Proposing a new Nikkei definition

As our name says, we are an organization that aims to create a global network of young Nikkeis. But who are the Nikkeis we are talking about?

The most common definition of a Nikkei is someone whose ancestor was a Japanese that immigrated to another country before/after the 2nd world war.

But we feel that this definition isn`t broad enough, for as it doesn`t include a lot of persons such as the children of Japanese + other nationalities espouses. They are called ha-fu in Japan, Hapa/Japanese-American in the U.S. and Mestiços in Brazil.

All these terms are related to blood ties, so then we have quarters when another generation comes in. But then how about the fourth-generation (1/8ers?) or the fifith-generation (1/16ers?)?? In countries where the immigration started earlier we already have the 6th generation of Nikkei! After many generations have passed, blood ties start lose meaning.

Also there are about 2 million non-Japanese living in Japan, their children may or may not have blood ties, but they can be much more familiar with the Japanese culture than many Nikkeis who were raised only overseas.

There`s also an increasing number of non-Japanese who are interested in the Japanese culture, having studied and mastered the culture in a way that it`s now part of their identity.

So this is clearly a definition that is already dated and we want to propose a new one, one that will last regardless of time or generations.

The Nikkei are those who are multi-cultured, having the Japanese culture as part of their identity.

We feel that this is a much more open definition and that this can be the first step to write a new chapter in the Nikkei history.