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Welcome to the website "Japanese Canadians Now and Then".
The presence of the Japanese in Canada was marked by the arrival of the
first immigrant in 1877. The largest number came in the early 1900s.
The early pioneers struggled to survive and adapt in this new land, and
fought to have the same rights as other Canadians. It would take five
decades before Japanese Canadians finally received the right to vote.
With the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941, some 22,000 Canadians of
Japanese ancestry were stripped of their freedoms and rights. This
denial of basic rights became the catalyst for the renewal process in
the Japanese Canadian community.
In the 1970s, the National Association of Japanese Canadians launched
a campaign to seek redress for the unjust treatment of Japanese Canadians
during and after World War II. On September 22, 1988, the Association
signed a comprehensive redress agreement with the Government of Canada.
Today, the Japanese Canadian population is composed of individuals born
in Canada, born outside of Canada, and of multiple ethnic backgrounds.
Japanese Canadians make valuable contributions in all facets of life in
Canada and internationally. Their success is the result of the
perseverance, hard work and dedication passed down from the early pioneers.
GLOSSARY
There are terms that occur throughout the website content that require explanation.
Issei - "first generation" or immigrants from Japan before World War II.. .
Nisei - "second generation" or Canadian born children of the issei. .
Sansei - "third generation" or children on the nisei, largely born in 1940s and 50s. .
Yonsei - "fourth generation". .
Shin issei or ijusha - post World War II immigrants to Canada. .
Kika nisei - a Canadian born Japanese who lived in Japan for a certain period of time and eventually returned to Canada. .
Nikkei - a person of Japanese ancestry living outside of Japan. .
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