Nisei

The Nisei (second generation) felt the pull of two cultures. American born, attending public schools, and influenced by American popular culture, they shared the same idols, favorite songs and sports heroes as most other children of their generation. Wanting to fit in, many Nisei with Japanese first names dropped them for Western ones that their non-Japanese friends could easily pronounce. Yet, most grew up in Japanese neighborhoods, and their parents taught them the customs and values of the old country.

Identity and values (362)
Nisei (2567)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Nisei

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

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

Gallery view
List view

2567 items

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-399)

Black and white photographic negative of Yoji Kiso (left) and Shig Tada (right) sitting in the sand at the Oregon Coast at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-399/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-400)

Black and white photographic negative of Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya (right) sunbathing at the Oregon Coast with an unidentified Nisei. Behind them is Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba playing with a beach ball at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-400/

img Nap on the Beach (ddr-one-1-613)

"Black and white photographic negative of several Nisei taking a nap on the beach. Laying in the center with her face visible to the camera is Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida. "

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-613/

img Nisei women (ddr-one-1-426)

Black and white photographic negative of four unidentified Nisei women holding bags and notebooks and looking at the camera inside Seattle Buddhist Church.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-426/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-47)

Black and white photographic negative of two men in suits posed. From left to right: Keso Kuwahara and groom Sam Sakamoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-47/

img Ladies Bowling Team- Oregon Nisei Bowling League Photo #3 (ddr-one-1-563)

Black and white photographic negative of a Nisei women's bowling team. The team is posed in front of a Ford sedan with monogrammed shirts. From left to right: Yoko (Hishikawa) Iwata, Kathleen Sasaki, Sachi (Nakata) Nakashima, Takako Inukai and Toshi (Tamiyasu) Fukuhara. Original print ONLC 3428.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-563/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-46)

Black and white photographic negative of organist and a singer standing in the choir's pews inside a church. Performance for the wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-46/

img Ladies Bowling Team- Oregon Nisei Bowling League Photo #4 (ddr-one-1-564)

Black and white photographic negative of a Nisei women's bowling team. The team is posed on a staircase with monogrammed shirts. From left to right: Yoko (Hishikawa) Iwata, Takako Inukai, Toshi (Tamiyasu) Fukuhara, Kathleen Sasaki, and Sachi (Nakata) Nakashima. Original print ONLC 3430.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-564/

img Young Buddhist League Convention Queen (ddr-one-1-25)

Black and white photographic print of the Fourth Annual Northwest Young Buddhist League's Convection Queen: Mary (Nakata) Fujii of Portland, Oregon. She is dressed in a dark formal gown, wearing a jeweled tiara and velvet robe. The photograph was found in Frank Hirahara's memorabilia of his time in Portland.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-25/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-244)

Black and white photographic negative of six Obon dancers posing for the camera holding small Japanese and American flags. From left to right: Eddie Tamiyasu, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Jean (Tsujimura) Takashima, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-244/

img Nisei women (ddr-one-1-345)

Black and white photographic negative of three women standing in front of a piano possibly singing, two women seated to the side listening. From left to right: Jayne (Katada) Furukawa, Betty Ishida, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, May (Ebihara) Gelfand, and Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya. This photograph may have been taken during the Northwest Methodist Rally.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-345/

img Adelphons Group Photo (ddr-one-1-2)

Black and white photographic negative of the Adelphons, a young women's service group of the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen's League, in formal attire. Back Row (left to right): Sumiko “Sue” (Kawasaki) Fujino, unidentified, Minnie (Oyama) Abe, Ochiyo (Nishioka) Hasuike, unidentified, Mary (Furusho) Iwasaki, Tamae "Butch" Yamamoto, Kathryn (Kawata) Niita, Irene (Kawata) Nakagawa, Sophie …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-2/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-241)

Black and white photographic negative of six Obon dancers posing for the camera with one arm touching straw hats. From left to right: Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Jean (Tsujimura) Takashima, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, and Eddie Tamiyasu. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-241/

img Friends (ddr-one-1-589)

Black and white photographic negative of Shig Yuzuriha in the middle with four unidentified Nisei standing in front of a brick building.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-589/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-330)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei girls wearing white gloves, large, fake ears and a newspaper bib inside Epworth United Methodist Church, possibly during the Northwest Methodist Rally. Each girl is also holding a conductor baton. Third girl from the left is identified as Sophie (Tomita) Imai.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-330/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-21)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Left to right: Grace (Ebihara) Akiyama, Betty Nakashimada, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Nami (Miura) Koida, Masae "Elsie" (Morita) Onishi, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka, Betty Ishida, Elsie Okazaki, Agnes (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Jean Matsumoto, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-21/

img Friends (ddr-one-1-593)

Black and white photographic negative of three unidentified Nisei chatting outside on the sidewalk in front of a parked car.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-593/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-40)

Original black and white photographic print of bridal party standing in front of the alter. Left to right: Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi, Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto, and Lilly (Kobayashi) Irinaga.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-40/

img Outdoor Games (ddr-one-1-703)

Black and white photographic negative of seven Issei woman standing in a line with spoons in their hands, a man stands at the head of the line.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-703/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-364)

Black and white photographic negative of Carlos Ogimi and other students sitting at drawing table working on an unknown project. Carlos is the first seated student on the right, everyone else is unidentified. This photographic negative was taken at Reed College where Carlos was a student. Original print ONLC 3180 (ddr-one-1-362).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-364/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Couple seated (ddr-one-1-124)

Original black and white photographic print of couple sitting at table at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The couple is smiling for the camera. From left to right: Bob Luck and Doris Chan. Negative ONLC 2940 (ddr-one-1-123).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-124/

img Nisei on stage (ddr-one-1-346)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei standing on a stage, two additional Nisei sitting to the side. The four standing Nisei are each holding an object- possibly performing some kind of skit. From left to right: Miriam (Koyama) Kiso, Eugene Hayashi, Rose Namba, Nami (Miura) Koida, Toyse "Toy" Muira, and Ko Tambara. This photograph …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-346/

doc A Fellow Veteran Remembers (ddr-densho-1007-1847)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1847/

doc They Work for Victory: The Story of the Japanese Americans and the War Effort (ddr-densho-1007-1845)

Booklet on the war effort of the Nisei in the United States during World War II.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1845/

doc Leighton "Goro" Sumida Interview Transcript (ddr-densho-1007-1871)

Eric Saul interview with Leighton "Goro" Sumida in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 18, 1980: Tape 2, Side A. In this interview Sumida describes his family and upbringing, his experiences in the 100th Infantry Battalion, and postwar life. This transcript is continued on object ddr-densho-1007-1872 as indicated by the page numbers. Content warning: use of strong language …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1871/