The Nisei

A parade float decorated by Japanese Canadians from Raymond to celebrate July 1st, 1931.

Galt Museum & Archives, 19790275021.

The Nisei were Canadian-born and Canadian-educated. They were taught by their elders to obey the laws and be good Canadian citizens. To be accepted in Canadian society, they had to assimilate into the Anglo-Canadian culture. The Nisei learned their lessons well. By 1941, their main criticism of the Issei was that theIssei were “too Japanese”.

Despite their desire to fully assimilate, the Nisei found they could never be full-fledged members of Canadian or Japanese society. In their drive for middle class status, Nisei have never risen to heights of political power but have been elected to councils in villages and small cities mainly in southern Alberta and the interior of British Columbia.