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 (Ri Xi ) 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 diaspora