrett (Kaoru)," in 
 David Horvitz (1974 - ), American artistAll my Grandmother's Recipes, David Horvitz:  
 Grant Imahara (1970–2020), American engineer and television hostA-Profiler Interview, Grant Imahara,"  AArisings (US). March 13, 2007.
 Travis Ishikawa (1983 - ), American baseball player and coachStone, Larry.  "Ichiro vs. Lincecum a standoff, but pitcher relishes the battle," Seattle Times. March 12, 2009.
 Brandon League (1983 - ), American baseball playerStreet, Michael.  "Pacific Perspectives: Rising Asian-American Pitching Talent," Baseball Daily Digest (US). August 17, 2010. 
 Devin Setoguchi (1987 - ) Canadian ice hockey playerHerbach, Alex Isao.  "Sophomore Surprise,"  Rafu Shimpo (US). April 25, 2009, retrieved 2011-04-12
 Don Wakamatsu (1963 - ) American baseball player and managerEskenazi, Stuart.  "Local Japanese Americans applaud the Mariners' hiring of Don Wakamatsu," Seattle Times (US). November 20, 2008.
 Kristi Yamaguchi (1971- ), American Olympic athlete (1992), figure skaterNomura, ; Niiya, Brian. (1993). 

References

Other websites

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

Category:Japanese diaspora