Issei facts for kids
Issei (一世), which means "first generation," is a special Japanese word. It is used in countries like North America and South America. It describes Japanese people who moved there from Japan.
These people, who were born in Japan and then moved, are called Issei. Their children, who were born in the new country, are called Nisei (second generation). The grandchildren of the Issei are known as Sansei (third generation). The unique story of the Issei is an important part of social history.
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History of the Issei
The first organized group of Japanese people to move settled in Mexico in 1897.
Moving to Brazil began in 1908. Today, the community started by the Issei in Brazil is very large. It is the biggest Japanese population outside of Japan. About 1.5 million Brazilians are part of this community. Other Issei also made their homes in the United States.
In the 1930s, the word Issei became widely used. It took the place of the word "immigrant" (ijusha). This change showed how the Issei saw themselves. The name Issei also meant that they belonged to their new country. Other terms like Nisei were created using this same idea.
Cultural Profile of the Issei
The word Nikkei (日系) was created later by experts. It includes all Japanese immigrants and their families around the world.
The Issei were born in Japan, so their culture was mostly Japanese. But they chose to live in a new country. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grew up with different cultures. They had a mix of their new country's culture and Japanese culture.
Even though the Issei felt a strong connection to Japan, they built their homes far away. They created new lives in their chosen countries.
| Generation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Issei (一世) | People born in Japan who moved to another country. |
| Nisei (二世) | People born outside Japan to at least one Issei parent. This includes those born in North America, Latin America, Australia, or Hawaii. |
| Sansei (三世) | People born to at least one Nisei parent. |
| Yonsei (四世) | People born to at least one Sansei parent. |
| Gosei (五世) | People born to at least one Yonsei parent. |
The Issei, Nisei, and Sansei generations have different views. These include how they see authority, gender roles, and religious practices.
Notable Issei
- Kan'ichi Asakawa (1873-1948), a smart person who wrote books and worked for peace.
- Makoto Hagiwara ( -1925), helped make the fortune cookie popular.
- Mazie Hirono (1947- ), the first U.S. Senator born in Japan.
- Fujitaro Kubota (1879-1973), a gardener in Seattle who gave money to good causes.
- Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), an American sculptor and landscape designer.
- Yoko Ono Lennon (1933- ), a famous artist and musician.
- George Masa (1881–1933), helped create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Yoichiro Nambu (1921 - ), an American physicist who won a Nobel Prize in 2008.
- Jokichi Takamine (1854 – 1922), a chemist who found out how to get adrenaline.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Japanese immigrants in Brazil in the 1930s.
