2016 / Nisei Week: Opening ceremony is a result of one year efforts by Japanese American communities, July 17
2016 Nisei Week Queen candidates are introduced at the 2016 Opening Ceremony (Cultural News Photo)
In 2016, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival is observing its 76th anniversary. The festivities will take place from Aug. 13 -21 at Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles.
Every year, the Nisei Week is completely planned, organized and run by hundreds of volunteers at large in the Japanese American Community of Los Angeles and Orange counties.
With the leadership of Nisei Week Foundation 2015-2016 president David Teragawa, the 2016 Nisei Week Opening Ceremony, a result of one year efforts by numerous Japanese American groups, was held on Sunday, July 17 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.
The Opening ceremony highlighted 2016 Ondo (Japanese dance) demonstration, introductions of Nisei Week Grand Marshal, Parade Marshal, Pioneers, Awardees, and seven candidates for the Nisei Week Queen program.
The Nisei Week 2016 Queen candidate’s names and sponsoring organizations to each candidate are following:
Candidate One, Julia Kiyomi Tani, Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute
Candidate Two, Kaya Minezaki, Japanese Restaurant Association of America
Candidate Three, Heather Yoneko Iwata, East San Gabriel Japanese Community Center
Candidate Four, Shannon Aiko Rose Tsumaki, West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League / Venice Japanese Community Center
Candidate Five, Megan Tomiko Ono, Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council
Candidate Six, April Leilani Nishinaka, Gardena Evening Optimist Club
Candidate Seven, Jaclyn Hidemi Tomita, San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
For more information about the Nisei Week 2016, visit www.niseiweek.org
