Sansei facts for kids
Sansei (三世) is a Japanese word. It means "third generation." This term is used in places like North America and South America. It describes children whose grandparents moved there from Japan. The people born in Japan who moved to another country are called Issei. Their children, born in the new country, are called Nisei (second generation). The grandchildren of the Issei are called Sansei (third generation). Each Sansei person has a unique story. Their experiences are shaped by their family's history.
History of Sansei
The first organized group of Japanese people to move abroad settled in Mexico. This happened in 1897.
Moving to Brazil started in 1908. Today, the Japanese community in Brazil is very large. It has about 1.5 million people. This makes it the biggest Japanese community outside of Japan. Many Sansei also grew up in the United States.
The word Sansei came from a pattern set by the Issei. In the 1930s, the term Issei became common. It replaced the word "immigrant" (ijusha). This change showed how the Issei saw themselves. The name Issei also meant they belonged to their new country.
Cultural Identity
The word Nikkei (日系) was created later. It was made by experts in the late 20th century. Nikkei includes all Japanese immigrants and their families around the world.
The Issei were born in Japan. Their culture was mostly Japanese. But they chose to live in a new country. Their Sansei grandchildren grew up with a different view. Their national and cultural ideas were not the same as their grandparents'.
The Issei felt a strong connection to Japan. But they made homes far away from Japan. The Sansei had only known the country where they were born.
| 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 places like North America, Latin America, and Australia. |
| 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. |
Each generation, Issei, Nisei, and Sansei, has different ideas. These ideas can be about rules, gender roles, or even religion.
Famous Sansei People
This list is not complete; you can help Wikipedia by adding to it.
- Keiko Fujimori, a Peruvian politician
- Mike Honda (1941- ), a US Congressman
- Lawson Fusao Inada (1938- ), an American poet
- Terry Kawamura (1949-1969), a US Medal of Honor winner in the Vietnam War
- Doris Matsui (1944- ), a US Congresswoman
- Robert Matsui (1941-2005), a US Congressman
- Patsy Mink (1927-2002), a US Congresswoman
- Kent Nagano (1951- ), an American conductor
- Bev Oda, a Canadian Member of Parliament
- Ellison Onizuka (1946-1986), a US astronaut
- Mike Shinoda (1977- ), an American musician
- Eric Shinseki, a US Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- David Suzuki, a Canadian university professor
- Ronald Takaki, an American university professor
- Mark Takano, a US Congressman
- Dan Tani, a US astronaut
- David Tsubouchi, a Canadian lawyer and politician
- Rodney Yano (1943-1969), a US Medal of Honor winner in the Vietnam War
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