Sansei (三世, "third generation") is a Japanese and North American English term[1] used in parts of the world (mainly in South America and North America) to refer to the children of children born to ethnically Japanese emigrants (Issei) in a new country of residence, outside of Japan. The nisei are considered the second generation, while grandchildren of the Japanese-born emigrants are called Sansei. The fourth generation is referred to as yonsei.[2] The children of at least one nisei parent are called Sansei; they are usually the first generation, of whom a high percentage are mixed-race, given that their parents were (usually), themselves, born and raised in America.[3]

The character and uniqueness of the sansei is recognized in its social history.[4]

In various countries

The grandchildren of these Japanese-Brazilian (Nipo-brasileiros) immigrants are called Sansei.

Although the earliest organized group of Japanese emigrants settled in Mexico in 1897,[5] the four largest populations of Japanese and their descendants are in Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Perú.

Brazilian Sansei

Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, with an estimate of more than 1.5 million people (including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity),[6] more than that of the 1.2 million in the United States.[7] The Sansei Japanese of Brazil are an important ethnic minority in the South American nation.[8]

American Sansei

Most American Sansei were born during the Baby Boom after the end of World War II; older Sansei, who were living in the western United States during the war, were forcibly incarcerated with their parents (Nisei) and grandparents (Issei) after Executive Order 9066 was promulgated to exclude everyone of Japanese descent from the West Coast and from Southern Arizona. The Sansei were forceful activists in the redress movement of the 1980s, which resulted in an official apology to the internees.[9] In some senses, the Sansei seem to feel they are caught in a dilemma between their "quiet" Nisei parents and their other identity model of "verbal" and outspoken Americans.[10]

In the United States, an iconic Sansei is General Eric Shinseki (born November 28, 1942, 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1999–2003) and former United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is the first Asian American in US history to be a four-star general, and the first to lead one of the four US military services.[11]

Canadian Sansei

Within Japanese-Canadian communities across Canada, three distinct subgroups developed, each with different sociocultural referents, generational identities, and wartime experiences.[12]

Peruvian Sansei

Among the approximately 80,000 Peruvians of Japanese descent, the Sansei Japanese Peruvians comprise the largest number. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who was in office from 28 July 1990 until 22 November 2000, was the nisei son of Issei emigrants from Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

Cultural profile

Generations

Japanese-Americans and Japanese-Canadians have special names for each of their generations in North America. These are formed by combining one of the Japanese numbers corresponding to the generation with the Japanese word for generation (sei 世). The Japanese-American and Japanese-Canadian communities have themselves distinguished their members with terms like Issei, Nisei and Sansei which describe the first, second and third generation of immigrants. The fourth generation is called Yonsei (四世) and the fifth is called Gosei (五世). The Issei, Nisei and Sansei generations reflect distinctly different attitudes to authority, gender, non-Japanese involvement, religious belief and practice and other matters.[13] The age when individuals faced the wartime evacuation and internment is the single, most significant factor which explains these variations in their experiences, attitudes and behaviour patterns.[12]

The term Nikkei (日系) encompasses all of the world's Japanese immigrants across generations.[14] The collective memory of the Issei and older Nisei was an image of Meiji Japan from 1870 through 1911, which contrasted sharply with the Japan that newer immigrants had more recently left. These differing attitudes, social values and associations with Japan were often incompatible with each other.[15] In this context, the significant differences in post-war experiences and opportunities did nothing to mitigate the gaps which separated generational perspectives.

GenerationCohort description
Issei (一世)The generation of people born in Japan who later immigrated to another country.
Nisei (二世)The generation of people born outside Japan to at least one Issei parent.
Sansei (三世)The generation of people born to at least one Nisei parent.
Yonsei (四世)The generation of people born to at least one Sansei parent.
Gosei (五世)The generation of people born to at least one Yonsei parent.[16]

In North America since the redress victory in 1988, a significant evolutionary change has occurred. The Sansei, their parents, their grandparents, and their children are changing the way they look at themselves and their pattern of accommodation to the non-Japanese majority.[17]

There are currently just over one hundred thousand British Japanese, mostly in London; but unlike other Nikkei communities elsewhere in the world, these Britons do not conventionally parse their communities in generational terms as Issei, Nisei or Sansei.[18][19]

Sansei

The third generation of immigrants, born in the United States or Canada to parents born in the United States or Canada, is called Sansei (三世). Children born to the Nisei were generally born after 1945. They speak English as their first language and are completely acculturized in the contexts of Canadian or American society. They tend to identify with Canadian or American values, norms and expectations. Few speak Japanese and most tend to express their identity as Canadian or American rather than Japanese. Among the Sansei there is an overwhelming percentage of marriages to persons of non-Japanese ancestry.[15]

Aging

The kanreki (還暦), a traditional, pre-modern Japanese rite of passage to old age at 60, was sometimes celebrated by the Issei and is now being celebrated by increasing numbers of Nisei and a few Sansei. Rituals are enactments of shared meanings, norms, and values and this Japanese rite of passage highlights a collective response among the Nisei to the conventional dilemmas of growing older.[20]

History

Internment and redress

Some responded to internment with lawsuits and political action; and for others, poetry became an unplanned consequence:

With new hope.
We build new lives.
Why complain when it rains?
This is what it means to be free.
Lawson Fusao Inada, Japanese American Historical Plaza, Portland, Oregon.[21]

Life under United States policies before and after World War II

Politics

The sansei became known as the "activist generation"[22] because of their large hand in the redress movement and individuals that have become a part of the American mainstream political landscape.

