Nisei facts for kids

Nisei (二世, meaning "second generation") is a Japanese language word. It is used in countries like North America and South America. It describes children born to Japanese people who moved there.

People born in Japan who moved to another country are called Issei. Their children, born in the new country, are called Nisei. This means "second generation." The grandchildren of Issei are called Sansei, or "third generation." The Nisei group has a special place in history.

History of Japanese Migration

The children of these Japanese-Brazilian (Nipo-brasileiros) immigrants would be called Nisei.

The first organized group of Japanese people to move abroad settled in Mexico in 1897.

Later, in 1908, Japanese people began moving to Brazil. Today, the community that grew from the Nisei children is very large. It is the biggest Japanese community outside of Japan. About 1.5 million Brazilians are part of this group. Other Nisei communities also grew in the United States.

The word Nisei became popular after the term Issei was widely used. In the 1930s, Issei started to replace the word "immigrant." This change showed how Issei people saw themselves. It meant they felt they belonged to their new country.

Understanding Japanese Generations

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. Their way of thinking was mostly Japanese. But they chose to live in a new country. Their Nisei children grew up with different views. These views were shaped by the country they were born in.

Issei people kept a strong connection to Japan. But they made their homes far away. Nisei people had only known the country where they were born.

Each generation, like Issei, Nisei, and Sansei, has different views. These can be about rules, gender roles, or how they interact with non-Japanese people.

Famous Nisei People

This list shows some well-known Nisei individuals.

• Alberto Fujimori (born 1938), a Peruvian politician who was president from 1990-2000.
• Luiz Gushiken (born 1950), a Brazilian politician and activist.
• Barney Hajiro (1916–2011), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Mikio Hasemoto (1916–1943), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Joe Hayashi (1920–1945), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Shizuya Hayashi (1917–2008), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• William Hohri (1927–2010), an American activist.
• Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II. He also became a US Senator from Hawaii.
• Carlos Kasuga, a Mexican businessman.
• Yeiki Kobashigawa (1920–2005), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Yuri Kochiyama (born 1921), an American civil rights activist.
• Ford Konno (born 1933), a US Olympic athlete and swimmer (1952, 1956).
• Tommy Kono (born 1930), a US Olympic athlete and weightlifter (1952, 1956, 1960).
• Robert Kuroda (1922–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Ben Kuroki (1917–2015), a US Army Air Force airman.
• Mike Masaoka (1915–1991), an American leader of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).
• Spark Matsunaga (1916–1990), a US Senator from Hawaii.
• Hiroshi Miyamura (born 1925), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in the Korean War.
• Norman Mineta (born 1931), a US Congressman from California. He also served as US Secretary of Transportation.
• Wataru Misaka (born 1923), an American basketball player. He was the first non-Caucasian to play in the NBA in 1947.
• Pat Morita (1932–2005), an American actor.
• Kaoru Moto (1917–1992), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Sadao Munemori (1922–1945), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Kiyoshi Muranaga (1922–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Mirai Nagasu (born 1993), an American Figure Skating champion in 2008.
• Masato Nakae (1917–1998), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Shinyei Nakamine (1920–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• William Nakamura (1922–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• George Nakashima (1905–1990), an American furniture designer and cabinetmaker.
• Joe Nishimoto (1920–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Allan Ohata (1918–1977), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Apolo Anton Ohno (born 1982), an American Olympic athlete and speed skater (2002, 2006, 2010).
• James Okubo (1920–1967), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Yukio Okutsu (1921–2003), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Frank Ono (1923–1980), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Kazuo Otani (1918–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• George Sakato (born 1921), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• James Shigeta (born 1933), an American actor.
• Shinkichi Tajiri (1923–2009), an American sculptor.
• Ted Tanouye (1919–1944), a US soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
• Yoshinobu Oyakawa, an American Olympic athlete and swimmer (1952).
• George Takei (born 1937), an American actor.
• Minoru Yamasaki (1912–1986), an American architect.

Related pages

• Japanese American Internment
• Manzanar

See also

In Spanish: Nisei para niños