Nisei

American  

[nee-say, nee-say] / ˈni seɪ, niˈseɪ /

Or nisei

noun

• Nisei
  plural

1. a person of Japanese descent, born and educated in the U.S. or Canada.

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Nisei British  

/ ˈniːseɪ /

noun

1. a native-born citizen of the United States or Canada whose parents were Japanese immigrants

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Nisei Cultural  

1. Persons whose parents were born in Japan but who were themselves born outside Japan. Many Nisei were moved by force in the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Nisei
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of Nisei

1940–45, < Japanese: literally, second generation; earlier ni-seĩ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese èr two, second + shēng birth

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Nisei

Most diners come to Nisei, a restaurant in San Francisco, for chef David Yoshimura’s $274-per-person omakase dinner menu.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

His visit Tuesday came during the community’s annual Nisei Week festival, which celebrates Japanese American culture and history.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Ellie Estrada-Londo, the pastry chef at Nisei, debuted its dessert tasting menu last October, after working at the San Francisco restaurant for about four years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Nisei Veterans Committee, dedicated to preserving and honoring Japanese American legacies, has held a Memorial Day service since 1964.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2023

They were also forced to live with skin-deep guilt brought on by the treatment of their former Nisei schoolmates.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

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