A Royal Sisterhood
By GWEN MURANAKA
Rafu English Editor
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006

Nisei Week Queens gather for luncheon at Japanese American National Museum.

MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo
Front row left to right:  Keith Inatomi, Tracy Isawa Ahn ‘83, Judy Sugita de Queiroz ‘53, Em
Kato Yamada ‘52, Sandy Toshiyuki ‘76, Michelle Suzuki, David Ono, George “Horse”
Yoshinaga, Dr. Fred Kurata; 2nd row left to right:  Akemi Tani Sakoda ‘60, June Aochi Berk
‘54, Tamlyn Tomita ‘84, Nicole Cherry ‘03, Jennifer Ahn Yoshitake ‘86; 3rd Row left to right: 
Helen Funai Erickson ‘63, Dianne Kubota Hamano ‘61,  Tish Okabe Kato ‘85, Jamie
Mizuhara ‘02, Lauren Kinkade-Wong ‘01, Steffanie Tamehiro ‘05; 4th Row left to right:  Faith
Higurashi Ono ‘59, Kimi Evans ‘94, Judy Sato Gilbertson ‘95, Tiffany Hattori ‘98, Nikki
Kodama ‘04, Tricia Tanaka’00, Traci Murase ‘99; 5th Row: 2006 Nisei Week Court, Princess
Colleen Suyenaga, Princess Stefanie Fujinami, First Princess Lisa Shimabukuro, Queen
Liane Takano, Miss Tomodachi Chelsea O’Neill and Princess Callen Kitaura.

They come together every year as queens, but also as part of a unique, enduring sisterhood. Nisei Week Queens, past and present, reflected on this as they gathered Sunday for a luncheon at the Japanese American National Museum.

The luncheon was organized by Em Kato Yamada, Nisei Week Queen 1952, and hosted by Dr. Fred K. Kurata. Chef Akira Hirose of Maison Akira in Pasadena provided the food for the meeting of more than 20 former Queens.

“It’s so wonderful to see all of you here year after year,” said Nisei Week Foundation President Michelle Suzuki, herself a former member of the Nisei Week Court. “I hope you continue to come back year after year. It’s nice to reminisce and meet the new court.”

Suzuki served on the 1993 Nisei Week Court with Queen Naomi Ono Sognefest, whose mother Faith Higurashi Ono was crowned Queen in 1959. They were the first mother-daughter duo to serve as Queens. Suzuki said she was hoping to start a newsletter for Nisei Week Court alumni.

Guests at the luncheon included Rafu Shimpo columnist George Yoshinaga, photographer Archie Miyatake and KABC anchor David Ono, who emceed the Queen’s Coronation with Tamlyn Tomita, 1984 Nisei Week Queen. Tomita said she invited Ono so he could experience what she feels is an important part of the Nikkei community.

“You inspire me in the way you conduct your lives as women,” Tomita said. “We’re here to nuture their generation. They are going to develop Nisei Week and what it means to be Japanese American.” she said, gesturing to a table of Nisei Week Queens from recent years.”

To that end, the women welcomed the 2006 Nisei Week Court, led by Queen Liane Takano, who stopped be briefly during their busy weekend schedule.

Nikki Kodama, 2004 Nisei Week Queen, chair of the Nisei Week Fashion Show, thanked the women who helped put together the show that featured Tadashi’s designs.

2005 Nisei Week Queen Steffanie Tamehiro joined the group for the first time as a past queen and related the events of her year. Among the highlights were trips to Japan, Seattle and Hawaii with the Nisei Week Court. Tamehiro also visited a friend in South Africa and saw Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

“The year flew by so fast and yet it was crammed with so many memories. Knowing that we working in the community is definitely important and enriching,” Tamehiro stated.

Sandy Toshiyuki, 1976 Nisei Week Queen, summed up the thoughts of many at the luncheon. She let the gathering know of some of the lives of Queens who were not able to join this year.

“This is a good place to come and get support and give support,” said Toshiyuki. “We’re women of different ages coming together. This continuity is for me really special. Now it’s more sweet because there’s this special bond we share. As you get older, you’ll begin to understand.”