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
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Nisei
2535 items
2535 items
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Kawamoto family photograph album (ddr-densho-359-207)
Alice Kawamoto family photograph album includes photos covering many subjects including school classes, weddings, farming, vacations and mountain climbing.
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Nisei couple stand in front of palm trees (ddr-densho-359-1310)
Phil and Alice Okano pose in front of a palm trees on their honeymoon
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Four women and a man pose on sidewalk (ddr-densho-359-177)
Sadako Nakata in front, second from right, wearing hat and broach
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High school graduation announcement (ddr-densho-359-9)
Alice Kawamoto's high school graduation annoucement. She graduated valedictorian of her class.
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Portrait of a girl (ddr-densho-359-231)
Yukiye Pauline Kawamoto. Caption under the photograph in the album "Pauline 1928 'sweet fifteen' graduation".
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Gordon Hirabayashi Interview IV (ddr-densho-1000-20)
Nisei male. Born April 23, 1918, in Seattle, Washington. Spent most of his childhood in Thomas, Washington, where his parents were part of a Christian farming co-op. Attended the University of Washington where he was active in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the conscientious objector movement, and became a Quaker. At the outbreak of World …
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Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I (ddr-densho-1000-123)
Nisei male. Born August 15, 1924, in Portland, Oregon. Incarcerated at the North Portland Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Kept a diary beginning December, 1941, and through incarceration. Beginning as a teenager, was exceptionally active as a volunteer leader, first within a Japanese American church in Portland, later in camp with Federated Christian Church, …
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Rose Matsui Ochi Interview I (ddr-densho-1000-276)
Nisei female. Born December 15, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. As a child, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and the Rohwer concentration camp, Arkansas. Following World War II, became a teacher and then went to law school. In 1974, worked for Los Angeles Mayor Bradley as a legislative research coordinator and eventually executive …
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Grace Watanabe Kimura Interview (ddr-densho-1000-249)
Nisei female. Born 1925 in Los Angeles, California. Grew up in Boyle Heights, where father was a prominent Baptist minister, establishing his own church. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, removed with family to the Poston concentration camp, Arizona. Obtained student leave to finish high school in Abilene, Texas. Post-World War II, …
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Jim Akutsu Interview (ddr-densho-1000-2)
Nisei male. Born January 25, 1920, in Seattle, Washington. Incarcerated at the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Resisted the draft, with the rationale that the U.S. government had classified him 4-C, an enemy alien, and he was therefore under no obligation to serve. Imprisoned at McNeil Island Penitentiary, Washington. Vocal critic of …
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Gordon Hirabayashi Interview III (ddr-densho-1000-19)
Nisei male. Born April 23, 1918, in Seattle, Washington. Spent most of his childhood in Thomas, Washington, where his parents were part of a Christian farming co-op. Attended the University of Washington where he was active in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the conscientious objector movement, and became a Quaker. At the outbreak of World …
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Henry Miyatake Interview IV (ddr-densho-1000-56)
Nisei male. Born April 28, 1929, in Seattle, Washington. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Had some key childhood experiences with discrimination that made him a self-described, "independent thinker," and later, an influential figure in the Japanese American community. While a teenager in camp, he wrote and defended an essay criticizing the …
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Gene Akutsu Interview I (ddr-densho-1000-1)
Nisei male. Born September 23, 1925, in Seattle, Washington. Spent prewar childhood in Seattle's Nihonmachi. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Refused to participate in the draft and was imprisoned at McNeil Island Penitentiary, Washington, for draft resistance. Resettled in Seattle.
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Gordon Hirabayashi Interview II (ddr-densho-1000-18)
Nisei male. Born April 23, 1918, in Seattle, Washington. Spent most of his childhood in Thomas, Washington, where his parents were part of a Christian farming co-op. Attended the University of Washington where he was active in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the conscientious objector movement, and became a Quaker. At the outbreak of World …
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Tomio Moriguchi Interview II (ddr-densho-1000-60)
Ni-ten-gosei (Nisei/Sansei) male. Born April 16, 1936, in Tacoma, Washington. During World War II, was incarcerated with his family at the Tule Lake concentration camp, California. After the war, resettled in Seattle's Nihonmachi, where his father reestablished the family business, Uwajimaya, selling Japanese foodstuff and other items. Worked at Uwajimaya throughout his childhood -- along with …
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Henry Miyatake Interview V (ddr-densho-1000-57)
Nisei male. Born April 28, 1929, in Seattle, Washington. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Had some key childhood experiences with discrimination that made him a self-described, "independent thinker," and later, an influential figure in the Japanese American community. While a teenager in camp, he wrote and defended an essay criticizing the …
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Rose Matsui Ochi Interview II (ddr-densho-1000-277)
Nisei female. Born December 15, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. As a child, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and the Rohwer concentration camp, Arkansas. Following World War II, became a teacher and then went to law school. In 1974, worked for Los Angeles Mayor Bradley as a legislative research coordinator and eventually executive …
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Henry Miyatake Interview III (ddr-densho-1000-55)
Nisei male. Born April 28, 1929, in Seattle, Washington. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Had some key childhood experiences with discrimination that made him a self-described, "independent thinker," and later, an influential figure in the Japanese American community. While a teenager in camp, he wrote and defended an essay criticizing the …
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Yone Bartholomew Interview I (ddr-densho-1000-4)
Nisei female. Born July 15, 1906, in Bedderavia, California. Was given for adoption by her parents to a couple who could not have children of their own. Grew up on a family farm and was one of the oldest Nisei in the Santa Barbara area of California. Incarcerated at the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka …
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Henry Miyatake Interview VI (ddr-densho-1000-58)
Nisei male. Born April 28, 1929, in Seattle, Washington. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Had some key childhood experiences with discrimination that made him a self-described, "independent thinker," and later, an influential figure in the Japanese American community. While a teenager in camp, he wrote and defended an essay criticizing the …