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
(344)
Issei
(1036)
Related articles from the
Densho Encyclopedia :
Issei
1036 items
![Ko Umeda Michiko sogi kinen satsuei [Commemorative photograph for the late Michiko Umeda funeral] (ddr-csujad-25-240)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/f3/30/f330f7a895e72baac56765f4d531cfbd.jpg)
![Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, Buddhist temple] (ddr-csujad-25-130)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/73/5c/735c3330dc9855246d848a0f8e078bef.jpg)
1036 items
img
Taenaka family, picnic (ddr-csujad-25-222)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are seven photographs of the Taenaka family at a picnic. Include: Tamesaburo, Kamie, Haruko, Yaeko, Ukichi, Toshikuni, Chiyoko, and Saiko, most likely taken between 1924 and 1925 in California. One of the photographs captures the California Incline in Santa Monica, California. See this object …
img
Japanese community, beach (ddr-csujad-25-297)
A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Four photographs are pasted on the page. Includes: a Japanese house in Japan and photographs depicting the Japanese community at the beach. The photographs are probably taken in the early 1900s. Location is unknown. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …
img
Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-190)
A photograph of local Japanese men and women taken in Nagahama, Japan after the war. 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_062
img
Japanese men and women (ddr-csujad-25-7)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Four photographs are pasted on the page. All photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include Japanese men in suits and women in western dress. Also include a photograph of Monrore Street Bridge in front of Washington Water Power Co. in Spokane, Washington. …
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-15)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Four photographs are pasted on the page. The photographs appear to have been taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Include Japanese men in suits, woman in western dress, and children. Also include a photograph of a Japanese man in suites and children riding on a horse …
img
Taenaka family in a farm (ddr-csujad-25-85)
A photograph of the Taenaka family in a farm, Brighton, Colorado. Includes Kamie 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_027
img
Japanese Family (ddr-csujad-25-4)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Five photographs are pasted on the page. All photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. Includes a Japanese man in a suit, women in western dress, and children. One of the photographs captures a parade in front of the Pacific Car and Foundry …
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-317)
A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Pasted on the page are photographs of a Japanese family including men, women, and children. A Japanese couple pose in front of a building with a sign, "John Down's." The photographs are probably taken in the early 1900s. Location is unknown. See this object in the …
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-57)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Includes a photograph of the Japanese community probably in Washington. A group of Japanese men, women, and children poses surrounding a boat with a sign, "Japan gives her Navy to the cause of Democracy." In the photograph, Japanese men wear a special event costume of an American …
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-302)
A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Includes a photograph of the Japanese community at a picnic. One photograph captures a cultural event sponsored by local Japanese associations. Also includes a photograph of a Japanese woman along with the Santa Barbara Museum of National History and St. Anthony's Seminary, both located in Santa …
img
Taenaka family in farm (ddr-csujad-25-79)
A photograph of the Taenaka family in a farm, Brighton, Colorado. Includes Tamesaburo Taenaka, Kamie Taenaka, Ukichi Taenaka [?], and Yaeko Taenaka [?], posing in a sugar beet farm. Inscription on the back of the photograph reads: Nov. 20, 1942, Mr. McMorrow's farm, Brighton, Colorado. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
img
Taenaka family, picnic (ddr-csujad-25-264)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are seven photographs of a family picnic, including Kamie, Haruko, Yaeko, Ukichi, Toshikuni, Chiyoko, and Saiko Taenaka. The photographs are 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_059
img
Horse drawn plow in sugar beet farm (ddr-csujad-25-98)
A photograph of a horse drawn plow in a sugar beet farm. The photograph is probably taken in Brighton, Colorado. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_040
![Ko Umeda Michiko sogi kinen satsuei [Commemorative photograph for the late Michiko Umeda funeral] (ddr-csujad-25-240)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/18/09/1809cbc19416546e24926045a0a67ef5.jpg)
img
Ko Umeda Michiko sogi kinen satsuei [Commemorative photograph for the late Michiko Umeda funeral] (ddr-csujad-25-240)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page is a photograph taken to commemorate the funeral for Michiko Umeda, who is probably a daughter of Mohei and Sadae Umeda, held on March 2, 1924 in California. The attendees include Tamesaburo, Kamie, Haruko, Yaeko, Ukichi, Toshikuni, Chiyoko, and Saiko Taenaka. The photograph is …
img
Taenaka family portrait (ddr-csujad-25-253)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are three photographs including a portrait of the Taenaka family taken in Los Angeles, California between 1921 and 1923 and a photograph of the Taenaka family members along with other people in the Japanese community having a picnic. See this object in the California …
img
Taenaka family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-228)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are five photographs of the Taenakas' relatives in Japan. Include the Satake family; Fusako, Shozo, and Harue Matsui in front of their grocery store; portraits of infants, including Fumiko Satake, the first son of the Satake family, and Shizuko Taenaka. The photographs are probably …
img
Tamesaburo and Kamie Taenaka (ddr-csujad-25-255)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are four photographs taken in El Monte, California. Include Tamesaburo and Kamie Taenaka. These are probably taken in 1913. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_050
img
Kamie Taenaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-170)
A 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_042
img
Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-184)
A photograph of a local Japanese female taken at an individual's house in Suita, Japan. She is probably the Taenakas' relative. 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_056
img
Funeral (ddr-csujad-25-355)
A group photograph of attendees of a funeral held at a Buddhist temple in Salt Lake, Utah. It is taken probably in the 1930s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_12_017
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-322)
A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Includes a Japanese family and houses. Date and location are unknown. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_10_01_031
img
Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-49)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Includes a portrait of a Japanese man in suits and a Japanese woman in western dress taken at "Toyo Studio, Seattle, WH."; a photograph of Japanese male children riding on toys in snow; and a street photograph capturing buildings, "First National Bank," and "Commercial Hotel." Those photographs …
img
Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-192)
A group photograph of local Japanese men and women taken in Kashiwagi, Japan after the war. They are probably the Taenaka's 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_064
img
Mohei and Sadae Umeda wedding anniversary and reception (ddr-csujad-25-238)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are a portrait of Mohei and Sadae Umeda for their wedding anniversary as well as a photograph of their reception taken in California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_033
![Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, Buddhist temple] (ddr-csujad-25-130)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/f1/b6/f1b648b2ca5bbb53849f48000775e438.jpg)
img
Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, Buddhist temple] (ddr-csujad-25-130)
A group photograph of the tourists of Koyasan Los Angeles Branch Tourist Party, including Kamie Taenaka, along with Buddhist practitioners in Japan. The location is possibly Kongobuji, a Buddhist temple in Mount Koya. 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_002