The nikkeijin population has been changing, and with it the use of the word. The term was first used in Japan after WWII to describe people of Japanese descent living outside of Japan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan describes nikkeijin as: “those who do not have Japanese citizenship,” while the Estimated Population of Nikkeiji Living Overseas report issued by the Ministry in 2023 defines the term as: “those who have Japanese ancestry and permanent residence overseas, with or without Japanese citizenship.” How nikkeijin identify themselves, however, varies with the individual. Some Japanese Americans embrace their heritage, while others come from families who have lived for generations as Americans — many of whom had ancestors who chose to assimilate as a form of survival during World War II. Many of these individuals are left with few ties to the culture of their ancestors living generations ago in Japan. Many Japanese citizens who are living outside of Japan also do not identify themselves as nikkeijin, and more and more individuals with Japanese ancestry in younger generations identify themselves as multi-racial, where applicable. The government definition of nikkeijin and the personal concepts of identity for those to which it applies do not necessarily always match.

“Nikkeijin” in kanji (日系人) and the term “nikkei” written in romaji are often viewed as interchangeable, but the definitions here, too, are slightly different from each other. The definition of “nikkei” provided by the Pan-American Nikkei Convention held in 2001 is: “anyone who has one or more ancestors from Japan, and/or anyone who self-identifies as a Nikkei.” This definition is inclusive and more open to self-identification, allowing even for those with strong affiliations to Japan but not necessarily lineal descent to use the term.

Because the term nikkeijin is no longer widely known, and sometimes does not match modern concepts of identity, it is becoming less and less commonly used.

Sources
Shigeru Kojima “Nikkeijin no Hensen to Nikkei no Imi – Nikkei Community to Nikkei Shakai no Chigai” Kikan Minzokugaku, Volume 187, pp. 8-11, The Senri Foundation (2024)

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