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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Densho Encyclopedia :
Issei
1023 items
1023 items
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Japanese American men and women wear aprons/ uniforms (ddr-densho-362-6)
Nineteen men and women wear aprons/ uniforms in a group photo. Those in the front row kneel while the rest stand. A building appears in the background.
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Five Japanese Americans in front of D-C building (ddr-densho-362-15)
Two men, two women, and a child stand together in front of a building with a sign that reads "D-C". The Konishi family lived at 12-11 C.
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Eight Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-362-17)
Eight individuals consisting of men, women, and a child gather for a group photo. A cabin appears in the background.
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Japanese American woman and girl walk into the distance (ddr-densho-362-43)
A woman and girl walk up a trail with their backs towards the camera. A long road lays before them.
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Japanese American man, woman, and three girls group photo (ddr-densho-362-46)
A man, woman, and 3 young girls gather together for a group picture in an open field. A crowd of people are in the background.
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Two Japanese American women at barracks steps (ddr-densho-362-55)
Two women wearing black dresses pose together for a picture near a cabin barracks steps.
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Four Japanese Americans in an open field (ddr-densho-362-14)
A group of two men and two women stand together near an open field.
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Two men, two women, and a girl with stuffed bunny (ddr-densho-362-56)
Two men, two women and a little girl holding a stuffed bunny gather together for a group shot. Camp cabins are in the background.
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Japanese American woman and three children sit on barracks steps (ddr-densho-362-11)
One woman and three children (two boys and one girl) sit together on barracks steps. Tom Konishi is seated in the front of the group.
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Japanese American men, women, and a boy near barracks steps (ddr-densho-362-7)
Two men, five women, and a small boy pose together on barracks steps.
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Group of Japanese American men, women, and children with coats and blankets (ddr-densho-362-32)
Large group of men, women, and children dressed in coats and blankets, gather for a group picture in an open field.
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Six Japanese Americans at railroad crossing (ddr-densho-362-42)
Two men, two women and two girls gather together near train tracks for a group photo.
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Portrait of Harry Matsuoka (ddr-densho-390-1)
A small portrait of Harry Matsuoka, most likely for an identification card.
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Family picnic (ddr-densho-325-463)
From left to right: Mrs. Horiuchi, Sumito Horiuchi, Hisa Nimura Horiuchi, Raymond Horiuchi, unidentified family member, Eddie Horiuchi, and unidentified family member.
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Men working on a railroad (ddr-densho-353-43)
Captioned: "Snoqualmie Falls crew laying railroad tracks."
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Seattle Buddhist Church students (ddr-densho-353-274)
Captioned: "Summer 1922 - About this time English classes for Issei started."
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A group of adults and children (ddr-densho-353-32)
The Port Blakely Japanese Baptist Church's Sunday school teachers and children.
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A group in front of a house (ddr-densho-353-33)
Shoichiro Katsuno at Pontiac (now the Windermere/Sand Point area) Written on back: "House built by Mr. Katsuno c.1913. Paid only for glass, nails, stovepipe, all the wood was free for clearing the land, knew how to make cedar shakes from work in sawmill earlier."