Seven candidates for the 2025 Nisei Week Queen are introduced at Japanese American National Museum on July 13, 2025 (Cultural News Photo)
Los Angeles - The Nisei Week Foundation presents Nisei Week Queen Coronation and Awards Celebration on Saturday, August 9, 6:30 p.m. at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles. The seven candidates representing Japanese American organizations in the Greater Los Angeles will vie for the title of Nisei Week Queen.
Upon official coronation, the 2025 queen and court will represent the Nisei Week Foundation at this year’s 83rd Nisei Week Japanese Festival and other community events locally and nationally throughout the year. The 2025 Nisei Week queen candidates are:
Samantha Kimiyo Cirelli (Venice Japanese Community Center & Venice-West Los Angeles JACL)
Samantha Kimiyo Cirelli is 25 years old and received her bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing from Loyola Marymount University. Currently, she works as an associate producer at Collectively, Inc., an influencer marketing agency, where she contributes to program execution for various campaigns. Samantha plans to continue growing in the creative marketing space, with a focus on storytelling, brand strategy, and leading culturally impactful campaigns. She is always on the lookout for a new restaurant to add to her favorites and loves recreating dishes at home. When she is not exploring hiking trails, you will probably find Samantha chasing the perfect sunset or unwinding with a good rom-com. Sustainable Little Tokyo is her platform.
Mika Fumiyo Megumi Dyo (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute)
Mika Fumiyo Megumi is 24 years old and earned their bachelor’s degree in theater arts from California State University, Long Beach. She is a working actor and a drama coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. In the future, she hopes to continue to perform in meaningful projects and one day run a production company that focuses on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories. She enjoys knitting, crocheting, traveling, playing guitar, and sustainable fashion. The platform Mika has chosen to support is the Little Tokyo Historical Society.
Emma Yasuko Shojinaga Fukunaga (Japanese Restaurant Association of America)
Emma Yasuko Shojinaga Fukunaga is 23 years old and graduated from Scripps College with a bachelor’s degree in Asian American Studies. She currently works as the programs associate at Visual Communications Media, where she supports the planning and facilitation of programs such as the Armed with a Camera Fellowship, Digital Histories, and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Emma hopes to pursue a career in arts and culture, focusing on nonprofit administration and programming. Outside of work, she enjoys modern dance, baking, visual arts and crafts. The platform she has chosen to support this year is Changing Tides.
Casey Mariko Kuramoto (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council)
Casey Mariko Kuramoto is 24 years old and earned her bachelor’s degree in educational studies from the University of LaVerne and a multiple subject credential from California State University, Long Beach. She currently works as a substitute teacher in the Cypress School District. Her future plans are to find a full-time teaching position at an elementary school in the Orange County area. In her free time, she loves playing pickleball and basketball in various recreational leagues. Casey also enjoys baking and cooking with her mother and grandmother. The platform she has chosen to support is Kizuna.
Kimi Look (Gardena Evening Optimist)
Kimi Look is 25 years old and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, and a minor in biology. She currently works as a rehabilitation technician at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital and as a medical assistant at Atelier Health, a concierge cardiology practice. She plans to attend physician assistant school and continue her journey as a health care provider. Kimi enjoys baking pastries and recreating recipes from her grandmother's “itadakimasu” cookbook. In her free time, she can often be found playing volleyball, skiing, or surfing. She enjoys watching anime, practicing origami, experimenting with painting mediums, and collecting all things Mofusand. Her platform is the Go For Broke National Education Center.
Megan Ayumi Miyamoto (San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center)
Megan Ayumi Miyamoto is 22 years old and graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing management. Megan currently works as a creative marketing executive assistant at Disney Entertainment Television. Her goal is to work as a marketing executive at a movie animation studio. In her free time, she loves to travel to different countries and explore the cultures of the new cities she visits. She enjoys doing zumba, line dancing, hiking, pickleball, and beach hammocking. She adores watching heartwarming animated movies and visiting theme parks. Her platform is Go Little Tokyo!
Mia Miyoko Takatsuka (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Mia Miyoko Takatsuka is 26 years old and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising with a bachelor’s degree in beauty marketing and product development. Her future goal is to become a skincare product developer for a Japanese cosmetics company. She is a history buff with a particular interest in World War II history. She also enjoys skincare, needle felting, origami, kimono kitsuke, reading, and playing Pokémon. Mia’s platform she will support this year is the World War II Camp Wall.
The Coronation and Awards Celebration is set to be a memorable event with co-hosts actor Tamlyn Tomita and ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor David Ono.
The 83rd Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running cultural festivals in the United States.
This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 9-17. For the festival schedule, visit https://niseiweek.org/
