Posts Tagged ‘nichi bei times’
Sunday, April 11th, 2010
You’ve already met the Court of the 2010 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program a while back, so now take a look at David Yu’s photos from last night’s big event at the Sundance Kabuki Theatre on Post in Japantown.
All photos via DavidYuWeb.
Here’s the new Queen for 2010 – Arisa Hiroi, a student at UC Davis:
And here’s the entire 2010 Court at the end of last night’s program: Ayae Yamamoto, Corey Yasuye Fujioka, Arisa Hiroi, Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka:
Name: Ayae Yamamoto
Sponsor: Nikei Lion Club of San Francisco
Education: BA from UC Berkeley
Employer/Position: University Eye Center (Berkeley)/Patient Services Assistant
Goals: Become a physician (OB/GYN) volunteering in third world nations
Age: 23
Parents/Residence: Taashi and Masako Yamamoto / San Francisco, CA
Name: Corey Yasuye Fujioka
Sponsor: Takara Sake USA Incorporated
Education: BS in Food Science from Cal Poly State University
Employer/Position Held: Sweet Earth Chocolates (SLO)/Chocolate Production
Goals: To change the way we eat: physically, mentally, environmentally and financially healthy
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Rober Masami and Diance Keiko Fujioka / Fremont, CA
Name: Arisa Hiroi
Sponsor: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Education: BA expected in 2010 from University of California Davis in Japanese and Sociology AB/Minor in Education
Employer/Position held: UCD East Asian Languages & Cultures Dept/Japanese Dept Reader
Goals: To become a Japanese teacher in US
Age: 19
Parents/Residence: Kunikiko and Mari Hiroi / San Francisco, CA
Name: Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani
Sponsor: Nikkei West
Education: BA June 2010 from University of California Davis double Major in International Relations and Communications with a Minor in Writing
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
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Neal Kanji Nakatani, Patricia Kiyoko Sakauye / San Jose, CA
Name: Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka
Sponsor: Golden Gate Optimists Club of San Francisco
Education: BS in Health Science/Minor in Psychology form Dominican University of California, MS i Occupational Therapy expected from Dominican University of California
Employer/Position Held: Knowledge Learning Corporation-Champions/After school Science Instructor
Goals: Knowledgeable and innovative therapist-advocate and empower on personal and community level
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Harry Hidejiro Tanaka (HI), Susan Hisako Tanaka (SF) / San Francisco, CA
And here’s the 2009 Court coming back to join in:
Congratulations to all.
“The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival now celebrating its 43rd year, is one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. Each year, over 150,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Please join us and become a sponsor of this popular Japanese American community event.
This year’s Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday April 10-11 and April 17-18, 2010. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco’s Japantown!
The festival will be held on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets. There will be food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program, and more. The Grand Parade will be held on April 18, beginning at City Hall and concluding in Japantown.
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is said to be the second largest festival outside of Washington, D.C. to celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms; and held at one of three remaining Japantowns in the United States.
When?
Festival: Saturday and Sunday, April 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 2010
Grand Parade: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Queen Pageant: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Where?
Festival: Japantown (@ Post & Buchanan Streets), San Francisco
Grand Parade: Begins at San Francisco City Hall and ends at Post & Fillmore
Queen Pageant: AMC Kabuki 8 Theater, Japantown
Tags: +3, 11, 11th, 1881, 2, 2008, 2009, 2010, april, Arisa Hiroi, Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani, Ashley Nakatani, Ayae Yamamoto, bank, beauty, benihana, blossom, california, chamber of commerce, channel, cherry, Cherry Blossom, Cinema, cinemas, contest, Corey Fujioka, Corey Yasuye Fujioka, court, Dominican University, Eri Tagaya, Festival, fifth, fillmore, First, fourth, Golden Gate Optimist Club, Jana Katsuyama, japan, Japanese, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, japantown, jccnc, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka, Jennifer Tanaka, kimono, KNTV, ktvu, lions, Margaret Cheney, Mari Masuko, NBC Bay Area, nccbf, nichi bei times, nikkei, Northern California, oosaka, osaka, pageant, parade, post, princess, program, sake, sakura, san jose, Sarah Kasuga, Sarah Naomi Kasuga, second, sponsor, sponsored, Stephanie Hata, Stephanie Masako Hata, street, takara, third, tree, uc berkeley, union, union bank, usa, Yurika Vu
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Monday, March 15th, 2010
That David Yu, he’s all over town – here’s what he captured in Japantown a few days back at the 43rd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program Preview Day.
