Checks should be made payable to Sakura Matsuri, Inc. and reference Queen Program Night Tickets.. With differing customs and values, there were times when I felt torn between my biculturalism. SAN FRANCISCO The 2022 candidates for Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were recently announced. Growing up, I immersed myself in cultural opportunities, such as dancing hula for Halau Na Wai Ola, and volunteering for the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program was held on April 9 at the AMC Dine-in Kabuki 8 in San Francisco Japantown. "These three women have [] One of the five young women will be chosen on Saturday, April 9, at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, 1881 Post St. in San Francisco Japantown. Revisit the 2017 Queen Program Candidates press conference in this blog post. "Our committee is honored to introduce our candidates for the Queen Program this year," stated Yuka Walton, one of the chairs of the Queen Program. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major break in tradition as the in-person festival was canceled in 2020. The event included a group dance number as well as individual talent segments. The program starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 general admission in advance, $40 at the door, and can be purchased online at www.nccbfqueenprogram.org (online processing fee applies) through April 6, or at the door with cash or check. She is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is part of the Experience Design Team at Cisco. It is now the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States. This combination makes me unique, yet I have always gravitated toward my Japanese ancestry. Nakano-Matsumoto Running for Re-election to School Board, Report: Japan Career Home Run Leader Oh Hospitalized, Bruin Spirit Celebrated at APA Gala; Cronin, Terasaki Honored, Political Mailer Claims Affirmative Action Harmful to Asian Americans, 3 Recent Fatalities Bring Takata Air Bag Death Toll to 32, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. She introduced her to many Japanese American traditions, such as making manju and Obon. Since 1968, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program has been dedicated to mentoring young women to develop leadership skills and strong community connections. Learn how your comment data is processed. 2022 Queen Program applications are now open! Every school that I went to, I got more involved with different styles of dance, including even Bollywood, but I knew that I wanted to be able to create my own, both for assignments, but both are just my personal passion.. I can still acknowledge theother aspects of my identity being multiracial, being American, being a woman while leaning into my Japanese heritage. Michiko Marie Maggi, Jamie Sachiko Martyn, Tiffany Sieu Okimura, Kimberly Miya Sasaki and Kelly Yuka Walton will [], Dozens of community members associated with the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival gathered at the official residence of Consul General of Japan in San Francisco Hiroshi Inomata on the evening of May 30 to honor the work of the festivals General Committee. Doors open at 5 p.m. a mixed plate of Japanese American news and culture, The AMC Kabuki 8 in San Franciscos Japantown was packed for the 2022 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program April 9, signaling a return to form for the annual program for young professional Japanese American women. Applications; Sponsor an Event; Ways to Give; Royalty; Media Inquiries; Hit enter to search or ESC to close . We are American and we are Japanese. It is now the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States. Im an artist and a designer at heart, and I think something so important about spreading the message about our history and big important things, is through storytelling, Kasson said. She is sponsored by Nihonmachi Street Fair. Its really just a place that brings me closer to my community, and its a really big part of my life, she said. | Japanese American Memorial, Kakehashi Project (Japanese American Citizens League), Nikkei Community Internship (Japanese Community Youth Council), Professional Aspirations or Goals in Life: Beyond scaling and democratizing user research within software companies, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. to further explore mixed-race identities.. These experiences are why I continue to pass my bowl around to the community., Sponsor: Japanese American Museum of San Jose, Hobbies: Mountain biking, road biking, creating digital landscape art, running, hiking, Peloton, volunteering, listening to music, being a cat mom, Education: Bachelor of Science degree in graphic communication, concentration in UX/UI design, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Employment: Visual/ UX designer on the Experience Design Team at Cisco, Creative Marketing Team at Japanese American Museum of San Jose, Professional Aspirations or Goals in Life: I aspire to be a program manager for a user experience team that designs for consumer-facing products that can make life a little easier for its users.. Drennan who is sponsored by the Kogura Company in San Jose, is a descendant of Kohei Kogura, who opened the store in 1928. Once done, we set the bowl on the mat and wiped it clean with a cloth. The program, a highlight of the city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. Similarly, understanding my heritage has helped me appreciate how others take pride in their own cultures. I really like to do that through digital art.. I would like to blend my passions by serving the Asian American community through healthcare.. Sydney Matsuko Kasson Sydney Matsuko Kasson, 24, is a Yonsei-han from Sunnyvale, Calif. She attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and majored in graphic communication with a focus on user experience/user interface design. Heckert, who is half Japanese on her mothers side, said her family has roots in San Franciscos Japantown. The cherry . I am excited to keep finding ways to honor the past while laying a foundation for the future as a member of the 2022 Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program., Sponsor: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, Hobbies: Watching Japanese movies, creative writing, going on walks, karaoke, Education: UC Berkeley, B.A. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture with you, live and in Person again! I owe this connection to my heritage to my maternal grandparents, who have raised me alongside my parents. This past weekend the annual Queen Program Night was held at the AMC Kabuki Theater in San Francisco's Japantown. It is there that I feel whole., Creative Expression: Original dance choreographed to original song, Hobbies: Songwriting, singing, dancing (modern, jazz, ballet, tap), traveling, Education: Santa Clara University, 2018. For her creative expression, Takemoto will do a karate kata called Rohai. She is sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Stage (Peace Plaza) 11:30 AM: . The evening celebrated the presentation of the Commendation of the Minister for Foreign [], The 2012 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program took place on April 14 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Franciscos Japantown. You can reach the committee using the Contact Us Form. And as I grew older, I wanted to continue learning how I could keep their legacies alive. COURTESY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL SAN FRANCISCO The 2022 candidates for Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were recently announced. The The Nichi Bei Foundation is an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. I am my ancestors time capsule of their dreams, visions, hopes I am their future. As a Japanese American, I will embrace my individuality. Established in 1903, the Rafu Shimpo has survived two world wars, a depression, and the forced evacuation of our entire community. As a 501c3 nonprofit, all members of the committee are volunteers. I think my grandma was also the person who introduced me to the museum, and just seeing her passion for what she did for the museum, as well as my grandfathers, really inspired me to continue their legacy and be more involved.. Since 1968, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program has been dedicated to mentoring young women through community service, leadership, and cultural education. Some of the qualifications to be eligible to apply as a candidate for the Northern California Cherry Blossom Court are as follows: - be a female of at least 19 years of age and not more than 26 years of age by the first festival weekend in April. The program, a highlight of the city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. Required fields are marked *. We get a lot of Indian weddings, so the format is very different than the traditional American wedding, but the theme is still there: its love, its family, its supporting each other being there, she said. Photos from Previous Program Nights My mothers ancestors lived in the temples of Hiroshima, while my fathers ancestors worked in the fields of Watsonville. She works as a research operations associate at Flexport. I learned about art, music, respect, history, and the love and pride of both communities. I can enjoy Japanese novels and films, all with a greater understanding of the depth and beauty of Japans culture. Event details about 55th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program in San Francisco on April 9, 2022 - watch, listen, photos and tickets I continued on through high school, through college. It is my responsibility to keep traditions alive and be an advocate for challenges we face in the AAPI community. Her great grandfather ran the Mikado Hotel and Restaurant, where the New People Building on Post Street now stands. Along with the crowning of Queen Asaki Osato, the programs longtime chairman, Benh Koreyoshi Nakajo, was also honored. Welcome Cherry Blossom Alumnae (CBA) is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization comprised of former court members of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program, whose mission is to give back to the Japanese American community through volunteerism, education, cultural appreciation, leadership and financial support. March 17, 2022 by TOMO HIRAI, Nichi Bei Weekly Leave a Comment The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. Princess Manami Kidera, Princess Chihiro Hirai, Princess Miki Fukai (T), 1st Princess Megumi Yoshida, Queen Asaki Osato. The 2022 court is, from left: Princess Katy Akiko Drennan, Princess Michelle Chieko Catherine Heckert, Queen Stephanie Misa Doi, First Princess Sydney Matsuko Kasson, and Princess Ashleigh Suzu Takemoto. MA songwriting, Employment: Research operations associate at Flexport, Nikkei Rising/The Yon-Say Podcast (Tadaima! She said her specialization helped her appreciate and understand todays political climate and her own role in society, including on the job. As I continue to meet Japanese American community members, I have come to realize that there is no right way to be Japanese American. Phone: 661-270-0771. So I think with hospitality, and what I specifically do with weddings, I think it does tie back to my culture, because I think it helps to know your culture to respect other cultures and give people what they want and need in hospitality.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program was held on April 9 at the AMC Dine-in Kabuki 8 in San Francisco Japantown. 2011 Cherry Blossom Court 1st Princess Tamiko Escalante, Princess Richelle Chiemi Farley, Queen Jeddie Narumi Kawahatsu, Princess Lauren Sachi Kawawaki (T), Princess Kaori Saito. She will showcase her music, along with original dance choreography during her creative expression. A leadership program for young women becoming or already involved in the Northern California Japanese-American community The Queen Program focuses on community service, leadership, and cultural education. This tradition has become one of the main events during the annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. - be of at least 50% Japanese ancestry. For her creative expression, Kasson will share footage demonstrating her mountain biking hobby. The Rafu Shimpo has been the nation's leading Japanese American newspaper since its original publication. Every April, a new group of women and Queen are selected to become the cultural ambassadors of the Northern California Japanese American community. Welcome Congratulations to the 2022 Court! The [] Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, 2022 Cherry Blossom Festival April 9 17, What Kizuna Means to Me ft. Kazanami Yosakoi Dance Showcase, Kazanami: A Blossoming Community of Yosakoi Dance. SAN FRANCISCO The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program officially announces its 2021 candidates: Akiko Jacqueline Bates, Ashlyn Sumiko Hom and Kelly Noelani Eshima. The new queen, Stephanie Misa Doi, 27, from Pleasanton, is sponsored by Sho Chiku Bai, Takara Sake USA. My older cousins both danced and so I kind of followed in their footsteps. The program, to be held April 11, will select the new queen and court on the first [], The five candidates who will compete for the title of Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were introduced to the public for the first time on Saturday, March 16 at the Union Bank Community Room in San Franciscos Japantown. Being Japanese American has allowed me to not only celebrate Japanese culture, but to love and appreciate all cultures. I think one thing that differentiates me is my understanding of Japanese American and Nikkei culture, she said. Since 1968, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program has been dedicated to mentoring young women to develop leadership skills and strong community connections. The Queen Program committee is dedicated to continuing this long continued tradition of almost 50 years. Inquiries ; Hit enter to search or ESC to close, music, respect, history, the... 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