Notable individuals

The numbers of sansei who have earned some degree of public recognition has continued to increase over time; but the quiet lives of those whose names are known only to family and friends are no less important in understanding the broader narrative of the Nikkei. Although the names highlighted here are over-represented by sansei from North America, the Latin American member countries of the Pan American Nikkei Association (PANA) include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, in addition to the English-speaking United States and Canada.[23]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Definition of SANSEI". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. ↑ In Japanese counting, "one, two, three, four" is "ichi, ni, san, yon"—see Japanese numerals
  3. ↑ Nomura, Gail M. (1998). "Japanese American Women," in The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.), pp. 288-290., p. 288, at Google Books
  4. ↑ Numrich, Paul David. (2008). North American Buddhists in Social Context, p. 110.
  5. ↑ Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan-Mexico Relations; retrieved 2011-05-17
  6. ↑ MOFA, "Japan-Brazil Relations"; retrieved 2011-05-17
  7. ↑ US Census, "Selected Population Profile in the United States; Japanese alone or in any combination," 2005 Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today; retrieved 2011-05-17
  8. ↑ Simons, Marlise. "Japanese Gone Brazilian: Unhurried Workaholics," New York Times. May 8, 1988; retrieved 2011-05-17
  9. ↑ Sowell, Thomas. (1981). Ethnic America: A History, p. 176.
  10. ↑ Miyoshi, Nobu. (1978). "Identity Crisis of the Sansei and the Concentration Camp," Sansei Legacy Project (NIMH Grant No. 1 R13 MH25655-01); retrieved 2011-05-17
  11. ↑ Zweigenhaft, Richard L. et al. (2006). Diversity in the Power Elite: How it Happened, why it Matters, pp. 191-192, p. 191, at Google Books; US Army, Center of Military History, Eric Ken Shinksei; retrieved 2011-05-17
  12. 1 2 McLellan, Janet. (1999). Many Petals of the Lotus: Five Asian Buddhist Communities in Toronto, p. 36, p. 36, at Google Books; Ikawa, Fumiko. "Reviews: Umi o Watatta Nippon no Mura by Masao Gamo and "Steveston Monogatari: Sekai no Naka no Nipponjin" by Kazuko Tsurumi, American Anthropologist (US). New Series, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Feb., 1963), pp. 152-156; retrieved 2011-05-17
  13. ↑ McLellan, p. 59., p. 59, at Google Books
  14. ↑ Japanese American National Museum, "What is Nikkei?" retrieved 2011-05-17
  15. 1 2 McLellan, p. 37., p. 37, at Google Books
  16. ↑ Ikezoe-Halevi, Jean. "Voices of Chicago: Day of Remembrance 2006," Discover Nikkei (US). October 31, 2006.
  17. ↑ McLellan, p. 68., p. 68, at Google Books
  18. ↑ Itoh, Keiko. (2001). The Japanese Community in Pre-War Britain: From Integration to Disintegration, p. 7., p. 7, at Google Books
  19. ↑ See also “Japan is Not Invited to Lord Mountbatten’s Funeral,” New York Times (September 5, 1979).
  20. ↑ Doi, Mary L. "A Transformation of Ritual: The Nisei 60th Birthday." Journal Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology. Vol. 6, No. 2 (April, 1991); retrieved 2011-05-17
  21. ↑ PBS: "Oregon Laureate Reflects on Japanese Internment," NewsHour. October 3, 2008; retrieved 2011-05-17
  22. ↑ US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi website: "Japantown Represents More than 100 Years of a Unique Immigrant Experience," inserted into the Congressional Record to commemorate the 100th anniversary of San Francisco's Japantown. September 19, 2006; excerpt, "... the emergence of the activist third generation — the Sansei — who are now "baby boomers" and the parents and grandparents of the fourth and fifth generations — the Yonsei and Gosei"; retrieved 2011-05-17
  23. ↑ National Association of Japanese Canadians: Pan American Nikkei Association Archived 2009-02-18 at the Wayback Machine (PANA); retrieved 2011-05-17
  24. ↑ Discover Nikkei: Francis Fukuyama bio; retrieved 2011-05-17
  25. ↑ Zweigenhaft, p. 182., p. 182, at Google Books
  26. ↑ DiscoverNikkei: Mike Honda bio Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2011-05-17
  27. ↑ DiscoverNikkei: Robert Matsui bio; retrieved 2011-05-17
  28. ↑ Minami, Dale. (2005). University of Washington Law School, Commencement Address; retrieved 2011-05-17
  29. ↑ DiscoverNikkei: Mink bio; Nomura, pp. 288-290., p. 288, at Google Books; retrieved 2011-05-17
  30. ↑ Zia, Helen et al. (1995). "Kent Nagano" in Notable Asian Americans, p. 273.
  31. ↑ Kim, Esther. (2006). A History of Asian American Theatre, p. 162., p. 162, at Google Books
  32. ↑ Willingham, Mandy. "A-bomb Legacy Fading: Steven Okazaki films hibakusha stories for future generations," Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus (US). April 16, 2006, citing Japan Times, April 15, 2006; Kamiya, Gary. "With a Japanese Heart," Mother Jones Magazine (US). Sept-Oct 1990, p. 62; retrieved 2011-05-17
  33. ↑ Murase, Kenji. "Ellison Onizuka: the First Nikkei Astronaut," Nikkei Heritage (US). Vol. XI, No. 4, Fall 1999; retrieved 2011-05-17
  34. ↑ Franke-Ruta, Garance. "Rouse hailed as first Asian American chief of staff," Archived 2010-10-03 at the Wayback Machine Washington Post (US). OCtober 1, 2010; retrieved 2011-05-17
  35. ↑ Nakagawa, Kerry Yo. "Through a Diamond: 100 years of Japanese American Baseball, p. 123.
  36. ↑ Jensen, Todd Aaron (2010). On Gratitude: Sheryl Crow, Jeff Bridges, Alicia Keys, Daryl Hall, Ray Bradbury, Anna Kendrick, B.B. King, Elmore Leonard, Deepak Chopra, and 42 More Celebrities Share What They're Most Thankful For. F+W Media, Inc. p. 224. ISBN 9781440508929. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  37. ↑ Marcello (February 1, 2012). "Creative Spotlight: Episode #93 – Mike Shinoda Interview". japancinema.net. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  38. ↑ Obata, Hiroshi. 両祖父母は広島出身 ("Shinseki: both grandparents are from Hiroshima"). Hiroshima Peace Media (Japan). January 30, 2009; retrieved 2011-05-17
  39. ↑ "In Depth with Ronald Takaki". C-SPAN. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  40. ↑ Goad, Ben. "Congress District 41: Takano beats Tavaglione in nationally watched race," Press-Enterprise(Riverside, California). November 6, 2012; retrieved 2012-12-2.
  41. ↑ Seigel, Shizue. "Dan Tani: NASA’s Newest Japanese American Astronaut," Nikkei Heritage (US). Vol. XI, No. 4, Fall 1999; retrieved 2011-05-17