via davidyuweb
The Queen Program (don’t call it a pageant) will occur on Saturday, April 10th in conjunction with the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. More deets to come when they get everything posted. Anyway, here are the candidates for 2010:
Name: Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka
Sponsor: Golden Gate Optimists Club of San Francisco
Education: BS in Health Science/Minor in Psychology form Dominican University of California, MS i Occupational Therapy expected from Dominican University of California
Employer/Position Held: Knowledge Learning Corporation-Champions/After school Science Instructor
Goals: Knowledgeable and innovative therapist-advocate and empower on personal and community level
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Harry Hidejiro Tanaka (HI), Susan Hisako Tanaka (SF) / San Francisco, CA
Name: Ayae Yamamoto
Sponsor: Nikei Lion Club of San Francisco
Education: BA from UC Berkeley
Employer/Position: University Eye Center (Berkeley)/Patient Services Assistant
Goals: Become a physician (OB/GYN) volunteering in third world nations
Age: 23
Parents/Residence: Taashi and Masako Yamamoto / San Francisco, CA
Name: Arisa Hiroi
Sponsor: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Education: BA expected in 2010 from University of California Davis in Japanese and Sociology AB/Minor in Education
Employer/Position held: UCD East Asian Languages & Cultures Dept/Japanese Dept Reader
Goals: To become a Japanese teacher in US
Age: 19
Parents/Residence: Kunikiko and Mari Hiroi / San Francisco, CA
Name: Corey Yasuye Fujioka
Sponsor: Takara Sake USA Incorporated
Education: BS in Food Science from Cal Poly State University
Employer/Position Held: Sweet Earth Chocolates (SLO)/Chocolate Production
Goals: To change the way we eat: physically, mentally, environmentally and financially healthy
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Rober Masami and Diance Keiko Fujioka / Fremont, CA
Name: Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani
Sponsor: Nikkei West
Education: BA June 2010 from University of California Davis double Major in International Relations and Communications with a Minor in Writing
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
Age: 22
Parents/Residence: Neal Kanji Nakatani, Patricia Kiyoko Sakauye / San Jose, CA
Tags: +3, 11, 11th, 1881, 2, 2008, 2009, 2010, april, Arisa Hiroi, Ashley Kiyoko Nakatani, Ashley Nakatani, Ayae Yamamoto, bank, beauty, benihana, blossom, california, chamber of commerce, channel, cherry, Cherry Blossom, Cinema, cinemas, contest, Corey Fujioka, Corey Yasuye Fujioka, court, Dominican University, Festival, fillmore, George Kiriyama, Golden Gate Optimist Club, Jana Katsuyama, japan, Japanese, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, japantown, jccnc, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanaka, Jennifer Tanaka, kimono, KNTV, ktvu, lions, NBC Bay Area, nccbf, nichi bei times, nikkei, Northern California, oosaka, osaka, pageant, post, program, sake, sakura, san jose, sponsor, sponsored, street, takara, tree, uc berkeley, union, union bank, usa
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Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
San Francisco’s annual Kristi Yamaguchi’s Children’s Day Festival took place indoors today, but that didn’t spoil the fun.
Here’s what it looked outdoors last year, without the rain.
The gymnasium at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California on Sutter was a lively scene today:
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Japantown Peace Plaza
Street: Post and Buchanan Streets
City/Town: San Francisco, CA
In recognition of Japan’s national holiday celebrating children, the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California is presenting its annual Children’s Day Festival. There will be entertainment, food, games, and hands-on arts & crafts activities for youngsters. Bring your family and friends and enjoy the fun! Admission is free.
