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2009 Nisei Week Queen Dana Fujiko Heatherton
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.
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First Princess Marisa Saori Tamaru
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.
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Miss Tomodachi Nicole Kiyomi Masuda
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.
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Princess Jennifer Yoko Akamine
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.
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Princess Michelle Yukari Hirose
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.
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Princess Whitney Lee Itano
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.
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Princess Aimee Teruko Machida
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.
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