Back Row (L to R): Anita Sumi Yayi Komatsu Gardena Evening Optimist Club, Amy Ryoko Kubo East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, Seia Loraine Watanabe Japanese Restaurant Association of America, Morgan Mayuko Gee Venice Japanese Community Center & Venice-West Los Angeles JACL. Front Row (L to R): Caitlyn Tera Sasaki Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council, Carina Aiko Sakimura Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute.
Coronation Set for Aug. 10 in Little Tokyo
The 2024 Nisei Week Queen candidates took center stage for their first official public appearance at the 82ndNisei Week Festival Opening Ceremony event held July 14 at the Japanese American National Museum.
The six candidates will vie for the title of Nisei Week Queen on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m., during the coronation program at the Aratani (Japan America) Theatre in Little Tokyo. General admission tickets are $95 per person and are available at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s website (www.jaccc.org).
Upon official coronation, the 2024 queen and court will represent the Nisei Week Foundation at this year’s 80thNisei Week Japanese Festival and other community events locally and nationally throughout the year. The candidates are:
Amy Ryko Kubo
East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Amy is 25 years old and graduated from CSU Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in supply chain management. She is currently obtaining a master’s degree in organizational leadership. Amy wants to become a flight subcontracts manager that supports flagship space missions.
She enjoys playing in the Pasadena Community Orchestra as a violist, volunteering at music camp as a string coach over the summers, being a performing member of Kishin Daiko, and watching Korean dramas and anime. The platform she will support this year is TaikoProject.
Carina Aiko Sakimura
Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute
Carina is 22 years old and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern California. She currently works as a physical therapy aide in an outpatient clinic. She plans to apply to graduate school for occupational therapy in the fall.
Carina loves to explore new places and adventures in the outdoors, play taiko, and crochet blankets for friends. The platform she has chosen to support is the Go For Broke National Education Center.
Anita Sumi Yayi Komatsu
Gardena Evening OptimistClub
Anita is 23 years old and graduated from UC Irvine with bachelor’s degrees in ecology and evolutionary biological sciences and earth systems sciences. Currently, she works as an assistant brand manager for Tamagotchi at Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America, a Japanese toy and entertainment company.
During her free time, she enjoys traveling, capturing memories on her film camera, cuddling with her two cats, and playing indoor and beach volleyball. She will support Kizuna as her platform.
Morgan Mayuko Gee
Venice Japanese Community Centerand Venice – West LosAngeles JACL
Morgan is 26 years old and received her bachelor’s degree in recreation, parks and tourism administration with a dual concentration in events and tourism and hospitality management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She works as a travel industry sales manager for Omni Hotels & Resorts, where she is lucky enough to incorporate her passion for travel into her career.
In her free time she enjoys going to hot yoga classes, surfing at the beach, skiing knee-deep fresh powder, and deep diving into all things true crime-related. For her platform, she will be supporting Go Little Tokyo!
Caitlyn Tera Sasaki
Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council
Caitlyn is 22 years old and earned her bachelor’s degree in business economics from UC Irvine. She is currently a procurement professional supporting UCI’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering, sourcing laboratory capital equipment, chemicals/reagents used for research purposes, and maintenance/service contracts.
Outside of work, she loves playing volleyball, going to Disneyland, and volunteering with Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program and Yo! Camp. The platform she has chosen to support is Yo!
Seia Watanabe
Japanese Restaurant Association of America
Seia is 24 years old and graduated from CSU Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She aspires to become a film producer and philanthropist. In her spare time, she hosts dinner parties, plays video games, paints and serves on the Japanese American Citizens League National Board. The platform she has chosen to support this year is Little Tokyo Service Center.
The coronation program is set to be a memorable event with co-hosts actor Tamlyn Tomita and ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor David Ono. For information, contact Keith Inatomi at [email protected] or the Nisei Week office.
The 82ndNisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the nation’s longest-running cultural festivals. This event will take place in Little Tokyo from Aug. 10 to 18. For the festival schedule, visit NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at (213) 687-7193 or email [email protected].