The Official Nisei Week Foundation Japanese Festival Website

All photos courtesy Toyo Miyatake Studios		Dana Fujiko Heatherton 2009 Nisei Week Queen Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute Dana Fujiko Heatherton is 24 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in American literature and culture. Heatherton enjoys a variety of activities and hobbies including playing basketball, learning about Los Angeles history, traveling, cooking, and working with the board of directors for the Little Tokyo Service Center and Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA. The platform she has chosen this year is the LA84 Foundation.

Marisa Saori Tamaru First Princess West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center Marisa Saori Tamaru is 25 years old and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in psychology and East Asian languages and cultures. She enjoys running, sampling different cuisines, hiking with her dog, and spending time with her family and friends. Tamaru has chosen the Alzheimer's Association to support as her platform.		Nicole Kiyomi Masuda Miss Tomodachi Japanese American Living Legacy and The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant Nicole Kiyomi Masuda is 22 years old and received her bachelor's degree in mathematics from California State University, Channel Islands. In her spare time she enjoys playing and watching sports, especially the Dodgers, camping, shopping, solving sudoku puzzles and spending time with family and friends. She has selected the Children's Cancer Research Fund as her platform.

Jennifer Yoko Akamine Princess East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center Jennifer Yoko Akamine is 24 years old and received her bachelor's degree in organizational communication from Pepperdine University in 2006. She is currently pursuing a double master's degree at Azusa Pacific University in college counseling and student development and violin performance. Her favorite pastimes include surfing, beach volleyball, running, attending operas and musicals, playing violin, reading, cooking, and international travel. She has selected the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking as her platform.		Michelle Yukari Hirose Princess Japanese Restaurant Association of America Michelle Yukari Hirose is 24 years old and currently attends California State Poly Polytechnic University, Pomona where she is studying communications. Some of Hirose's leisure activities and hobbies include watching movies, baking, volunteering at various community nonprofit organizations, educating people on the importance of the Japanese American community, trying new restaurants and spending time with family and friends. Her platform is Friends of TOMS.

Whitney Lee Itano Princess Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council Whitney Lee Itano is 22 years old and recently graduated from the University of Hawaii of Manoa with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Born in Pasadena, Calif., she spends her free time playing basketball, going to the beach, reading, traveling, eating and shopping. Her platform is Susan G. Komen for the Cure.		Aimee Teruko Machida Princess Gardena Evening Optimist Aimee Teruko Machida is 22 years old and received her bachelor's degree in public health from the University of California, Irvine. Some of Machida's favorite pastimes include vocal and musical theater, dancing, playing the piano and the guitar, playing basketball and working with children. The platform Machida has chosen to support this year is the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center.