Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

For immediate release

For more information:
Diane Tanaka
310-962-2698

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67th ANNUAL NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL QUEEN CANDIDATES DEBUTED AT OPENING CEREMONY

(Los Angeles - July 15, 2007) - The Nisei Week Foundation is proud to announce the 2007 Nisei Week Japanese Festival queen candidates who were officially introduced to local dignitaries, community leaders, friends and family at the Opening Ceremony event held today at the Japanese American National Museum. The six candidates will vie for the title of Nisei Week Queen on August 18 at the Aratani Japan America Theatre and thereafter the queen and court will represent the festival at events throughout the year. Nisei Week Queen Coronation tickets are available at the Golden Circle level (includes special dinner at the New Otani Hotel at 5:30 p.m. prior to the coronation with preferred orchestra seating) at $160 per person; orchestra seats are $75 per person; or balcony seats only at $55 per person.

The 2007 Nisei Week queen candidates are:

Christine Wai Lan Kimoto
Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council

As a 24-year-old first grade teacher, Christine Wai Lan Kimoto, has learned the meaning of responsibility, time management and appreciating the small joys in life. This Huntington Beach resident is a charter board member of the Young Adult Optimist Club and coaches various Orange Coast Optimist Club children's basketball teams. Christine graduated from University of California, San Diego with a bachelor's degree in human development and a minor in teacher education, and plans to obtain a master's degree in education and one day open her own daycare. She has chosen to support as her Nisei Week platform the Orangewood Children's Foundation.

Mandy Michiko Kusumoto
East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center

Physical fitness is a primary concern for 25-year-old Mandy Michiko Kusumoto. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. Her dream is to one day become a physical therapist and a director of her own sports care rehabilitation center. To gain experience in this field, Mandy currently works at Yonemoto Physical Therapy. This Arcadia resident has a passion for running and is training for her first marathon, to be held in Hawaii this December. She has chosen the Special Olympics as her Nisei Week platform to support.

Jennifer Kiku Minami
Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Loft Hawaiian Restaurant

Jennifer Kiku Minami is 24 years old and attends California State University, Long Beach. In the fall 2007, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies/elementary education. Later, Jennifer plans to pursue a multiple subject teaching credential with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. This Torrance resident is quite busy, in addition to working at the Loft Hawaiian Restaurant and as a dental assistant; she is a volunteer tutor for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Long Beach Unified School District. She has chosen to support the Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance as her platform.

Yoshie Margaret Okada
Japanese Restaurant Association of Southern California

As a 24 year old, Yoshie Margaret Okada has had many Japanese influences. The opportunity to study at a Japanese university for a year enhanced her identity as a Nisei and is her most memorable experience. This San Gabriel resident has been a member of Zenshuji Zendeko Taiko since 1996 and was a Japanese American National Museum volunteer from 1997-2001. Yoshie graduated from the University of California, San Diego with degrees in political science and psychology. She currently works for Pasona NA Inc, a Japanese staffing firm. Yoshie has chosen to support the One Campaign as her Nisei Week platform.

Monika Taniguchi Teuffel
West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizen League & Auxiliary & Venice Japanese Community Center

Monika Taniguchi Teuffel is 23 years old and graduated from University of California, Irvine with a bachelor's degree in international studies, and a triple minor in Japanese language and literature, art history, and management. She also had the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University. Monika is currently enrolled in the UCLA Extension architecture and interior design program and works for Mainstay Business Solutions as an account manager. This Huntington Beach resident has selected UNICEF to support as her Nisei Week platform.

Saki Uechi
Little Tokyo Lions Club

Saki Uechi, 25 years old, grew up playing sports. After playing girl's varsity basketball and boy's varsity golf, she was recruited to play golf on the University of California, Los Angeles' women's golf team, earning a scholarship and becoming a member of the 2004 Pac-10 and national championship team. After receiving a bachelor's degree in sociology and Japanese, Saki spent two years on the professional golf tour. This Redondo Beach resident currently works for Famima!! Corporation and aspires to become a business entrepreneur. She chose the Tiger Woods Foundation as her Nisei Week platform.

The Nisei Week Festival, the longest running ethnic festival in the U.S., has been attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year since its inception in 1934 (except during WWII from 1942 - 1948) to Little Tokyo to enjoy a Japanese American arts and cultural experience and this year Nisei Week organizers - who are all volunteers - hope to draw even more to the community.

For Queen Coronation tickets, call Michael Lee at 310-508-8097 or Gerald Fukui at 213-626-2778. The 2007 Nisei Week Japanese Festival takes place in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo District from August 18-26. For calendar of events and volunteer information on the 67th Nisei Week Festival, please log onto www.NiseiWeek.org or call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213/687-7193. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, Calif., 90012.

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