Pictured from left:
Bottom row — June Aochi Berk (1954), Joyce Kikuchi Sumi (1971), Sandy Toshiyuki (1976), Faith Higurashi Ono (1959), Penny Akemi Tani Sakoda (1960), Dianne Kubota Hamano (1961)
Second row, from middle — Morgan Gee (2024), Tish Okabe Kato (1985), Helen Ota, 2025 Nisei Week Foundation president, Liane Takano Pham (2006), Joann Shin Cordeiro (1996)
Third row — Mutsuko Sata Adachi (1991), Naomi Ono Sognefest (1993), Lauren Kinkade Wong (2001), Tracy Isawa Ahn (1984), Sara Hutter (2015), Kaitlyn Chu (2023), Jamie Mizuhara Sakamoto (2002)
Fourth row — Jaclyn Tomita Jun (2016), Janelle Hamabata (1997), Dana Heatherton (2009), Jill Hiraizumi-Artino (2008), Lauren Iwata Hui (2013), Monika Teuffel Moorlach (2007)
Top row — Princess Mia Takatsuka, Princess Samantha Cirelli, Miss Tomodachi Mika Dyo, Queen Kimi Look, First Princess Megan Miyamoto, Princess Emma Shojinaka Fukunaga, Princess Casey Kuramoto
The annual reunion of former Nisei Week Queens took place on Aug. 10 at the Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Forum with 24 former queens in attendance.
The event was co-chaired by Sandy Toshiyuki (1976) and Tracy Isawa Ahn (1983). Lauren Kinkade Wong (2001) served as emcee and Helen Ota, Nisei Week Foundation president and 1989 princess, gave opening remarks.
Newly crowned Nisei Week Queen Kimi Look and her court also attended. They participated in the Nisei Week Parade later that day along with the 2024 court.
The program also focuses on one former queen who has been active in the community. This year, Kaitlyn Chu (2023) appeared in conversation with Wong. June Aochi Berk (1954), who was interviewed last year, was also on hand.
Each attendee had an opportunity to give an update on her recent activities.
