Being of Japanese descent in America means that I have the honor to be the voice of a new generation. 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. Every April, a group of young women is selected to represent the J See more 1,289 peoplelike this 1,354 people follow this Drennan said having a multicultural background helps in planning weddings for a diverse range of clients. Its really just a place that brings me closer to my community, and its a really big part of my life, she said. She works as a development associate manager at Strategic Energy Innovations, an education and workforce development organization. I wrote the promo ad that aired on KPOP-TV's broadcast and a blog piece for the KPOP-TV website about the program, emphasize its importance in empowering Japanese It is my responsibility to keep traditions alive and be an advocate for challenges we face in the AAPI community. BS psychology, BA music, minor in communications. 2022 Cherry Blossom Queen Program Watch on Click on the image below to view the entire event video. Id like to welcome (post-war immigrants from Japan), as well as other people who have struggled with their identity, just to say that Japantown can be their home too.. The court will participate in events during the second weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. We fused new and old ideas together to make our own culture. Thanks for attending the 2021 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival; we enjoyed celebrating two weekends of programming from our dear friends who supported us for many years! Meet the 2021 Queen Program Night Tri-Chairs: Yuka Walton, Asaki Osato, and Maya Hernandez in their Committee Member Spotlight blog. On New Years, my Japanese school hosted a mawashi-nomi tea ceremony. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco's Japantown! Program starts at 6 p.m. Heckert, who is half Japanese on her mothers side, said her family has roots in San Franciscos Japantown. I think one thing that differentiates me is my understanding of Japanese American and Nikkei culture, she said. Takemoto grew up attending the hoshuko (supplementary school for Japanese nationals) in San Jose. 2022 Cherry Blossom Queen Program Night: Paper Tree: 11:00 - 5:00: Origami Exhibit: National Japanese American Historical Society: Essay: Who am I as a Japanese American/person of Japanese descent? The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major break in tradition as the in-person festival was canceled in 2020. 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. Marginalized communities and under-resourced communities are the hardest hit for the climate crisis and will continue to be so, even if they dont contribute or contribute very, very small amounts to that climate crisis. 2022 Schedule - Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. Every April, a new group of women and Queen are selected to become the cultural ambassadors of the Northern California Japanese American community. The program, a highlight of the citys annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. We are proud to have served the Japanese American community from our Little Tokyo office in Downtown Los Angeles since 1903. As a 501c3 nonprofit, all members of the committee are volunteers. The AMC Kabuki 8 in San Francisco's 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. And as I grew older, I wanted to continue learning how I could keep their legacies alive. Both encouraged me to be brave, creative, and authentically myself. She said her specialization helped her appreciate and understand todays political climate and her own role in society, including on the job. in molecular cell biology. It is now the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States. 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.. However, for a while, I did not know if I was qualified to claim my identity as Japanese American. The Nichi Bei Foundation is an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. We are proud to have served the Japanese American community from our Little Tokyo office in Downtown Los Angeles since 1903. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan bestowed on Nakajo a commendation for his years []. 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. 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. I navigated Japanese American spaces lightly, as I still did not know the Japanese language or culture as much as I thought I should. 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Cherry Blossom Queen Program candidates announced, Japanese government honors NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival leaders, Film details Monterey citizens wartime support of Japanese American neighbors, Community honors Issei, dives into family histories, at 5th Nikkei Angel Island Pilgrimage, Arboga Assembly Center memorial site re-dedicated in Yuba County, Momentous: Asian Americans laud Anna May Wongs U.S. quarter, Seeking the histories of Japanese Americans with disabilities, ACC Senior Services celebrates 50 years in Sacramento. Drennan who is sponsored by the Kogura Company in San Jose, is a descendant of Kohei Kogura, who opened the store in 1928. Doors open at 5 p.m. 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. The [], The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. For her creative expression, Kasson will share footage demonstrating her mountain biking hobby. Event details about 55th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program in San Francisco on April 9, 2022 - watch, listen, photos and tickets The program, a highlight of the city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. Fusion food is an example I like to use because we are not diminishing either two things that are being brought together, but rather appreciating both worlds together., Creative Expression: Spoken word performed to a video of family photos, Hobbies: Baking, swimming, running, biking, strength training, oratory, poetry, writing, Education: Claremont McKenna College, 2017. Your email address will not be published. With her family based out of the San Jose area, Drennan said San Joses Japantown played a major role growing up. This tradition has become one of the main events during the annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. 