Eight candidates for 2011 Nisei Week Queen are introduced at the opening ceremony. (Cultural News Photo)
The Nisei Week Foundation officially kicked off its nine-day 71st Nisei Week Japanese Festival at its Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 17 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
One of the nation’s longest running ethnic festivals of its kind, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival will take place from August 13-21 throughout Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo District.
"On behalf of the Nisei Week Foundation, I welcome you to the Opening Ceremonies of the 71st Nisei Week Japanese Festival," said Rev. Mark M. Nakagawa, Nisei Week Foundation president.
"Our Festival theme, 'Honoring Our Community Heroes,' lifts up individuals and organizations on a local, national and global level. We invite you to join in this year's festivities that bring people of all ages, generations and backgrounds together, as one community," Nakagawa said.
The afternoon’s mistress of ceremonies was 2010 Nisei Week Queen Lani Kume Nishiyama and the 2010 Nisei Week court hosted the event for the dignitaries, sponsors, family, and friends of the Nisei Week Foundation.
Local dignitaries in attendance include Consul General Junichi Ihara and Los Angeles County Supervisor, Mike Antonovich.
To sanctify and bring success to this year’s festival, Reverend Alfred Tsuyuki of Konko Church of Los Angeles conducted the annual purification ceremony.
The program commenced with the 2011 Nisei Week Choreographer Madame Bando Mitsuhiro of Bando Mitsuhiro Kai and eight other dancers who performed two of the official dances she choreographed for this year’s festival, “Ai wa Katsu” and “Omikoshi.”
In addition, guests anxiously applauded the long-awaited debut of the official 2011 Nisei Week Court, who was announced to the community at the ceremony.
From left to right in the back row: Michi Renee Lew (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center) Amber Akemi Piatt (San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center and Coordinating Council) Erika Mariko Olsen (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute) Melissa Ayumi Nishimura (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council) From left to right in the front row: Kay A Yamaguchi (Gardena Evening Optimist and The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant) Mimi Mitsuko Yang (West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center) Jessica Makiko Kanai (Japanese Restaurant Association of America) Leann Fumiko Fujinami (San Diego Japanese American Citizens League). Photo by Toyo Miyatake Studio
The 2011 Nisei Week queen candidates are:
Jessica Makiko Kanai (Japanese Restaurant Association of America)
Jessica Makiko Kanai is 22 years old and graduated last year with a bachelor degree in Recreation and Tourism Management, with an emphasis in Systems Management.
Upon graduation, Kanai will continue working in the Japanese American community to help preserve the Japanese culture its’ heritage. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, watching musicals, trying new restaurants, going to Disneyland, volunteering with Konnichiwa Little Tokyo and spending time with family and friends.
Kanai will be supporting Vista Del Mar as her platform.
Leann Fumiko Fujinami (San Diego Japanese American Citizens League)
Leann Fumiko Fujinami is 21 years old and currently attends the University of California, Irvine, studying art history. Leann would like to pursue a career in art administration.
Her favorite pastimes include running, swimming, art and shopping. This year Fujinami will be supporting the Be the Match Donor Organization.
Michi Renee Lew (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Michi Renee Lew is 22 years old and currently attends the California State University of Los Angeles, where she is majoring in Liberal Studies. Upon graduation, Lew would like to pursue a career in education and become a middle school teacher, student activities director and to end her career as a school administrator.
Her hobbies include playing and coaching basketball, swimming, reading, hiking and making ribbon leis. The platform Lew has decided to support this year is the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF).
Melissa Ayumi Nishimura (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council)
Melissa Ayumi Nishimura is 23 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received her bachelor of arts in Economics, with a double minor Accounting and Asian American Studies.
Her hobbies include basketball, Hawaiian and Tahitian dance, trying new restaurants, taking care of her dog, Colbie, and watching Friends re-runs on television. This year Nishimura will be supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as her platform.
Erika Mariko Olsen (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute)
Erika Mariko Olsen is 22 years old and graduated cum laude from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University of Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance.
Olsen is an aspiring performer of the arts and looks forward to playing in leading musical and opera roles. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, playing the piano, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking, knitting, dance, art, opera, musical theatre and being a part of the Grateful Crane Youth Group Singers. This year Olsen will be supporting Classroom Connections as her platform.
Amber Akemi Piatt (San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center and Coordinating Council)
Amber Akemi Piatt is 23 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a double major in Psychology and Spanish. Piatt’s professional career goal is to start a non-profit organization that addresses the needs of bi-cultural families in order to help parents and their children to embrace their roots, while teaching them ways to be competitive in American society.
Her hobbies include photography, yoga, hiking, dancing, going to concerts, traveling and baking. The platform Piatt chose to support this year is Off the Mat and into the World.
Kay A Yamaguchi (Gardena Evening Optimist and The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant)
Kay A Yamaguchi is 24 years old and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a major in Economics and minor in Accounting. Yamaguchi currently works for Pricewaterhouse Coopers and aspires to be promoted and transferred to its Tokyo office, to further her pursuit in international business.
In her free time she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, dancing and snowboarding. This year Yamaguchi will be supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank as her platform.
Mimi Mitsuko Yang (West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center)
Mimi Mitsuko Yang is 22 years old and is currently attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and double majoring in International Economics and Japanese. Yang’s career goal is to become a healthcare executive who creates affordable, quality care for the community.
In her spare time, Mimi enjoys cooking, reading, yoga, snowboarding and making jewelry. This year Yang will be supporting the International Medical Corps as her platform.
