Nisei

The Nisei (second generation) felt the pull of two cultures. American born, attending public schools, and influenced by American popular culture, they shared the same idols, favorite songs and sports heroes as most other children of their generation. Wanting to fit in, many Nisei with Japanese first names dropped them for Western ones that their non-Japanese friends could easily pronounce. Yet, most grew up in Japanese neighborhoods, and their parents taught them the customs and values of the old country.

Identity and values (201)
Nisei (2542)

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Nisei

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2542 items

img Kenji (ddr-one-1-625)

Black and white photographic negative of a young Nisei man (possibly Kenji Onishi based on notes written on envelope) sitting a table with skis leaning on the wall behind him.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-625/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-388)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei men playing cards laying down on a blanket during a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Shig Oka, unidentified, and Tom Takeoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-388/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-369)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying the community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mieko Fujita, Sam "Pompadour Sam" Sasaki, and Fude (Fujita) Kagawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-369/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-438)

Black and white photographic print of unidentified Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church. This photograph may have been taken during the Northwest Methodist Rally. Negative ONLC 3158 (ddr-one-1-340).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-438/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-23)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Agnes (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Nami (Miura) Koida, Kimi Wakabayashi, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Masae "Elsie" (Morita) Onishi, and Betty Nakashimada. Middle Row (left to right): Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-23/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-398)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei at the Oregon Coast sitting in the sand at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group). Front row from left to right: Masae "Elsie" (Morita) Onishi, Joe Namba, and Nobyo Sato. Back row from left to right: Jean Matsumoto, Grace (Sakano) Robbs, and Atsuko …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-398/

img Frank and Shig (ddr-one-1-588)

Black and white photographic negative of Frank Hirahara (right) and Shig Yuzuriha standing in front of a brick building. For print please see ONLC 4786 (ddr-one-1-587)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-588/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-45)

Black and white photographic negative of wedding attendants posed. Left to right: Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Yoichi "Jack" Nomi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-45/

img Poker on the Beach (ddr-one-1-620)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei men playing cards on a blanket at the beach. Two unidentified men look on from behind. From left to right players: Hiro Okayama, Shig Oka, and George Nakamura.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-620/

img Friends (ddr-one-1-590)

Black and white photographic negative of Shig Yuzuriha standing on the far right with two unidentified Nisei standing outside a brick building.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-590/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-12)

Black and white photographic negative of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Anges (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko “Alice” (Matsumoto) Ando, Nami (Miura) Koida, Kimi Wakabayashi, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Masae “Elsie” (Morita) Onishi, and Betty Nakashimada. Middle Row (left to right): Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-12/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Women seated (ddr-one-1-121)

Black and white photographic negative of women sitting around two tables at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The women are chatting with drinks on the table. From left to right women facing the camera: unidentified, Mieko Fujita, Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Takako Inukai, and Sumi "Sue" (Kaga) Hasegawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-121/

img DJ (ddr-one-1-651)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei behind a table acting as DJs. The sign on the table reads "Buzz Record Sh, Request 5 ¢." From left to right: Betty Nakashimada, Rupert Fujii, and Aki (Shiraishi) Dong. Standing front of the table looking at his hands is Henry Matsunaga.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-651/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-380)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Ted Tatsuo Tamaki, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Eddie Tamiyasu, Nobuko (Ochiai) Susaki, and unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-380/

img Picnic Clean Up (ddr-one-1-623)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei girls cleaning up after a picnic. From left to right: Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Mary (Nakata) Fujii, and Betty Nakashimada.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-623/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-14)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Jean Matsumoto, Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen “Kathie” Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, Frances (Kinoshita) Mayeda, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, and Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka. Third Row: Nami (Miura) Koida, Miriam …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-14/

img Human Pyramid (ddr-one-1-666)

Black and white photographic negative of three unidentified Nisei girls forming a human pyramid at the beach.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-666/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-22)

Black and white photographic negative of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Left to right: Grace (Ebihara) Akiyama, Betty Nakashimada, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Nami (Miura) Koida, Masae "Elsie" (Morita) Onishi, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka, Betty Ishida, Elsie Okazaki, Agnes (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Jean Matsumoto, and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-22/

img Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-60)

Color slide of young women filling plates at a Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, unidentified, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Jean Matsumoto, and Michiko (Masuoka) Nishioka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-60/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-204)

Black and white photographic negative of three young Obon dancers posing for camera in front of large crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Jeanne Tanaka, Toshiko (Maekawa) Okino, and Eileen Tanaka. Crowd: first sitting from the left is Joyce (Tanaka) Fedler, first from the right sitting on bench is Joe Ikata. Obon is an annual …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-204/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-38)

Original black and white photographic print of wedding attendants posed. Left to right Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Yoichi "Jack" Nomi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-38/

img Sitting on a Wall (ddr-one-1-645)

Black and white photographic print of an unidentified Nisei man sitting on a wall in front of a parked car at the Oregon Coast. For negative please see ONLC 4875 (ddr-one-1-646)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-645/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-358)

Black and white photographic print of Ayame Ogimi and her brother Carlos Ogimi staring at a large document or drawing on a table in front of them. This photograph was taken at Reed College where Ayame and Carlos were both students. Negative ONLC 3178 (ddr-one-1-370).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-358/

img Outdoor Games (ddr-one-1-701)

Black and white photographic negative of three unidentified Nisei men stating a race in an open field. Spectators watch on from behind.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-701/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-367)

Black and white photographic negative of Ayame Ogimi playing ukulele for two unidentified friends in her dorm room at Reed College. Original print ONLC 3183 (ddr-one-1-365)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-367/