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)

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Nisei

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2567 items

img Nisei in formal dress (ddr-one-1-562)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei standing outside in formal dress. From left to right: Kay Endo, Akiko “Aki” (Endo) Akagi, Mieko Fujita, and Kazuko "Kazzie" (Endo) Hara.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-562/

img Wading at the Oregon Coast (ddr-one-1-456)

Color slide of five Nisei girls wading into the water at the Oregon Coast while others wonder around the rock edge in the distance, two men can be seen fishing. Woman on far right in the water is May (Ebihara) Gelfand. According to donor processed on September 12, 1952.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-456/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- First Place Men's Team (ddr-one-1-115)

Black and white photographic negative of the first place men's team at the Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. Man holding trophy identified as John Asahara from Tacoma; it is possible that the winning team was from Seattle-Tacoma.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-115/

img Henry at the Beach (ddr-one-1-635)

Black and white photographic negative of Henry Matsunaga standing on the beach in swim trunks smiling for the camera.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-635/

img Frank in bed (ddr-one-1-572)

Black and white photographic negative of Frank Hirahara laying on a bed in pajamas.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-572/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-412)

Black and white photographic negative of Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando speaking to a large seated audience, inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple) at Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-412/

img Sitting on the Beach (ddr-one-1-621)

Black and white photographic negative of five Nisei girls sitting on the beach, one is eating a sandwich while reading a magazine. From left to right: unidentified, Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya, Nami (Miura) Koida, Jayne (Katada) Furukawa, and May (Ebihara) Gelfand.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-621/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-374)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting on a blanket at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, Roy Otsuki, and Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-374/

img Geisha Girl (ddr-one-1-435)

Black and white original photographic print of an unidentified woman dressed in a kimono with hair and makeup done in a traditional geisha style. A large parasol is placed beside her on the stage of the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple.)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-435/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-314)

Black and white photographic negative of Susan Shizuko (Yoshida) Kurimoto posing with a tenugui (light cotton towel). Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-314/

img Sitting on the Beach (ddr-one-1-614)

Black and white photographic negative of Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya sitting on the beach looking to the right wrapped in a striped towel.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-614/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-354)

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 most likely taken at Reed College where Carlos was a student.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-354/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Couples seated (ddr-one-1-126)

Black and white photographic negative of couples sitting in booth around two tables at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. Both couples are posing for the camera. Left to right: Barbara Sono Uyesugi, Koji Sono, Molly (Yamase) Sono and Tom Sono.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-126/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-397)

Black and white photographic print of Sumi "Sue" (Kaga) Hasegawa playing the ukulele for Aki (Shiraishi) Dong as she is buried in the sand at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group). Three Nisei men sit around Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, from front to back: Yoji Kiso, Shig Tada, and Tom Fujii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-397/

img YBA Tacoma Baseball Team (ddr-one-1-28)

Black and white photographic negative of a Japanese American baseball team in uniforms that read "YBA". The team has been identified as from Tacoma, Washington. First from the right in the front row: Ted Taniguchi, First from the right in the back row: Stogie Kawabata.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-28/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-376)

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, and Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-376/

img Cook-out (ddr-one-1-699)

Black and white photographic negative of three unidentified Japanese Americans standing around a griddle cook top sitting over a small opening on a stone wall with firewood sitting out. For print please see ONLC 4909 (ddr-one-1-680)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-699/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-337)

Black and white photographic negative of about ten Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon. The Nisei are gathered around a table looking at a leaflet together. Standing on the far right side of the table holding a leaflet up is Miriam (Koyama) Kiso. Back row from left to right: Toyse "Toy" Miura and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-337/

img Nisei (ddr-one-1-299)

Black and white photographic negative of nine Nisei smiling for the camera indoors. Women from left to right: all unidentified except fifth from the left, Irene (Fujii) Mano. Men back row left to right: unidentified, Yoichi “Cannon” Kitayama, and Shorty Kaga. Man in front: Ned Maeda.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-299/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-13)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Jean Matsumoto, Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen “Kathie” Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, Frances (Kinoshita) Mayeda, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, and Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka. Third Row: Nami (Miura) Koida, Miriam …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-13/

img Sitting on the Beach (ddr-one-1-618)

Black and white photographic negative of five Nisei girls sitting on the beach, two drinking bottles of soda. From left to right: Betty Nakashimada, unidentified, Martha Fujii, Jean (Kida) Tomita, and unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-618/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-9)

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-1-9/

img Lotus Bazaar (ddr-one-1-597)

Black and white photographic negative of six unidentified Japanese Americans standing around a game booth at the Annual Lotus Bazaar. Behind is a sign for a Penny Pitch.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-597/

img Indoor Carnival Fundraiser- Bingo (ddr-one-1-88)

Black and white photographic negative of an indoor carnival fundraiser possibly hosted by the Sorelles or Adelphons (Japanese American young women's groups). People sitting and playing bingo, watchers stand behind. Sitting left to right: Joe Namba, Nobi Saito, Henry "Wimpy" Kawata, George Kasahara, Terry Mishiro, Diane (Ando) Harder, and Minoru "Bob" Ando. Standing in front of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-88/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/