[ees-sey] 
| 1. | a Japanese who immigrated to the U.S. or Canada after 1907 and was not eligible until 1952 for citizenship. |
| 2. | any Japanese immigrant to the U.S. |
| is·sei (ēs'sā') n. pl. issei or is·seis A Japanese immigrant, especially one to the United States. [Japanese : ichi, one, first (from Middle Chinese  jit) + sei, generation (from Middle Chinese shiaj).] |
