JapaneseAmerican

Japanese American refers to United States residents or citizens of Japanese descent, including both immigrants from Japan and their descendants. The term encompasses generations such as Issei (first generation), Nisei (their U.S.-born children), and later generations like Sansei and Yonsei. Japanese Americans have formed communities across the United States, with especially large populations in California and Hawaii.

Historical background includes early migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Hawaii, Japanese laborers helped build the sugar and pineapple industries, while on the continental United States many settled in California and other West Coast states to work in agriculture, fisheries, and, later, other trades. Immigration restrictions and periods of discrimination shaped the community, with social and legal barriers limiting opportunities and naturalization for many decades.

World War II profoundly affected Japanese Americans. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry—most of them U.S. citizens—were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in internal camps under Executive Order 9066. The experience caused widespread losses of property and disruption to communities, and it remains a central topic in civil rights discussions in the United States. In 1988, the Civil Liberties Act formally apologized and provided reparations to surviving internees and their families.

In the postwar era, Japanese Americans rebuilt communities, contributed to U.S. culture and economy, and played roles in business, academia, politics, and the arts. The term continues to describe a diverse population with roots in both Japan and the United States, including a rich tradition of language heritage, religion, cuisine, and cultural exchange. Contemporary estimates place the Japanese American population in the vicinity of one to two million people identifying with Japanese ancestry, with the largest concentrations in California and Hawaii.