Nisei Week Queen Joann Shin (center) and the Nisei Week Court are joined by Norman Mineta and Linda Honda. This year’s theme “Connections” highlights the way Nisei Week connects the community through the generations.
By GWEN MURANAKA
Nisei Week is the connection that brings so many to Little Tokyo. For Nisei Week Foundation President Joann Shin Cordeiro, that connection started when she was crowned Nisei Week Queen in 1996 as a freshman at UC San Diego.
“So much of the Nisei Week experience was the key people who are still in my life,” Shin Cordeiro said.
In Nisei Week, the generations have shared the tradition, passing the torch from Nisei to Sansei and now to Yonsei, Gosei and beyond. It’s Shin Cordeiro’s turn to guide and lead the festival. She is the first former Nisei Week Queen to lead the organization as president.
The 1996 Nisei Week Court remain close friends. From left: Lori Takatani Hara (1996), Kristine Yamabayashi Morita (1997 First Princess), Jennifer Okutake (1996), me, and Maggie Fukumoto Williams (1996) with their kids at the Closing Ceremony in 2022. Shin Cordeiro’s son Jake, is the second from the right.
“It’s an honor to be stepping into this role of foundation president,” she said. “A large reason I can is because of this continued investment by people in the community. To invest in the next generation of leaders, through their passion, dedication and hard work, to inspire these leaders to do the same — it’s a collective effort. Putting this festival together takes a tremendous effort … board, sponsors, volunteers, not something done by one person.
“I’m stepping into this role but I’m being supported by so many.”
Joann Shin Cordeiro
This year is a special one for Nisei Week. The first festival was held 90 years ago in 1934 and this is the 140th anniversary of Little Tokyo. As foundation president, Shin Cordiero is responsible for keeping Nisei Week going in the right direction and staying true to its foundation while also looking towards the future and sustainability. It’s a challenging task but Shin Cordeiro brings energy and enthusiasm informed by her experiences in Nisei Week and in the Japanese American community.
“All of that was very present and its always remained with me, I was 19 years old and it can make such an impactful meaningful impact on your life,” she said.
“Nisei Week allowed me to open my world and exposed me to so many different things and gave me an appreciation of Japanese and Japanese American culture. So it’s important to continue to provide these opportunities.”
Her first memories of Little Tokyo are going to St. Francis Xavier Japanese Catholic Center (formerly Maryknoll), where her parents Kijoon and Akiko Shin are still active members.
Her brother David participated in judo at East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, which became her sponsoring organization.
Shin Cordeiro remains close friends with her court including seeing many at the recent Dodgers Japanese Heritage Night. Her year was notable because she got to meet the Emperor of Japan in June 1997 and among the community leaders she recalled from her time on the court were people such as Alan Miyatake, Leslie Kawai, Linda Honda and Frances Hashimoto. Many who continue to give back.
“Generations continue to stay involved and give back, such as Jerry Fukui and now his daughter, Sarah,” Shin Cordeiro said.
Today, Cordeiro is a media and communications consultant with experience in broadcast journalism and has work with organizations including the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and the National Veterans Network, which held a special exhibition on the Nisei soldier experience at the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
Sarah and Cary Fukui enjoy a moment with Shin and the Nisei Week Court during the Closing Ceremony. Since those early days, Sarah has become active in the JA community, serving on the Kizuna board.
The Nisei Week president said that there will be many exciting events to look forward to during the festival, including a special tribute to 140 years of Little Tokyo during the Nisei Week Closing Ceremony.
Nisei Week is also trying new things such as presenting the annual Baby Show at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center.
“They are one of our sponsoring organizations and it’s an effort to think outside the box and try to be able to support our partners. Those are some of the ways we hope to continue to move forward and evolve,” she said.