Sansei

is a Japanese language term used in North America and South America for the 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).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 Sansei (great-grandchildren of Issei) are called Yonsei (fourth generation). 

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 Sansei 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 Sansei 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 Sansei grandsons and granddaughters grew up with a national and cultural point-of-view that was different from their 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 Sansei 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 generations show very different attitudes to authority, gender, non-Japanese involvement, religious practice, and other matters.McLellan,  p. 59.

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

 Keiko Fujimori (1975 - ) Peruvian politicianRomero, Simon.  "A Second Fujimori Contends for Peru’s Presidency," New York Times. May 27, 2011; retrieved 2012-12-2. 
 Irene Hirano (1948–2020), American business executive 
 Mike Honda (1941 - ), US CongressmanUS Congress, "Honda, Mike (1941- )"; "Mike Honda, California 15th District" ; retrieved 2012-12-2. 
 Lawson Fusao Inada (1938 - ), American poet "Lawson Fusao Inada (1938- ),"  Oregon Encyclopedia; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Michio Kaku (1947 - ), American theoretical physicist, futurist and author
 Terry Kawamura (1949–1969), US Medal of Honor recipient in Vietnam WarUS Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients, Vietnam (A-L)" ; retrieved 2012-12-13.
 Doris Matsui (1944 - ), US CongresswomanUS Congress,  "Matsui, Doris Okada (1944- )"; "Doris Matsui, California 5th District"; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Robert Matsui (1941–2005), US CongressmanUS Congress,  "Matsui, Robert Takeo (1941-2005)"; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Patsy Mink (1927–2002), US CongresswomanUS Congress,  "Mink, Patsy Takemoto, (1927-2002); retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Kent Nagano (1951- ), American conductorAsakawa, Gil. (2012). Being Japanese American, p. 79.
 Paul Nakasone (1963 -), retired United States Army general
 Bev Oda (1944 - ) Canadian Member of ParliamentParliament of Canada,  "Oda, The Hon. Bev, P.C., B.A." ; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Ellison Onizuka (1946–1986), US astronautSpickard, Paul R. (2009).  Japanese Americans: The Formation and Transformations of an Ethnic Group, pp. 155-156.
 Kenneth P. Moritsugu (1945 - ), public health administrator, first Asian American U.S. Surgeon General
 Mike Shinoda (1977 - ), American musician"The Rising Tied CD Reviews" at Lptimes.com citing The Straits Times (Singapore); excertp, "...personal labour of love for the sansei (third-generation Japanese American) whose father was interned during World War II"; retrieved 2012-12-4. 
 Eric Shinseki (1942 - ) US Secretary of Veterans AffairsUS Dept of Veterans Affairs,  "Eric K. Shinseki" ; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 David Suzuki (1936 - ) Canadian university professor
 Ronald Takaki (1939–2009) American university professorGrimes, William.  "Ronald Takaki, a Scholar on Ethnicity, Dies at 70," New York Times. May 30, 2009; "In Depth: Ronald Takaki," C-SPAN/BookTV (US). 1 March 2009; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Mark Takano (1960 - ) US CongressmanGoad, Ben.  "Congress District 41: Takano beats Tavaglione in nationally watched race,"  Press-Enterprise(Riverside, California). November 6, 2012; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Daniel M. Tani (1961 - ), US astronautNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), "Daniel M. Tani, NASA Astronaut"; Seigel, Shizue.  "Dan Tani: NASA’s Newest Japanese American Astronaut,"  Nikkei Heritage (US).  Vol. XI, No. 4, Fall 1999; retrieved 2011-05-17
 David Tsubouchi (1951 - ), Canadian lawyer and politician Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Canada),  "David H. Tsubouchi, MPP"; retrieved 2012-12-2.
 Rodney Yano (1943–1969), US Medal of Honor recipient in Vietnam WarUS Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients, Vietnam (M-Z)" ;  "Big Island Salute," Rafu Shimpo (Los Angeles). July 12 2012; retrieved 2012-12-11.

Related pages
 Japanese American Internment

References

Other websites

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

Category:Japanese diaspora