(Los Angeles - August 15, 2011) - The Nisei Week Foundation proudly announced Erika Mariko Olsen as the 2011 Nisei Week Queen on Saturday, August 13, during the Nisei Week Coronation event held at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. Former 2010 Nisei Week Queen, Lani Kume Nishiyama, passed on her reign to Olsen. Seven other ladies also took center stage to compete for the title of the 2011 Nisei Week Queen including: First Princess Mimi Mitsuko Yang, Miss Tomadachi Kay A Yamaguchi, Princess Leann Fumiko Fujinami, Princess Jessica Makiko Kanai, Princess Michi Renee Lew, Princess Melissa Ayumi Nishimura and Princess Amber Akemi Piatt.

Six judges selected Olsen as the new queen, who represented the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute. When asked about her title she said, "I feel very excited and blessed." Olsen is 22 years old and graduated cum laude from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in music performance. As a member of the Grateful Crane Youth Singers, Olsen aspires to bring a new voice with passion to the community. "I truly hope that I can be a good representative of the Japanese American community and share the rich history and traditions of our culture with the younger generation."

The coronation ceremony was an evening of laughs and entertainment, with co-hosts actress Tamilyn Tomita, and ABC Eyewitness News Anchor David Ono. In keeping with festival's theme, "Honoring Our Community Heroes," a special dance tribute was performed by the Nisei Week queen candidates and coronation committee to honor the veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service. The powerful voice of singer, Judith Hill, resonated through the audience to top off an evening of entertaining performances.

"All of the young ladies this year are winners," said Rev. Mark M. Nakagawa, Nisei Week Foundation President. "Erika exemplifies all of the attributes and qualities that define a Nisei Week queen and community representative. We are proud to have her and the entire court as Nisei Week ambassadors for the upcoming year."

The 2011 Nisei Week Court includes:

Queen Erika Mariko Olsen (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute)
Erika Mariko Olsen is 22 years old and graduated cum laude from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University of Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in Music Performance. Olsen is an aspiring performer of the arts and looks forward to playing in leading musical and opera roles. In her spare time, she likes singing, playing the piano, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking, knitting, dancing, doing art, opera, enjoying opera and musical theatre and being a part of the Grateful Crane Youth Group Singers. This year Olsen will be supporting Classroom Connections as her platform.

1st Princess Mimi Mitsuko Yang (West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center)
Mimi Mitsuko Yang is 22 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and double majoring in International Economics and Japanese. Yang’s career goal is to become a healthcare executive who creates affordable, quality care for the community. In her spare time, Yang enjoys cooking, reading, practicing yoga, snowboarding and making jewelry. This year Yang will be supporting the International Medical Corps as her platform.

Miss Tomodachi Kay A. Yamaguchi (Gardena Evening Optimist and The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant)
Kay A. Yamaguchi is 24 years old and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a major in Economics and minor in Accounting. Yamaguchi currently works for Pricewaterhouse Coopers and aspires to be promoted and transfered to their Tokyo, Japan, office, to further her pursuit in international business. In her free time she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, dancing and snowboarding. This year Yamaguchi will be supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank as her platform.

Princess Jessica Makiko Kanai (Japanese Restaurant Association of America)
Jessica Makiko Kanai is 22 years old and graduated last year from San Diego State University with a bachelor degree in Recreation and Tourism Management, with an emphasis in Systems Management. Upon graduation, Kanai will continue working in the Japanese American community to help preserve the Japanese culture its' heritage. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, watching musicals, trying new restaurants, going to Disneyland, volunteering with Konnichiwa Little Tokyo and spending time with family and friends. Kanai will be supporting Vista Del Mar as her platform.

Princess Leann Fumiko Fujinami (San Diego Japanese American Citizens League)
Leann Fumiko Fujinami is 21 years old and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a bachelor degree in art history. Leann would like to pursue a career in art administration. Her favorite pastimes include running, swimming, art and shopping. This year Fujinami will be supporting the Be the Match Donor Organization.

Princess Michi Renee Lew (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Michi Renee Lew is 22 years old and graduated from the California State University of Los Angeles, where she is majoring in Liberal Studies. Upon graduation, Lew would like to pursue a career in education and become a middle school teacher, student activities director and to end her career as a school administrator. Her hobbies include playing and coaching basketball, swimming, reading, hiking and making ribbon leis. The platform Lew has decided to support this year is the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF).

Princess Melissa Ayumi Nishimura (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council)
Melissa Ayumi Nishimura is 23 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received her bachelor of arts in Economics, with a double minor in Accounting and Asian American Studies. Her hobbies include playing basketball, dancing in Hawaiian and Tahitian styles, trying new restaurants, taking care of her dog, Colbie, and watching Friends re-runs on television. This year Nishimura will be supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as her platform.

Princess Amber Akemi Piatt (San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center and Coordinating Council)
Amber Akemi Piatt is 23 years old and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a double major in Psychology and Spanish. Piatt's professional career goal is to start a non-profit organization that addresses the needs of bi-cultural families in order to help parents and their children embrace their roots, while teaching them ways to be competitive in American society. Her hobbies include doing photography, practicing yoga, hiking, dancing, going to concerts, traveling and baking. The platform Piatt chose to support this year is Off the Mat and into the World.

The 2011 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is taking place in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo until August21. For a calendar of events, go to www.NiseiWeek.org or call the Nisei Week Foundation office at (213) 687-7193. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 S. San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

The Nisei Week Foundation was established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to oversee and organize the Nisei Week Japanese Festival. The Foundation's mission is to promote Japanese and Japanese American heritage and traditions while bringing together the diverse communities of Southern California through arts and cultural education. It does this by producing the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, a nine-day event first held in 1934 and today one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States.