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 (200)
Nisei (2535)

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Nisei

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2535 items

doc Letter from Ryo Tsai to Seido Ogawa, Congregational Committee for Christian Democracy (ddr-densho-446-280)

Ai Chih Tsai wants to stay in US for maybe 5 years after his reentry instead of 6 months. Ryo Morikawa Tsai asks Ogawa if there is employment for Ai Chih Tsai. Ryo Morikawa Tsai also looking for a job but unemployment is high. Kenji has a job at the County Fair in Del Mar.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-280/

img Photo of Ryo Morikawa (ddr-densho-446-432)

Arriving in the US from Tokyo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-432/

doc Advance Congregational Christian Journal: As American as Hot Dogs and Coca-Cola (ddr-densho-446-393)

Article by Ryo (Morikawa) Tsai on what it means to be a "minority" American and influence of faith

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-393/

doc Seattle Times: Exhibits celebrate immigrants' strengths, talents in new country (ddr-densho-446-452)

Article titled "Japanese-American women" noted that the 11 NW women added to the exhibit at the Burke were chosen by a committee of their peers.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-452/

img Photo of Ryo Tsai in Kimono (ddr-densho-446-438)

Ryo Tsai in the kimono she wore to the banquet honoring the Crown Prince and Princess in October 1960. This photo was taken at an Ikebana exhibit which Ryo contributed to. (October 1960)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-438/

img Photo of Morikawa children (ddr-densho-446-419)

Ryo with her siblings Anna, George, and Kenji (circa 1931 or 1932)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-419/

img Ryo Tsai Graduation Photo (ddr-densho-446-436)

RT received a BA in English in 1958 and a Master of Librarianship in 1960, both from the University of Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-436/

doc SDSU Alumni: "A Measure of Restitution" (ddr-densho-446-368)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-368/

doc A Myopic Account of a Relocated Life during the Second World War (ddr-densho-468-97)

Personal recollections of life in an assembly center and relocation camp for Japanese descendants and various digressions

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-97/

doc Short story: "The outcast" / "The alien within" (ddr-densho-468-68)

Four typed drafts. First draft describes a Japanese American girl in the mid-20th century. Second, third, and fourth drafts describe incarceration. The story's name changes from "The outcast" to "The alien within" between drafts 2 and 3. Final draft has perspective shift from third-person narrator to first-person.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-68/

doc Draft: "Parents gave kids no long names because they knew none} (ddr-densho-468-180)

Draft of essay or diary entry with thoughts on Nisei names

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-180/

doc Biographical poem (ddr-densho-468-155)

Typed draft of poem based on Ishikawa's childhood and experiences in World War II

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-155/

doc Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Christian Mission in North America. This book traces the history of JCC within the larger setting of national and local events, and some of the photos and narratives may be of interest. Ai Chih Tsai was pastor at JCC from 1948 to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-455/

doc Capitol Hill Times: 'Citizen of the Month' Award: We Salute: Mrs. Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-446)

Ryo Tsai received the "Citizen of the Month" Award. Her letter of thanks to the Editor on 4/21/71 is also included.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-446/

doc Ryo Morikawa Recollections (ddr-densho-446-349)

Autobiography: Ryo's parents, Life in San Diego, 11 months in Japan, Evacuation, Married Life

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-349/

img Celebrating Ryo Tsai's retirement from the Seattle Public Library (ddr-densho-446-356)

Photo of daughter Bisim Tsai Lee, daughter-in-law Joyce Yamada Tsai, and son, Peter Tsai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-356/

doc RT Honorary Degree Citation (ddr-densho-446-456)

In 2010 California State University awarded an honorary bachelor's degree from San Diego State University (SDSU) to Ryo Tsai and 20 other Nisei whose college years were disrupted by the evacuation of Japanese Americans in 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-456/

doc Letter from Senator Barbara Boxer to family of Ryo Morikawa Tsai (ddr-densho-446-364)

Congratulatory letter from Senator Barbara Boxer

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-364/

doc History of the Japanese Congregational Church 1907-2007 (ddr-densho-446-454)

Summary of the Japanese Congregational Church's history from 1807 to 2007 written by Bisim Lee for its 100th Anniversary Dinner (October 2007)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-454/

doc Copy of letter from Ryo Morikawa to Charlotte Louise Peltcher (ddr-densho-446-426)

Request by Ryo to classmate Charlotte for photos from 1939 yearbook that she lost during the war

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-426/

doc Pacific Citizen: Coro to train 12 Bay Area leaders with photo of The Way It Was exhibit (ddr-densho-446-449)

Group Photo with Commentary at NKHA Exhibit: Ryo Tsai and Ai Chih Tsai with two others looking at one of the photos displayed at the NKHA exhibit

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-449/

doc Seattle Times: 2 Named to Head Branch Libraries (ddr-densho-446-445)

Ryo Tsai was named to head the Susan Henry Memorial Branch Library

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-445/

doc Ryo Tsai: Keeping History Alive (ddr-densho-446-453)

Description of Ryo Tsai's life for the Strength and Diversity Exhibit: Japanese American Women 1885-1990

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-453/

doc SDSU Alumni: Looking for 36 (ddr-densho-446-369)

SDSU Turns to Family and Friends to Help Find Nisei Students

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-369/

img Community Picnic- playing cards (ddr-one-1-371)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei playing cards at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Alfred Tsutomu Ando, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, and Shoji Kiyomura.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-371/