Issei
Issei (一世, literally, "first generation") is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America and South America to name the 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).[1]
The character and uniqueness of the Issei is recognized in its social history.[2]
History
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The earliest organized group of Japanese emigrants settled in Mexico in 1897.[3]
Imigration to Brazil began in 1908. Today, the community established by the Issei has become the largest Japanese emigrant population outside of Japan, including approximately 1.5 million Brazilians.[4] Other Issei established themselves in the United States,[5] Canada,[6] and Peru.[7]
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.[6] Other terns like Nisei were modeled after this Issei pattern or template.
Cultural profile
[change | change source]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.[8]
The Issei were born in Japan, and their cultural perspective was primarily Japanese; but they were in America by choice.[9] Their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren 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.[10]
| Generation | Cohort description |
|---|---|
| Issei (一世) | The generation of people born in Japan who immigrated to another country.[11] |
| 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.[11] |
| Sansei (三世) | The generation of people born to at least one Nisei parent.[11] |
| Yonsei (四世) | The generation of people born to at least one Sansei parent[11] |
| Gosei (五世) | The generation of people born to at least one Yonsei parent[12] |
The Issei, Nisei and Sansei generations reflect distinctly different attitudes to authority, gender, non-Japanese involvement, and religious practice, and other matters.[13]
Select list of notable Issei
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- Kan'ichi Asakawa (1873-1948), academic, author, peace advocate, historian and librarian[14]
- Makoto Hagiwara ( -1925), made the fortune cookie popular[15]
- Mazie Hirono (1947- ), 1st US Senator born in Japan[16]
- Fujitaro Kubota (1879-1973), American Seattle gardener and philanthropist[17]
- Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), American sculptor and landscape architect[18]
- Yoko Ono Lennon (1933- ) artist and musician.[19]
- George Masa (1881–1933), activist in creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park[20]
- Yoichiro Nambu (1921 - ), American Nobel Prize winner (2008), Physicist[21]
- Jokichi Takamine (1854 – 1922), chemist who isolated adrenaline[22]
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ 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".
- ↑ Numrich, Paul David. (2008). North American Buddhists in Social Context, p. 110.
- ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan-Mexico Foreign Relations; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ MOFA, "Japan-Brazil Relations"; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Sakata, Yasuo. (1992). Fading Footsteps of the Issei, p. 1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 McLellan, Janet. (1999). Many Petals of the Lotus: Five Asian Buddhist Communities in Toronto, p. 36.
- ↑ "Fujimori Secures Japanese Haven," BBCNews, 12 December 2000; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Japanese American National Museum, "What is Nikkei?" Archived 2009-05-03 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Smithsonian, "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942 - 1946", Yoshitsuchi Ikemoto Archived 2013-02-25 at the Wayback Machine; 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.
- ↑ Yenne, Bill. (2007). Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II, p. xv.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Issei" Densho Encyclopedia; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Ikezoe-Halevi, Jean. "Voices of Chicago: Day of Remembrance 2006," Discover Nikkei (US). October 31, 2006; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ McLellan, p. 59.
- ↑ DiscoverNikkei: Asakawa bio[permanent dead link]; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Lee, Jennifer 8. "Solving a Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Cookie," The New York Times (US). January 16, 2008; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ "Hirono Becomes First U.S. Senator Born in Japan," Wall Street Journal, 6 November 2012; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Kubota Garden, "A Short History" Archived 2006-06-15 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Brenson, Michael. "Isamu Noguchi, the Sculptor, Dies at 84", New York Times (US). December 31, 1988; retrieved 2012-11-26.
- ↑ Robinson, Greg. "Resettlement in New York," Densho Encyclopedia; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ The National Parks (PBS), "Horace Kephart (1862–1931) and George Masa (1881–1933)"; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Pollard, Niklas. "Two Japanese, American win 2008 physics Nobel," Reuters (UK). 7 October 2008; retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ Pulvers, Roger. "Jokichi Takamine: a man with fire in his belly whatever the odds," Archived 2012-10-16 at the Wayback Machine Japan Times, June 28, 2009; retrieved 2012-11-25.
Other websites
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Media related to Internment of Japanese-Canadians at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Japanese American internment at Wikimedia Commons