Next year’s should be drier…
Tags: (415) 567-5505, 1840 Sutter, 2009, ABC Preschool, annual, arare, Boy’s Day, Buchanan, children, Children's Day, Children’s Day Festival, Christ United Presbyterian Church, Clarendon Elementary School, Clarendon Taiko, Comcast, Consulate General of Japan, Dance, doll, dollfish, elementary, Family, figure skating, free, Gen Taiko, Girl’s Day, gold, gyotaku, Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation, high school, Hinamatsuri, holiday, hula, International Association of Tako-Age, Japan Airlines, Japan Video and Media, Japanese Community Youth Council, Japanese Cultural and Community Center, japantown, jbbp, JCCCNC, JCCCNC Bambi Parent Group, JCCCNC Ukulele Players, kids, kimono, Kirakiraboshi Choir, Kodomo no Hi, Kristi Yamaguchi, May 2, medalist, Michiya Hanayagi Dance Group, Nakayoshi, national, nichi bei times, Nihonmachi Little Friends, Nikkei Student Union UC Berkeley, Northern California, Olympic, Peace Plaza, Pine United Methodist Church, popcorn, post, printing, rosa parks, Rosa Parks Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program, Sailor Moon, Sakura of America, San Francisco, San Francisco Japantown Foundation, San Francisco Kendo Association SambAsia, Sanrio Inc., Saturday, school, Spam musubi Asobi Arts, St. Ignatius, street, Tak Onishi, Tango no Sekku, the California Highway Patrol, Union Bank of California, Viz Media, World Champion, www.jcccnc.org, Xperience
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Friday, April 17th, 2009
The forecast is for sunny skies and balmy weather, so it’s going to be on this weekend during the 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown. Check the shedewl and get over there. You might encounter a Queen, see Grand Marshall George Takei, win a Toyota in the raffle, don an anime costume, wear your kimono, eat comfort food including dessert, and experience Aloha.
Here’s what the past weekend was like.
Of course the haters from the troubled 1600 Webster condo building would prefer to shut the whole shebang down, but unrestrained Hello Kitty joy will continue in the middle of Post Street nevertheless:
From Okinawa with love:
The mise-en-scene. This street festival has all the usual suspects, such as quack “doctors” and the dude who wants you to subscribe to the New York Times. But it also has a lot of unique things. It’s not just another S.F. streetfest:
OMG, it’s your new car! The Corolla you’ll win after you enter the raffle will look something like a green fish, and it will have orange tires – you’ll have to change those out to black if you want to avoid trouble from the authoritahs, however.
From the recent Queen Program at the Sundance Kabuki. Don’t call it a pageant:
These menacing street toughs headed over to the 1600 Webster Building (can you see it with the ornate top up there?) with malice aforethought…
…only to be subdued by this security guard. Whew! WTF? Who’s paying for this gratuitous guard? He looked extremely bored.
Mckenzie Phillips is back to her old habit of ruining tourist photos. I told her, “This is it! You’ve got to stop doing this kind of stuff, M.P.” She said that she’s trying to do better, taking things one day at a time. By the way the Asian Art Museum is getting all geared up for Lords of the Samurai. It’s going to be mega. (Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan continues through May 10, 2009)
Will Catbus and Totoro return to the Anime contingent in the Grand Parade on Sunday? We can only hope:
FYI, the anime stuff isn’t exactly G-rated. It could surprise you. From the banal…
…to the bizarre:
See you there this weekend!
Complete parade lineup, after the jump.
(more…)
Tags: +3, 11, 11th, 1881, 2, 2008, 2009, anime, april, bank, beauty, benihana, blossom, california, chamber of commerce, channel, cherry, Cherry Blossom, Cinema, cinemas, contest, Festival, fillmore, George, George Kiriyama, Golden Gate Optimist Club, grand marshall, Jana Katsuyama, japan, Japanese, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, japantown, jccnc, kimono, KNTV, ktvu, lions, NBC Bay Area, nccbf, nichi bei times, nikkei, Northern California, oosaka, osaka, pageant, parade, post, program, queen, sake, sakura, san jose, sponsor, sponsored, street, takara, takei, tree, union, union bank, usa
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Sunday, April 12th, 2009
As a part of the ongoing Cherry Blossom Festival, we had six candidates at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program last night in Japantown. Yes, there were elaborate costumes and pageantry, but don’t call it a pageant, it’s a “program.” Fair enough, on with the show.
