Issei

American  

[ees-sey] / ˈisˈseɪ /

Or issei

noun

Issei, plural issei plural

1. a Japanese person who immigrated to the U.S. or Canada after 1907 and was not eligible until 1952 for citizenship.

2. any Japanese immigrant to the U.S.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• issei
  plural
• Issei
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Issei

1935–40; < Japanese, equivalent to is first + sei generation (earlier it-sei, it-seĩ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese yì one + shēng birth)

Example Sentences

Some of the Issei, first generation Japanese immigrants, and Nisei kept their experience in the camps a secret as they didn't want to pass on painful memories to the next generations.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2022

But with alien land laws spreading, Issei leaders agreed to take Ozawa’s case to the top.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 18, 2021

In the early 1950s, Harry, with other Issei, founded Rose’s Frozen Shrimp Co. in downtown Los Angeles — selling wholesale frozen fish sticks and Mexican shrimp.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2019

That moment comes late in the film, after the padre and several of his flock have been taken prisoner by Inoue, whose cartoonish portrayal of coldbloodedness, by Issei Ogata, borders on caricature.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2017

They were important for all of us, but especially for the Issei.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston