The 2026 Pioneer Spirit Award honorees will be recognized during the Nisei Week Pioneer Spirit Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, August 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, Bunker Hill Ballroom, located at 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tickets for the luncheon are $105 per individual seat or $1,050 per table of 10. Registration is available through NiseiWeek.org. Questions may be directed to pioneerluncheon@niseiweek.org.
Miyoko Hataye – Nominated by Sakura Chorus
Miyoko Hataye was born in Matsumoto City, Nagano. After graduating from the Musashino Music Academy vocal department, she joined the Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus of Japan, appearing on stage and in television, honing her professional choir singing skills. Hataye married a third-generation Japanese American newspaper correspondent (his grandfather was actively involved in founding the Southern California Fukuoka Kenjinkai), and moved to America in 1980.
Settling in the South Bay, Hataye began teaching piano. She also established a chorus group in 1982 that became the current Sakura Chorus. She also began offering volunteer singing on a weekly basis at the South Bay Keiro nursing home, bringing joy to the residents.
After moving to Orange County in 1992, Hataye couldn’t offer singing at the South Bay Keiro home. However, the Sakura Chorus members continued the tradition providing weekly volunteer performances as well as monthly performances at the Gardena Retirement Center. Despite the move, Hataye continued traveling 45 miles each week to teach the choir groups.
Hataye took charge in organizing the anniversary concerts and performances, collaborating with other choral groups both inside and outside of the local community, with performances in Hawaii, Vancouver, Fresno, San Francisco, etc. In 1999, encouraged by the alumni of university glee clubs, Hataye established the LA Men’s Glee Club and was its first conductor. The LA Men’s Glee Club continues to enjoy singing to this day. Additionally, she helped and guided several other choruses, including Christian groups.
For the 2000 Nisei Week Festival, Hataye organized the Nisei Week Choral Festival, which was the first choral festival for the Japanese American community. Six choral groups participated (Sakura Chorus, Yuukari Chorus, LA Men’s Glee Club, Mori-no-kai, Floral Harmony, Diamond Chorus). The event was so successful that the Nikkei Choral Federation of Southern California was created in 2005. Hataye was appointed as its first president.
In 2009, this choral federation performed “Beethoven’s Ninth” at the Disney Concert Hall with various choral groups, the Asia American Symphony and conducted by David Benoit.
Hataye’s motto is “I cannot help but hope that the harmony of songs becomes the harmony of the hearts of those who sing together, leading to a balanced peace in the world.”