2022 Queen Program applications are now open! Ashleigh Suzu Takemoto Ashleigh Suzu Takemoto, 19, is a Shin-Nisei and Gosei from Pleasanton, Calif. She is majoring in molecular cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley. For more information, go to: https://bit.ly/2022NCCBF, Your email address will not be published. She hopes to pursue a career in emergency medicine or infectious diseases. I can enjoy Japanese novels and films, all with a greater understanding of the depth and beauty of Japans culture. As a multiracial American woman, my journey of understanding my identity has not been linear. Doors open at 5 p.m. It is now the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States. I really like to do that through digital art.. There was a difference in their upbringing and then also the values and traditions that they passed down to me, she said. April 9-17, 2022 Welcome to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, one of California's most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and the largest Cherry Blossom Festival on the West coast. 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. I am a proud Yonsei, fourth-generation Japanese American with additional roots in Western Europe and Latin America. 2012 Court. To be Japanese American is to be a tightrope walker balancing on a thin line strung between the terrain of two lands and two cultures; a jaded monolinguist whose tongue slips on Japanese words and phrases and whose ears listen to but cannot transform syllables into meaning; a multi-generational guest on stolen land that was my ancestors other shore; a tree from a seed that was planted generations ago. I have been raised with the perspective that I can be who I want, as long as I never forget the hard work my family put in to earn me that freedom. Saturday, April 9th. I learned about art, music, respect, history, and the love and pride of both communities. Through a series of programs involved with the Japanese American community, starting with the Nikkei Community Internship in San Franciscos Japantown, Heckert connected with the Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages and is currently a co-host to its Yon-Say Podcast, for which she composed the music. Thats what Im trying to do now, right here in this program as well.. The queen program will be held April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8 at 1881 Post St. (at Fillmore) in San Franciscos Japantown. Beyond the circle of the tea ceremony, I continue to partake in the mawashi-nomi of culture, history, and identity in my daily life. As a Japanese American, I will embrace my individuality. She is sponsored by Nihonmachi Street Fair. To me, to be Japanese American is to be utterly confused, alighted with curiosity, giddy with pride, enamored by a culture of the past divorced from its present and attempting to be reclaimed for a future, and transfixed on being my ancestors wildest dreams. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. She said she is named after her grandmother, Aki Kogura. As a Yonsei and Gosei, I have the ability to create a life and a name for myself in a world that wouldnt necessarily accept me years ago. Doi attended Claremont McKenna College and has a degree in psychology with a human rights, genocide and Holocaust sequence. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major break in tradition as the in-person festival was canceled in 2020. 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. The festival will be held on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets. 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. 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. She works as a visual/user experience designer at Cisco. Once done, we set the bowl on the mat and wiped it clean with a cloth. 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. The program, a highlight of the citys annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. MA songwriting, Employment: Research operations associate at Flexport, Nikkei Rising/The Yon-Say Podcast (Tadaima! The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. I started dance lessons when I was three years old. I will continue to spread love to those around me, and celebrate the unique and beautiful cultures that grow, thrive, and fight to be heard. The candidates are: Katy Akiko Drennan, Stephanie Misa Doi, Michelle Chieko Catherine Heckert, Ashleigh Suzu Takemoto and Sydney Matsuko Kasson. The [] SAN FRANCISCO The 2022 candidates for Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were recently announced. Aside from taking part in the annual Obon, she made friends playing basketball and got her first job in high school working at Minato Japanese Restaurant in the ethnic enclave. This went on until everyone had tea. The event included a group dance number as well as individual talent segments. B.A. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is part of the Experience Design Team at Cisco. Required fields are marked *. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday April 9-10 and April 16-17, 2022. 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 introduced her to many Japanese American traditions, such as making manju and Obon. My older cousins both danced and so I kind of followed in their footsteps. Aside from her job, she volunteers at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as part of their marketing team. So with that lens, it helps me to make sure that our programming is really equity focused and serving all communities, but especially under-resourced and marginalized communities, she said. Takemoto hopes to contribute a Shin-Nisei perspective to the program. The Rafu Shimpo has been the nation's leading Japanese American newspaper since its original publication. She will showcase her music, along with original dance choreography during her creative expression. 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. 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. Stage (Peace Plaza) 11:30 AM: . She is sponsored by Takara Sake USA, Inc. Michelle Chieko Catherine Heckert Michelle Chieko Catherine Heckert, 25, is a Yonsei from Pacifica, Calif. She attended Santa Clara University and holds degrees in psychology and music with a minor in communications. Applications; Sponsor an Event; Ways to Give; Royalty; Media Inquiries; Hit enter to search or ESC to close . Celebrate the beautiful Cherry Trees and Blossoms of Leona Valley at the annual Cherry Parade and Festival. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. 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. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major break in tradition as the in-person festival was canceled in 2020. 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. With the crowning of Queen Asaki Osato, the Rafu Shimpo has survived two wars! 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