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
![Seinen Kakuryoku Taikai kinen [Commemoration of Youth Sumo Competition] (ddr-csujad-25-332)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/67/41/67416346c1367c7bd9c10a7a883871a4.jpg)
![Haruhara Saiho Gakko doso kyuyu shusai Kason Biyoin Incho Yanagimura Masaji-joshi kangeikai kinen [= Commemorative photograph of a welcoming party for Ms. Masaji Yanagimura, Carson Beauty Salon Manager, hosted by Haruhara Sewing School Alumni] (ddr-csujad-25-335)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/f1/ef/f1efd21659837e64863b88803267ea93.jpg)
1023 items
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Toshikuni Taenaka and Kamie Taenaka (ddr-csujad-25-106)
A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier. He poses in US Army service uniform with his mother, Kamie Taenaka. The photograph is probably taken in Brighton, Colorado, where his parents reside. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_048
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Portrait of Japanese man (ddr-csujad-25-30)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. A portrait of a Japanese man in a suit is pasted on the page. It appears to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_07_01_030
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Kamie Taenaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-178)
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_050
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-40)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Two family portraits and a portrait of a man are pasted on the page. Include Japanese men in suits, women in western dress, and children. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …
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Taenaka family in a farm (ddr-csujad-25-81)
A photograph of the Taenaka family in a farm, Brighton, Colorado. Includes Tamesaburo Taenaka, Kamie Taenaka, Ukichi Taenaka [?], and Yaeko Taenaka [?], harvesting sugar beets in McMorrow's farm. The same image is found in item: ucsb_jia_0091. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_023
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Taenaka family, children (ddr-csujad-25-236)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are six photographs of children, including Ukichi, Toshikuni, and Chiyoko Taenaka. The photographs are most likely taken in Los Angeles, California in the late 1920s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_09_01_031
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Tamesaburo Taenaka and his family (ddr-csujad-25-203)
A photograph of Tamesaburo Taenaka and his daughter and grandchild taken at Sequoia National Park in 1943. 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_075
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Kamie Taenaka, family reunion (ddr-csujad-25-161)
A group photograph of Kamie Taenaka and her relatives taken 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_033
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Japanese family, portrait (ddr-csujad-25-338)
A family portrait includes a Japanese woman and five children. It is probably taken in the early 1900s. Location is unknown. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_11_01_008
![Seinen Kakuryoku Taikai kinen [Commemoration of Youth Sumo Competition] (ddr-csujad-25-332)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/7e/89/7e893510ae796b2fad84118e4de60114.jpg)
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Seinen Kakuryoku Taikai kinen [Commemoration of Youth Sumo Competition] (ddr-csujad-25-332)
A commemorative photograph of the Youth Sumo Competition held January 25-26, 1930. It is a group photograph of the Sumo competitors and the event supporters. It is taken by "Toyo Studio" in Seattle, Washington. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_11_01_002
![Haruhara Saiho Gakko doso kyuyu shusai Kason Biyoin Incho Yanagimura Masaji-joshi kangeikai kinen [= Commemorative photograph of a welcoming party for Ms. Masaji Yanagimura, Carson Beauty Salon Manager, hosted by Haruhara Sewing School Alumni] (ddr-csujad-25-335)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/9c/60/9c607bbce6c548a86b03c26476e9a80b.jpg)
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Haruhara Saiho Gakko doso kyuyu shusai Kason Biyoin Incho Yanagimura Masaji-joshi kangeikai kinen [= Commemorative photograph of a welcoming party for Ms. Masaji Yanagimura, Carson Beauty Salon Manager, hosted by Haruhara Sewing School Alumni] (ddr-csujad-25-335)
A group photograph of the attendees of the welcoming party for Ms. Yanagimura Masaji, Carson Beauty Salon manager, held by Haruhara Sewing School alumni on October 21, 1934. The photograph is taken by "Takano Studio," a photo studio in Seattle, Washington. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_11_01_005
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-13)
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. Include Japanese men in suits, woman in western dress, and child. One portrait is taken at "Toyo Studio" in Seattle, Washington. Also include a photograph probably taken at …
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-28)
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 family portrait and a portrait of a Japanese woman in western dress. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_07_01_028
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-38)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Three photographs are pasted on the page. Includes a Japanese man, Japanese women in western dress, and Japanese children. The photographs appear to be taken in Washington in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_07_01_038
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-58)
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 academic dress and a man in suits. Also include a photograph of a Japanese family, capturing a man in suits holding an infant, a …
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-47)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Four photographs are pasted on the page. Include photographs of the Japanese community at a picnic probably in Washington taken in the early 1900s. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_07_01_047
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Tamesaburo Taenaka and his family (ddr-csujad-25-202)
A photograph of Tamesaburo Taenaka, Kamie Taenaka, and their daughter and grandchild taken at Sequoia National Park in 1943. 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_074
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Taenaka family, Japanese American community in Los Angeles, California (ddr-csujad-25-269)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are five photographs of the Taenaka family taken with the local Japanese American community in Los Angeles, California. In these photographs, the female children are dancing in kimono. The photographs are probably taken in the early 1930s. See this object in the California State …
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Japanese women and child (ddr-csujad-25-349)
A portrait of two Japanese women and a child in western clothing. It is probably taken between 1900 and the 1930s. Location is unknown. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_12_011
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Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-149)
A photograph of the local Japanese, most likely taken in Totsugawa, Japan. They appear to be 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_021
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Kamie Taenaka or Sadae Umeda, grocery store (ddr-csujad-25-243)
A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page is a photograph of Kamie Taenaka or her sister, Sadae Umeda, and her child inside a grocery store. It appears that she is serving a Caucasian customer in the store. It is probably taken in Los Angeles, California between 1915 and 1925. See this …
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Portraits of Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-17)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Six photographs are pasted on the page. The photographs appear to have been taken in the early 1900s in Washington. Include portraits of Japanese men in costume and Japanese woman in kimono. Also include a photograph of steam locomotive 2022. See this object in the California State …
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Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-194)
A group photograph of local Japanese men and woman taken in Japan around 1955. They are the Taenakas' relatives, including Ukichi Taenaka's son. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_03_066
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Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-34)
A page from an album containing Japanese family photographs. Two 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 and woman in kimono and a Japanese infant dressed for a Japanese traditional ceremony for newborns. See this object in the …
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Family in Japan (ddr-csujad-25-183)
A group photograph of the local Japanese taken in Suita, Japan after the war. Probably they are 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_055