Queen & Court Committee Information

[Queen & Court Committee Overview] [Contact] [Becoming a Candidate]

Queen & Court Committee Overview

The Nisei Week Queen and Court committee is a group of all-volunteers who take pride in the Japanese American community.ÝMany of the committee members are past queen and court members themselves and have intricate knowledge of the commitment, fun and experiences offered through the program. These volunteers believe in the goals of Nisei Week to bring the Japanese American community of Los Angeles closer together, reach out to all cultures and to share our culture with others. The committee believes in fostering future leaders of Nisei Week and the community through training, special events, volunteer work, team building, community service and cultural enrichment classes. The committee believes that the entire Nisei Week court are equals and will have the opportunity to participate in all Nisei Week events, visitations, volunteer requests and trips. Some of the committee's goals are to: Foster community pride Encourage teamwork Cultivate future leaders of Nisei Week Expand knowledge and opportunities through meaningful experiences Nurture all personalities and encourage active participation Promote community volunteerism Create an environment where all can succeed and feel included The 2004-2005 Queen and Court Committee members include: Michelle Suzuki, Chair Helen Ota, Events Director Jill Kadonaga, Communications Director Erin Nomura, Training Co-Director Jenni Okamura, Training Co-Director N.J. Nakamura, Treasure Chest Director Committee Members: Lauren Kinkade Jamie Mizuhara Dawn Mizuhara Deanna Nakamura Silvia Yoshimizu Annie Yoshihara Michie Sujishi Naomi Ono-Sognefest Advisors: Frances Hashimoto Tim Itatani Jennifer Ahn Yoshitake Diane Tanaka Tiffany Hattori Pegi Matsuda [back to top]

Contact

If you would like to become a member of the Queen and Court committee, please contact Michelle Suzuki for additional information. niseiweekqc@niseiweek.org [back to top]

Becoming a Candidate

Process The Nisei Week Queen is chosen during the coronation ball during the Saturday of first weekend of the Nisei Week Festival held in August every year. The process of becoming a Nisei Week Queen and Court candidate begins at the community level. Each candidate must be sponsored by a Nisei Week-approved sponsor to compete in the Nisei Week Queen and Court contest. Currently, there are six (6) approved Nisei Week Queen and Court candidate sponsors located throughout the Southern California area.Ý These include: East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, Japanese Restaurant Association of Southern California, Little Tokyo Lions Club, Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council, San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center and Coordinating Council, and West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizen’s League and the Venice Japanese Community Center. Each sponsor holds their own competition and chooses their own representative. Once the candidates are chosen, the Nisei Week Queen and Court committee holds an orientation meeting to meet all the candidates and welcome them to Nisei Week. After the initial meeting, candidates are then required to participate in training, cultural enrichment classes, educational courses and dance rehearsals. These sessions will help each candidate learn more about their Japanese American heritage, increase their public speaking ability and build their confidence to become representatives of Nisei Week and the Japanese American community. These sessions lead to the coronation ball of the Nisei Week festival. Nisei Week Queen Candidate Attributes Platform: Each candidate will be asked to choose a Platform Each candidate will be asked to choose an organization and/or cause they plan to support throughout the year in the event that the candidate is chosen as the Nisei Week Queen. This will include developing a plan to support the cause, reasons why they chose to support the cause and the ultimate goal of choosing their platform. Each candidate's chosen platform can be used as part of the judging criteria. Attributes: The following are attributes a Nisei Week Queen and Court Candidate posses Intelligence Poise Dedication Outgoing Team-Player Gracious Open-mided Flexible Confidence Philanthropic Good support system Enjoys travel and has transportation Well-rounded Positive attitude Good communicator Responsible Interested in the Japanese American Community [back to top]