References

  • Harth, Erica. (2003). Last Witnesses: Reflections on the Wartime Internment of Japanese Americans. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 9780312221997; OCLC 46364694
  • Hosokowa, Fumiko. (1978). The Sansei: Social Interaction and Ethnic Identification Among the Third Generation Japanese. San Francisco: R & E Research Associates. ISBN 9780882474908; OCLC 4057372
  • Itoh, Keiko. (2001). The Japanese Community in Pre-War Britain: From Integration to Disintegration. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 9780700714872; OCLC 48937604
  • Leslie, Gerald R. and Sheila K. Korman. (1967). The Family in Social Context. New York: Oxford University Press. OCLC 530549
  • Makabe, Tomoko. (1998). The Canadian Sansei. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802041791; ISBN 9780802080387; OCLC 39523777
  • McLellan, Janet. (1999). Many Petals of the Lotus: Five Asian Buddhist Communities in Toronto. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802044211; ISBN 9780802082251; OCLC 43521129
  • Nomura, Gail M. (1998). "Japanese American Women," in The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618001828; OCLC 43338598
  • Sowell, Thomas. (1981). Ethnic America: A History. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 9780465020744; OCLC 7306301
  • Takahashi, Jere. (1997). Nisei Sansei: Shifting Japanese American Identities and Politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 9781566395502; OCLC 37180842
  • Tamura, Eileen and Roger Daniels. (1994). Americanization, Acculturation, and Ethnic Identity: The Nisei Generation in Hawaii. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252020315; ISBN 9780252063589; OCLC 27383373
  • Zweigenhaft, Richard L. and G. William Domhoff. (2006). Diversity in the Power Elite: How it Happened, Why it Matters. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780742536982; ISBN 9780742536999; OCLC 62281556

Further reading

  • Gehrie, Mark Joshua. (1973). Sansei: An Ethnography of Experience (Ph.D. thesis, Anthropology). Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University. OCLC 71849646
  • Kaihara, Rodney and Patricia Morgan. (1973). Sansei Experience. San Fullerton, Calif. : Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton. OCLC 23352676
  • Oana, Leilani Kyoko. (1984). Ethnocultural Identification in Sansei (Third Generation Japanese American) Females: An Evaluation of Alternative Measures (M.A. thesis). Washington, D.C.: George Washington University. OCLC 12726534
  • Okamura, Randall F. (1978). The Contemporary Sansei (M.A. thesis, Community Development and Public Service). San Francisco: Lone Mountain College. OCLC 13182634
  • Tanaka, Shaun Naomi. (2003). Ethnic Identity in the Absence of Propinquity Sansei and the Transformation of the Japanese-Canadian Community (M.A. thesis). Kingston, Ontario: Queen's University Press. OCLC 60673221


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