Cherry Blossom Queen Candidates Announced
The 2010 candidates for Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were announced on March 13 in San Francisco Japantown.
Prior to a public program in the Peace Plaza, the five candidates were introduced to the Nikkei media in the Union Bank Hospitality Room. Opening remarks were made by Miki Katsuyama Novitski, executive administrator of the Queen Program, Benh Nakajo of the Queen Committee, and Allen Okamoto, co-chair of the 43rd annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival.
The 2009 Cherry Blossom Court was represented by Queen Eri Tagaya and Princess Yurika Vu.
The next queen will be chosen on Saturday, April 10, at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema, 1881 Post St. (between Fillmore and Webster) in Japantown. Doors open at 5 p.m.; the program starts at 6 p.m. The festival will be held the weekends of April 10-11 and 17-18.
This year’s candidates are:
• Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka, 22, of San Francisco
Sponsor: Golden Gate Optimists Club of San Francisco
Education: BS in health science, minor in psychology from Dominican University of California; MS in occupational therapy expected from Dominican University of California
Employer/position held: Knowledge Learning Corporation-Champions, after-school science instructor
Goals: Become a knowledgeable and innovative therapist-advocate and empower people on a personal and community level
Parents: Harry Hidejiro Tanaka of Hawaii and Susan Hisako Tanaka of San Francisco
• Ayae Yamamoto, 23, of San Francisco
Sponsor: Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco
Education: BA from UC Berkeley
Employer/position held: University Eye Center in Berkeley, patient services assistant
Goals: Become a physician (OB/GYN) volunteering in Third World nations
Parents: Tadashi and Masako Yamamoto
• Arisa Hiroi, 19, of San Francisco
Sponsor: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Education: BA expected in 2012 from UC Davis in Japanese and sociology; AB/minor in education
Employer/position held: UC Davis East Asian Languages and Cultures Department, Japanese Department reader
Goals: To become a Japanese teacher in the U.S.
Parents: Kunihiko and Mari Hiroi
• Corey Yasuye Fujioka, 22, of Fremont
Sponsor: Takara Sake USA Inc.
Education: BA in food science from Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo
Employer/position held: Sweet Earth Chocolates (San Luis Obispo), chocolate production
Goals: To change the way we eat; making people physically, mentally, environmentally and financially healthy
Parents: Robert Masami and Diane Keiko Fujioka
• Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani, 22, of San Jose
Sponsor: NikkeiWest
Education: Student at UC Davis
Employer/position held: UC Davis Washington Program/Student Advisor and Minato Japanese Restaurant, server and hostess
Goals: Pursue a career in the field of International Relations with companies doing business in Japan
Parents: Neal Kanji Nakatani and Patricia Kiyoko Sakauye of San Jose
Representing the sponsors were:
Ben Hogo, president, Golden Gate Optimists Club of San Francisco
Donna Kimura, president, Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco
June-ko Nakagawa, executive director, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Yoichiro Miyakuni, senior vice president/director, Takara Sake USA Inc.
Jeffrey Kimoto, editor, NikkeiWest
For tickets to the Queen Program, contact Tosh Mitsuda at (650) 871-9287 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For more information, visit www.sfcherryblossompageant.com and www.nccbf.org
