Japanese Nisei in Ww2
Raphael Sousa
ASAM 20
11-14-2011
Research Paper: Nisei in WW2 “Nisei: (n) a son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who is born and educated in America and especially in the United States” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). As the United States was receiving their constant droves of immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, there was one group of Asian-American immigrants (or not immigrants for that matter) that would stand out, the Japanese Nisei. The term Nisei comes from the literal definition in Japanese meaning “second generation” from ‘ni’ (second) and ‘sei’ (generation) which was first coined in 1929 (MW Dictionary). There are many different kind of Nisei, such as American Nisei, Canadian Nisei, Peruvian Nisei, & Brazilian Nisei, but the main grunt of Japanese American Nisei that were involved in World War Two are that of the United States. The Nisei however have had a long and hard struggle in the United States as Japanese Americans. “Although many of the Nisei were born during the Baby Boom after the end of the World War Two, most were forcibly moved into internment camps forcibly with their parents after Executive Order 9066 was passed”. (Living History).” “ Executive Order 9066 was as follows: ‘Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, dated February 19, 1942, gave the military broad powers to ban any citizen from a fifty- to sixty-mile-wide coastal area stretching from Washington state to California and extending inland into southern Arizona. The order also authorized transporting these citizens to assembly centers hastily set up and governed by the military in California, Arizona, Washington state, and Oregon.’ (Historymaters.edu)” The interment of the Nisei was one that they were largely torn apart about, caught inbetween the non rebellious nature of their older parents & relatives, and the more American approach of resistance and revolution. All this however would change when World War Two would roll around when many Nisei would
ASAM 20
11-14-2011
Research Paper: Nisei in WW2 “Nisei: (n) a son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who is born and educated in America and especially in the United States” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). As the United States was receiving their constant droves of immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, there was one group of Asian-American immigrants (or not immigrants for that matter) that would stand out, the Japanese Nisei. The term Nisei comes from the literal definition in Japanese meaning “second generation” from ‘ni’ (second) and ‘sei’ (generation) which was first coined in 1929 (MW Dictionary). There are many different kind of Nisei, such as American Nisei, Canadian Nisei, Peruvian Nisei, & Brazilian Nisei, but the main grunt of Japanese American Nisei that were involved in World War Two are that of the United States. The Nisei however have had a long and hard struggle in the United States as Japanese Americans. “Although many of the Nisei were born during the Baby Boom after the end of the World War Two, most were forcibly moved into internment camps forcibly with their parents after Executive Order 9066 was passed”. (Living History).” “ Executive Order 9066 was as follows: ‘Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, dated February 19, 1942, gave the military broad powers to ban any citizen from a fifty- to sixty-mile-wide coastal area stretching from Washington state to California and extending inland into southern Arizona. The order also authorized transporting these citizens to assembly centers hastily set up and governed by the military in California, Arizona, Washington state, and Oregon.’ (Historymaters.edu)” The interment of the Nisei was one that they were largely torn apart about, caught inbetween the non rebellious nature of their older parents & relatives, and the more American approach of resistance and revolution. All this however would change when World War Two would roll around when many Nisei would
Citations: as well as twenty one Medals of Honor (the highest military honor). After the war had ended, the amazing combat record and stories of how the Japanese American regiment had fought helped change the mind of the anti-Japanese government way of thinking. Which lead to the eventual release of the 120,000 Japanese in the internment camps. The anti-Japanese feeling in the general American population, but would eventually fade away after the 1960s. Recently, on November 2nd, 2011 the surviving Nisei world war 2 veterans were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. There were 8 total survivors aged 80-91. “They were, and are, Nisei, second-generation Japanese-Americans who in World War II fought tenaciously for the very country that had interned them and their family members.” (Kansas City Star). They fought for their country, and even to this they day are being recognized for their amazing service record, and the work that they had done to make this country what it is today. It is the highest civilian honor that can be given to any person by the United States Government. President Harry Truman was quoted by President Obama “You fought not only your enemy; you fought prejudice, and you won.”