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 (1035)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Issei

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1035 items

img Mr. and Mrs. Masao Okine [wedding photograph] (ddr-csujad-5-337)

A wedding photograph of Masao and Ayame May Okine with the Okine and Tanimoto family members. The wedding is held in the Rohwer incarceration camp while they are incarcerated. The handwritten notes on the backside read: "Mr. and Mrs. Masao Okine, Nov. 11, 1944." A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 10. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-337/

img [Okines' relatives, chrysanthemum flowers] (ddr-csujad-5-60)

A black and white negative. Photographed are probably the Okines' relatives standing in a greenhouse of chrysanthemum flowers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_06_014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-60/

img [Seiichi Okine?, fishing] (ddr-csujad-5-23)

A photograph of two Japanese men holding fishing rods. Right is probably Seiichi Okine. Includes fish that they caught. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-23/

doc Masao's check application number (ddr-csujad-5-83)

Notes probably written by Seiichi Okine recording the military family allowance application number. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_21_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-83/

img [Okine family] (ddr-csujad-5-316)

Photographed are Makoto at age 20, Hatsuno Hotty at age 17, Dorothy Ai at age 9, Seiichi at age 63, Tomeyo at age 55, and Masao at age 21 standing in front of their car which was purchased before the forced removal and incarceration. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 4. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-316/

doc Letter from Mrs. K. Befu to Mr. and Mrs. S. Okine, January 15, 1946 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-119)

A letter from Komaki Befu in Los Angeles, California to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine, in Hawthorne, California. She thanks Mr. and Mrs. Okine for their visit and the mochi mailed to her. She also informs that Mr. Yoshikawa has given her son, Masuo Befu, a farewell gift. The handwritten notes on the back of the envelope …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-119/

doc Letter from Miyuki Matsuura to Mr. and Mrs. S. Okine, February 17, 1947 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-201)

A letter from Miyuki Matsuura to her uncle and aunt, Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. She informs that her family is doing well and Fumiko works as a translator. She also mentions that she sent to the relatives in Japan the photographs that they took together. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-201/

[Photograph of the Okine family] (ddr-csujad-5-320)

Photographed are Makoto, Hatsuno Hotty, Seiichi, Masao, Dorothy Ai, and Tomeyo Okine standing in front of their car which was purchased before the forced removal and incarceration. The handwritten notes on the backside read: Taken by [Jokichi] Yamanaka on June 28, 1941 [in Japanese]. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 5. See …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-320/

[Seiichi Okine, chrysanthemum flowers] (ddr-csujad-5-42)

A photograph of Japanese and Japanese Americans taken in the chrysanthemum flower field. Stamped on the backside: Kodacolor print made by Eastman Kodak Company, T.M. Regis. U.S. Pat. Off., week of Nov. 5, 1951. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_027

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-42/

img [Japanese men on a bridge] (ddr-csujad-5-44)

A photograph of two Japanese men on a bridge. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_030

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-44/

doc Letter from Y. Fujii to Mr. and Mrs. S. Okine, May 24, 1947 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-204)

A letter from Yosokichi Fujii, a former incarceree in the Heart Mountain incarceration camp, Wyoming, to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. He gives an update of his life after leaving the camp in September 1945 and resettling in Nyssa, Oregon until May 1946. He currently works in Penryn, California in fruit production following his friends' suggestion. He …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-204/

img [Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album] (ddr-csujad-5-305)

A family photo album compiled by Dorothy Ai Aoki, who is a Nisei daughter born to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. Includes photographs depicting her family's life in California before the war, their incarceration in the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas, and reestablishment in California after the war. Also includes photographs of the family members in Hiroshima, Japan, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-305/

img [Okines' relatives, chrysanthemum flowers] (ddr-csujad-5-48)

A color negative. Photographed are probably the Okines' relatives, including Jokichi Yamanaka, standing in a greenhouse of chrysanthemum flowers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_06_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-48/

doc Letter from Miyuki Matsuura to Mr. and Mrs. S. Okine, October 30, 1947 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-214)

A letter from Miyuki Matsuura to her uncle and aunt, Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. She thanks them for the chrysanthemums they grew and sent to her. She keeps some of the flowers in her parlor and some of the flowers on Mrs. Freitas' grave. She includes updates on her work including finishing picking tomatoes and starting …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-214/

doc Letter from Morio Tanimoto to Seiichi Okine, January 16, 1946 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-122)

A letter from Morio Tanimoto in Lodi, California, to Seiichi Okine in Hawthorne, California. He thanks Seiichi for his gift and also congratulates on his daughter, Hatsuno's marriage, enclosing the monetary gift for her. This letter is sent by Akiko Tanimoto and addresses Dorothy Okine. The handwritten notes on the back of the envelope read: Arrived …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-122/

img Okine's mother (ddr-csujad-5-307)

Photographed is Tomeyo Okine. The handwritten notes on the backside read: Whittier obachan [= Whittier's grandmother], Okine's mother [in Japanese]. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 1. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_08_001_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-307/

doc T. Okine, March [1947] (ddr-csujad-5-169)

A sheet recording the name, T. Okine [Tomeyo Okine], the dates and hours in March 1947. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_02_15_006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-169/

img [Japanese man, bonsai] (ddr-csujad-5-56)

A black and white negative. Photographed is a Japanese man siting on a chair next to bonsai. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_06_010

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-56/

doc Letter from Seiichi Okine to Office of Dependency Benefits, November 26, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-103)

Two copies of a letter written by Seiichi Okine from Hawthorne Public Housing, Hawthorne, California, to Office of Dependency Benefits, Newark, New Jersey. He receives a monthly allowance from Makoto Okine's military service to support his family including Seiichi, Tomeyo, Dorothy, and Hatsuno. Listing the expenses, such as rent, food, clothing, medical care, education supplies, social …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-103/

img [Farmers' stand] (ddr-csujad-5-310)

Photographed are two Japanese farmers holding boxes of tomatoes at farmers stand. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 2. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_08_002_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-310/

doc Postcard from Fred F. Fujii to Mr. and Mrs. Okine, July 18, 1947 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-205)

A postcard from Fred F. Fujii, a former incarceree in the Heart Mountain incarceration camp, Wyoming, to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. Fred informs that Masao Okazaki has returned from Seabrook Farms, New Jersey on June 29, 1947. Okazaki was probably incarcerated in the Jerome incarceration camp, Arkansas first and later transferred to the Tule Lake incarceration …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-205/

img Tomeyo Okine (ddr-csujad-5-6)

A photograph of Tomeyo Okine, smiling on a chair. There is a pencil signature under this photograph, most likely from the photographer, Takumi Ono. A note on the folder reads: c. 1958, Tomeyo Okine. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_03_001a

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-6/

[Photograph of the Okine family] (ddr-csujad-5-319)

Photographed are Makoto, Seiichi, and Masao Okine standing in front of their car which was purchased before the forced removal and incarceration. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 5. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_08_005_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-319/

doc Subscription to international welfare and uplift (ddr-csujad-5-263)

A receipt for five dollars donation made by Seiichi Okine on April 23 to the international welfare and uplift program sponsored by Seventh-Day Adventists. The receipt is issued by the Japanese Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Los Angeles, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_03_01_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-263/

img Obon, Rohwer, Arkansas (ddr-csujad-5-339)

Photographed are Akiko An and Kiku Tanimoto, Ayame May Okine, and Dorothy Ai Okine. It is taken during the obon event in the Rohwer incarceration camp. The handwritten notes on the backside read: Obon, Rohwer, Arkansas. A photograph from "Dorothy Ai Aoki photo album" (csudh_oki_0300), page 11. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-339/