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)

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1035 items

img Large group of men posing for photo at Santa Fe Detention Center (ddr-ajah-2-908)

Caption below photo: August 1943-February 13, 1944 Issei Men at Santa Fe New Mexico Detention Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-908/

img Group of Issei men (ddr-ajah-2-923)

Caption below photo: Issei men at Santa Fe, New Mexico Department of Justice Internment Camp / August 1943-February 13, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-923/

doc Story of Shigekichi Kajiwara: The War Years as an Alien Enemy (ddr-densho-554-1)

Biography of Shigekichi Kajiwara's life, with a focus on his incarceration during World War II at Fort Missoula, Lordsburg, and Santa Fe.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-554-1/

img [Seikichi Aihara Family] (ddr-csujad-29-85)

Photograph of Seikichi Aihara Family. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P0001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-85/

doc National Archives letter (ddr-densho-314-9)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-314-9/

doc Transcript of Toru Miyoshi Oral History (ddr-densho-480-173)

Toru Miyoshi details his family's immigration to the United States, growing up in California, his experience at the Gila River Concentration Camp, and his public service as an elected official.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-480-173/

doc Miyoshi Family History part 1 (ddr-densho-480-174)

Details Miyoshi family history, including Japanese ancestry, immigration to the United States, individual family member's life stories, and life at the Gila River Concentration Camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-480-174/

img A group of adults and children (ddr-densho-353-32)

The Port Blakely Japanese Baptist Church's Sunday school teachers and children.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-32/

img Men working on a railroad (ddr-densho-353-43)

Captioned: "Snoqualmie Falls crew laying railroad tracks."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-43/

img Mrs. Jironaga and son Hirochi (ddr-densho-353-205)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-205/

img 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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-33/