These groups were historically differentiated by the terms issei (first-generation nikkeijin), nisei (second-generation nikkeijin), sansei (third-generation nikkeijin), and yonsei (fourth-generation nikkeijin).
Kelompok-kelompok ini secara historis dibedakan dengan istilah issei (nikkeijin generasi pertama), nisei (nikkeijin generasi kedua), sansei (nikkeijin generasi ketiga), dan yonsei (nikkeijin generasi keempat).