Issei

References

Issei

people

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "Issei" refers to a Japanese immigrant, particularly one who settled in the United States. The word literally translates to "first generation" in Japanese.1

During World War II, individuals of Japanese ancestry living on the U.S. West Coast, including Issei and their American-born children (Nisei), were forcibly relocated to inland detention centers. This action was a result of public hysteria following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government established the War Relocation Authority to administer this mass evacuation. Despite these hardships, many Nisei served bravely in the U.S. armed forces. In 1988, the U.S. government formally apologized for the internment and provided monetary compensation to survivors.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

issei
Nisei

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Executive Order 9066
-born sons and daughters of Japanese immigrants) of southern California’s Terminal Island had been ordered to vacate their homes, leaving behind all but what they could carry. On March 2, 1942, Gen. John DeWitt, the army’s administrator for the western United States, issued Proclamation No. 1, which established Military Area…
Read More
-born sons and daughters of Japanese immigrants) of southern California’s Terminal Island had been ordered to vacate their homes, leaving behind all but what they could carry. On March 2, 1942, Gen. John DeWitt, the army’s administrator for the western United States, issued Proclamation No. 1, which established Military Area…
Read More

Japanese American internment
…first-generation Japanese Americans, known as Issei, who had emigrated from Japan and were not eligible for U.S. citizenship. About 80,000 of them were second-generation individuals born in the United States (Nisei), who were U.S. citizens. Whereas many Issei retained their Japanese character and culture, Nisei generally acted and thought of…
Read More
…first-generation Japanese Americans, known as Issei, who had emigrated from Japan and were not eligible for U.S. citizenship. About 80,000 of them were second-generation individuals born in the United States (Nisei), who were U.S. citizens. Whereas many Issei retained their Japanese character and culture, Nisei generally acted and thought of…
Read More

Japanese American internment in pictures
The aliens, Issei, are an older group who came to the United States as labourers and farm workers. Their average age is around 60. The citizens, Nisei, are largely a young group, most of them educated or being educated in American schools. Their average age is around…
Read More
The aliens, Issei, are an older group who came to the United States as labourers and farm workers. Their average age is around 60. The citizens, Nisei, are largely a young group, most of them educated or being educated in American schools. Their average age is around…
Read More

Nisei
…“second-generation”), son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who was born and educated in the United States. During World War II all persons of Japanese ancestry on the U.S. West Coast were forcibly evacuated from their homes and relocated in inland detention centres as a result of mass hysteria following the…
Read More
…“second-generation”), son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who was born and educated in the United States. During World War II all persons of Japanese ancestry on the U.S. West Coast were forcibly evacuated from their homes and relocated in inland detention centres as a result of mass hysteria following the…
Read More

California
Population composition
…most of the others were Issei, older adults who had immigrated before Congress halted their influx in 1924. Never eligible for naturalization, the Issei were classed as enemy aliens during World War II. In early 1942 almost all of California’s Japanese Americans, both Nisei and Issei, were moved to isolated…
Read More
…most of the others were Issei, older adults who had immigrated before Congress halted their influx in 1924. Never eligible for naturalization, the Issei were classed as enemy aliens during World War II. In early 1942 almost all of California’s Japanese Americans, both Nisei and Issei, were moved to isolated…
Read More