Dual Identities: Japanese Immigrant Community, Identity, and Music

Abstract

This chapter covers the emergence of first-generation Issei identities that was marked by a complex interplay of factors, including a strong desire to maintain Japanese national and cultural identity alongside a push for Americanization. Issei identities were shaped by oppressive sociopolitical circumstances and remained rooted in Japanese cultural practices, particularly in music. The chapter navigates between the influences of Japan and America, wherein Issei leaders sought to reconcile their dual identities within the context of geopolitical tensions and racist ideologies in the United States. It details how music played a central role in Issei life, serving as both a source of cultural pride and a means of coping with discrimination. Issei sought to establish a place within American society while preserving their Japanese heritage, using music as a means of asserting their identity and contributing to the cultural landscape of their adopted nation.