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 (344)
Nisei (2567)

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Nisei

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2567 items

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-644)

Black and white photographic negative of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto's wedding reception. About 9 people sitting around banquet tables. Wedding party seated along back wall; from left to right: Yoichi "Jack" Nomi, Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nami, Sam Sakamoto, Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto, and Lilly (Kobayashi) Irinaga. Other guests are unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-644/

img Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-56)

Color slide of two men sitting at table inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) at a Valentine's day potluck celebration. From left to right: Jack Yasutome and Jack Ouchida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-56/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-395)

Black and white photographic negative of Tom Fujii (left) and Shig Tada (right) sitting on Yoji Kiso at the Oregon Coast at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group). Aki (Shiraishi) Dong is laying in the sand next to Yoji Kiso.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-395/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-396)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei burying Aki (Shiraishi) Dong in the sand at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group). From left to right: Shig Tada, Yoji Kiso, Sumi "Sue" (Kaga) Hasegawa and Tom Fujii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-396/

img Friends (ddr-one-1-590)

Black and white photographic negative of Shig Yuzuriha standing on the far right with two unidentified Nisei standing outside a brick building.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-590/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-12)

Black and white photographic negative of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Anges (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko “Alice” (Matsumoto) Ando, Nami (Miura) Koida, Kimi Wakabayashi, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Masae “Elsie” (Morita) Onishi, and Betty Nakashimada. Middle Row (left to right): Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-12/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Women seated (ddr-one-1-121)

Black and white photographic negative of women sitting around two tables at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The women are chatting with drinks on the table. From left to right women facing the camera: unidentified, Mieko Fujita, Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Takako Inukai, and Sumi "Sue" (Kaga) Hasegawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-121/

img DJ (ddr-one-1-651)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei behind a table acting as DJs. The sign on the table reads "Buzz Record Sh, Request 5 ¢." From left to right: Betty Nakashimada, Rupert Fujii, and Aki (Shiraishi) Dong. Standing front of the table looking at his hands is Henry Matsunaga.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-651/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-380)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Ted Tatsuo Tamaki, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Eddie Tamiyasu, Nobuko (Ochiai) Susaki, and unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-380/

img Picnic Clean Up (ddr-one-1-623)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei girls cleaning up after a picnic. From left to right: Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Mary (Nakata) Fujii, and Betty Nakashimada.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-623/

img Laying at the Oregon Coast (ddr-one-1-55)

Color slide of two women laying on a towel at the Oregon Coast. On the left is May (Ebihara) Gelfand.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-55/

img Picnic (ddr-one-1-697)

Black and white photographic negative of four unidentified Japanese Americans sitting around a picnic table with open bento boxes.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-697/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-366)

Black and white photographic print of Ayame Ogimi playing ukulele for two unidentified friends in her dorm room at Reed College. Negative ONLC 3186 (ddr-one-1-368).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-366/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-368)

Black and white photographic negative of Ayame Ogimi playing ukulele for two unidentified friends in her dorm room at Reed College. Original print ONLC 3184 (ddr-one-1-366)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-368/

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/

img Sitting on a wall (ddr-one-1-583)

Black and white photographic print of four Nisei sitting on a wall next to a parked car, two additional Nisei are standing. From left to right: Shig Oka, Betty Nakashimada, Alice (Matsumoto) Ando, Frank Hirahara, Misty (Kiyomura) Takeoka, and Shig Yuzuriha. For negative, please see ONLC 4864 (ddr-one-1-636).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-583/

img Kenji (ddr-one-1-625)

Black and white photographic negative of a young Nisei man (possibly Kenji Onishi based on notes written on envelope) sitting a table with skis leaning on the wall behind him.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-625/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-388)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei men playing cards laying down on a blanket during a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Shig Oka, unidentified, and Tom Takeoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-388/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-369)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying the community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mieko Fujita, Sam "Pompadour Sam" Sasaki, and Fude (Fujita) Kagawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-369/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-367)

Black and white photographic negative of Ayame Ogimi playing ukulele for two unidentified friends in her dorm room at Reed College. Original print ONLC 3183 (ddr-one-1-365)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-367/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Trophies (ddr-one-1-114)

Black and white photographic negative of Bruce Fukuda holding two trophies at the Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-114/

img Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-60)

Color slide of young women filling plates at a Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, unidentified, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Jean Matsumoto, and Michiko (Masuoka) Nishioka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-60/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-204)

Black and white photographic negative of three young Obon dancers posing for camera in front of large crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Jeanne Tanaka, Toshiko (Maekawa) Okino, and Eileen Tanaka. Crowd: first sitting from the left is Joyce (Tanaka) Fedler, first from the right sitting on bench is Joe Ikata. Obon is an annual …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-204/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-38)

Original black and white photographic print of wedding attendants posed. Left to right Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Yoichi "Jack" Nomi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-38/

img Indoor Carnival Fundraiser- Bingo (ddr-one-1-86)

Black and white photographic negative of an indoor carnival fundraiser possibly hosted by the Sorelles or Adelphons (Japanese American young women's groups). Prizes laid out in foreground surrounded by bingo players. Background has other games with players out front including: Penny Pitch, Balloon Darts, and Nickel Toss. Bingo players from left to right: Mieko Fujita, Shiz …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-86/