Issei
The earliest wave of Japanese immigrants, the Issei (first generation), had a strong sense of their ethnic identity and retained the values and traditions of their country of birth. Most came to the United States as sojourners and planned to return to Japan after earning their fortunes. In addition, discriminatory laws forbade them from becoming American citizens and from exercising other basic rights, such as owning or leasing land. Since they were thus prevented from fully taking part in American life, it is not surprising that many still identified strongly with the culture of their homeland.
Identity and values
(200)
Issei
(1023)
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Issei
1023 items
![Koyasan [Los Angeles Branch] Tourist Party, [arrival] (ddr-csujad-25-132)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/5f/0d/5f0d2e56d798b0fea597a63eb211378e.jpg)
1023 items
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Taenaka and Matsui families (ddr-csujad-25-210)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are two photographs of the Taenaka and Matsui families taken in Japan between the late 1920s and the early 1930s. Include Kamie Taenaka and Toshikuni Taenaka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_005
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-247)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page is a family portrait of a Japanese family. They are most likely the Taenakas' friends. The photograph appears to be taken in California in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_042
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Kamie Tanaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-164)
A group photograph of Kamie Taenaka and her relatives probably taken in Totsugawa, Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_036
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Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-188)
A photograph of two Japanese women taken in Nagahama, Japan. they are probably the Taenakas' relatives. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_060
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Kamie Taenaka, Totsugawa (ddr-csujad-25-169)
A photograph of Kamie Taenaka and the local Japanese children who are probably her relatives in Japan. It appears to be taken in Totsugawa, Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_041
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Japanese man (ddr-csujad-25-26)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Two photographs are pasted on the page. Both photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include a portrait of Japanese man in suits. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_07_01_026
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Taenaka family in a farm (ddr-csujad-25-83)
A photograph of the Taenaka family in a farm, Brighton, Colorado. Includes Tamesaburo Taenaka and Yaeko Taenaka [?] in McMorrow's sugar beet farm. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_025
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Kamie Taenaka and her family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-220)
A page of the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are five photographs of Kamie Taenaka and her family in Japan. Includes a photograph of Kamie Taenaka taken in El Monte, California in 1913. Her family members include: Sadae Umeda [Shibuya], Mohei Umeda, and Sumie Shibuya. See this object in the California State Universities …
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-23)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Three photographs are pasted on the page. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include a portrait of Japanese men in suits, Japanese woman in kimono with two children, and a group photograph of a family among which is a Japanese man …
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Taenaka family, picnic (ddr-csujad-25-265)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are seven photographs of a family picnic, including Tamesaburo, Kamie, Yaeko, Ukichi, Toshikuni, Chiyoko, and Saiko Taenaka. The photographs are probably taken between 1923 and 1924 in Los Angeles, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_060
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-33)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Three photographs are pasted on the page. Those photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include a portrait of a Japanese man in academic dress and photographs of infants dressed for a Japanese traditional ceremony for newborns. See this object in the California …
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Taenaka family in farm (ddr-csujad-25-102)
A photograph of farmers, probably the Taenaka family and a horse drawn plow in a sugar beet farm. The photograph appears to be taken in Brighton, Colorado. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_044
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Gentlemen's clubs (ddr-csujad-25-296)
A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Pasted on the page are four photographs of groups of men. The groups appear to be gentlemens' clubs. Inscription on one of the photographs reads: "g.o.c banquet." Another photograph depicts members of the "Cosmopolitan Club," including Japanese men. Also includes a photograph of a group of …
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Taenaka family, picnic (ddr-csujad-25-262)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are eight photographs of the Takenaka family at a picnic. The photographs are most likely taken in California around 1925. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_057
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Kamie Taenaka, Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party (ddr-csujad-25-145)
A photograph of the tourists of the Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, including Kamie Taenaka, taken in Japan. Location is unknown. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_017
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Kamie Taenaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-176)
A group photograph of Kamie Taenaka and her relatives in Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_048
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Tamesaburo and Kamie Taenaka (ddr-csujad-25-233)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are three portraits of Tamesaburo Taenaka most likely taken in Seattle, Washington, and one portrait of Kamie Taenaka, which is probably taken in Japan before their marriage. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_028
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-39)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Includes Japanese male children, men, and women. Two photographs capture a Japanese man wearing academic dress. One photograph captures three Japanese children in kimono. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-29)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Five photographs are pasted on the page. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. A photograph of a family includes Japanese men in suits, a Japanese woman in western dress, and children. Also include photographs of Japanese children: a portrait of boys …
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-14)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Four photographs are pasted on the page. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include Japanese men in suits, woman in western dress, and children. Also include a group of Japanese children in school uniform at a picnic. See this object in …
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Kamie Tanaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-156)
A photograph of Kamie Taenaka and her Japanese relatives in Japan. The photograph appears to be taken in Totsugawa, Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_028
![Koyasan [Los Angeles Branch] Tourist Party, [arrival] (ddr-csujad-25-132)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/5c/eb/5ceb12e1f3fe996fc9db0739c1bf8952.jpg)
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Koyasan [Los Angeles Branch] Tourist Party, [arrival] (ddr-csujad-25-132)
A group photograph of the tourists of Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, including Kamie Taenaka, taken in Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan, after their arrival. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_004
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Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-189)
A photograph of a local Japanese man and local Japanese women taken in Nagahama, Japan. They are probably the Taenakas' relatives. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_061
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Kamie Taenaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-179)
A group photograph of Kamie Taenaka and her relatives in Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_051
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Kamie Taenaka (ddr-csujad-25-157)
A photograph of Kamie Taenaka and other tourists from Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party having a meal at an individual's house, most likely in Totsugawa, Japan. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0128. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_029