Kibei

Kibei is the term for the generation of Nisei born in the U.S. but sent to Japan for education. When in Japan, the Kibei lived with grandparents or other relatives while their parents remained in the U.S. to work. Kibei often struggled to fit in both in Japan, where they were viewed as outsiders, and the U.S., where they were considered "too Japanese" by their Nisei peers. Because of their knowledge of both cultures and languages, the Kibei in particular were targeted by the government as "disloyal" during World War II. Ironically, the Kibei were heavily recruited for the Military Intelligence Service because of their linguistic abilities.

Identity and values (334)
Kibei (538)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Harry Ueno

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538 items
Military exercise (ddr-densho-359-59)
img Military exercise (ddr-densho-359-59)
A group of students take part in a military exercise. Masaru Okano lived in Japan from 1923-1933.
Student playing game (ddr-densho-359-90)
img Student playing game (ddr-densho-359-90)
Students being theatrical for the camera. They pose with signs and with drawings on their chest as if they are in the middle of a card game. Masaru Philip Okano in on the far left.
Street in Hiroshima, Japan (ddr-ajah-6-812)
img Street in Hiroshima, Japan (ddr-ajah-6-812)
Caption below photo: Born in Alameda, CA, Hatsuyo Ozeki was sent back to Hiroshima, Japan in 1912 when she was about 5-years-old. There she lived with her grandmother and received a Japanese education. She returned to Alameda 12 years later in June 1924. This photo is almost certainly from time there and was taken in or …
Group sitting at a table at San Francisco YMCA (ddr-ajah-6-939)
img Group sitting at a table at San Francisco YMCA (ddr-ajah-6-939)
Caption below photo: San Francisco YMCA, where Susumu Tomine (far left) went for English lessons, circa 1939-1940. He was a kibei, born in America but educated in Japan. Her returned when he was 18 years old to live in Alameda, CA.
Group photo outside building (ddr-ajah-6-816)
img Group photo outside building (ddr-ajah-6-816)
Caption below photo: Alameda Born, but Raised in Japan. Includes biographical information about Hatsuyo Ozeki's years in Japan from 1912-1924
Portrait of seven girls in kimono (ddr-ajah-6-822)
img Portrait of seven girls in kimono (ddr-ajah-6-822)
Caption below photo: Alameda Born, but Raised in Japan. Includes biographical information about Hatsuyo Ozeki's years in Japan from 1912-1924
Group of student in costume for performance (ddr-ajah-6-824)
img Group of student in costume for performance (ddr-ajah-6-824)
Caption below photo includes information about Hatsuyo Ozeki's time in Japan
Ed Tsutakawa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-196-10)
vh Ed Tsutakawa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-196-10)
Thoughts on the Kibei

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Hiroko Nakashima Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-69-11)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-69-11)
Working with other students in a factory in Japan to help the war effort
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-69-6)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-69-6)
Living in Japan: being told about the move, packing belongings
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-69-17)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-69-17)
Treatment in Japan as an American; reactions to Japan's surrender" "[O]ur heart was still in America"
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-69-14)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-69-14)
Returning to America following the war, meeting other Kibei on the ship
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-69-16)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-69-16)
Hardships during the war, food shortages and ground-up grasshoppers
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-69-25)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-69-25)
Always planning on returning to the U.S., having to wait out the war
Hiroko Nakashima Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-69-12)
vh Hiroko Nakashima Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-69-12)
Graduating from high school, working as an interpreter at the Yanai Railroad Transportation Office during the U.S. occupation
Asano Terao Interview II Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-109-17)
vh Asano Terao Interview II Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-109-17)
Clashing opinions; disagreeing with the Kibeis' belief that Japan would win the war (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese and was translated so as to convey Mrs. Terao's way of speaking as closely as possible. For example, there are instances in which she makes some grammatical errors. These mistakes are conveyed through similar grammatical …

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