There was a riot of color with all the kimono up on the stage at the Sundance Kabuki Theatre on Post near Fillmore:
Here’s a close-up of your complicated kimono, complete with obi sash and zoori sandals:
Master of Ceremonies George Kiriyama of KNTV NBC Bay Area San Jose Channel 3 / 11 with Mistress of Ceremonies Jana Katsuyama of KTVU Channel 2:
The mise-en-scene. It was standing room only, just like Japantown’s recent Nichi Bei Times Tofu Dessert Competition and Festival
Stephanie Masako Hata of El Cerrito, sponsored by Benihana:
Mari Masuko of San Francisco, sponsored by Union Bank of California:
Sarah Naomi Kasuga of Burlingame, sponsored by Takara Sake USA:
Margaret Cheney of Los Gatos, sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Eri Tagaya of Mill Valley, sponsored by the Golden Gate Optimist Club of San Francisco
Yurika Vu of Fremont, sponsored by the Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco:
Benh Nakajo, Queen Program Advisor:
The Honorable Yasumasa Nagamine, Counsul General of Japan:
Masaaki Tanaka, President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and CEO of Union Bank of California:
You don’t see many giant checks these days:
Receiving the check are General Co-Chairs Richard Hashimoto and Allen Okamoto:
So there you have it.
[UPDATE: Here's David Yu's take on Flickr and on PBase.]
Six Candidates Seek Title of Cherry Blossom Queen
Six candidates for 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were introduced in San Francisco Japantown. It was noted that this year, for budgetary reasons, there will be no talent segment. Organizers hope to bring it back next year.
The six candidates are Margaret Cheney, 24, of Los Gatos, Stephanie Masako Hata, 24, of El Cerrito, Sarah Naomi Kasuga, 24, of Burlingame, Mari Masuko, 23, of San Francisco, Eri Tagaya, 24, of Mill Valley and Yurika Vu, 25, of Fremont.
See you next year!
Tags: +3, 11, 11th, 1881, 2, 2008, 2009, april, bank, beauty, benihana, blossom, california, chamber of commerce, channel, cherry, Cherry Blossom, Cinema, cinemas, contest, Festival, fillmore, George Kiriyama, Golden Gate Optimist Club, Jana Katsuyama, japan, Japanese, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, japantown, jccnc, kimono, KNTV, ktvu, lions, NBC Bay Area, nccbf, nichi bei times, nikkei, Northern California, oosaka, osaka, pageant, post, program, queen, sake, sakura, san jose, sponsor, sponsored, street, takara, tree, union, union bank, usa
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Monday, March 16th, 2009
It’s on! San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Daimyo of Japantown and El Proctector de la Bay to Breakers civic event, will judge the upcoming Nichi Bei Times Tofu Dessert Competition and Festival this Sunday at 2:00 PM.
They’ll have tofu/soy games, a tofu talk show, a tofu haiku contest, and food samples. So read up on the deets, grab your copy of the special TOFU ISSUE, and get your tickets today! You’ll never look at soybean curd the same way ever again.
Ross taking care of business last year on Post Street, during the Great 1600 Webster Condo / Save Our Festivals Imbroglio that some lawyer started up. (Akit.org has the whole story on that one.)
It’s on!
Domo arigato Mr. Roboto, ata au hi made/
Domo arigato Mr. Mirkarimo, o-tofu o tabetai!
See you there, Sunday Sunday Sunday!
Tofu Dessert Competition & Festival
Japanese Cultural & Community Center
of No. California (JCCCNC)
1840 Sutter Street
Japantown San Francisco, California
Date: March 22, 2009
TIME: 2 p.m.– 4 p.m.
http://www.soyandtofufest.com
Nichi Bei Times, a leading Japanese American newspaper in Northern California, is hosting the region’s first TofuDessert Competition & Festival on Sunday, March 22, at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California. This unique event is a fundraiser for Nihonmach Little Friends, a bilingual and multicultural childcare agency located in San Francisco’s Japantown.*
Festivities will include tofu/soy games, a tofu talk show, a tofu haiku contest, as well as food samples and other offerings from a variety of vendors. Dessert Competition finalists will gather at the festival to demonstrate the making of their dessert for the judges — culinary experts and community figures — who will announce the winner and award the $100 prize.
For tickets ($10 in advance; $12 at the door; children three and under, free), or to learn more about the Dessert Competition, the tofu haikucontest and other festival events, contact Ed Goto or Sayaka Nomura at 415.921.6820, or visit the web site shown above.
*Nihonmachi Little Friends, celebrating its 33rd year, is a community-based nonprofit organization seeking a permanent home that will allow it to further its strong ties to San Francisco’s Japanese American Community.
FRESH!
Tags: competition, Festival, haiku, japan town, japantown, Judge, Little Friends, Mirkarimi, newspaper, nichi bei times, nihonmachi, nihonmatchi, post, ross, San Francisco, soy, street, Supervisor, sutter, tofu
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