SAN FRANCISCO — Five candidates for the title of 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were announced on March 16 in Japantown.
Following are brief profiles. “Creative expression” refers to the talent each will perform during the queen program.
• Michiko Marie Maggi (マジー・みちこマリー)
Residence: San Francisco
Age: 25
Parents: John Maggi and Cathy Maggi of Pleasant Hill
Education: Acalanes High school, University of the Pacific (master’s degree in educational leadership)
Hobbies/interests: Arts, civic engagement, recreation, research
Professional ambition/goals in life: To receive her doctorate in educational leadership and open up a non-profit
Creative expression: Film
Sponsor: Benihana
• Jamie Sachiko Martyn (マーティン・ジェイミー紗智子)
Residence: San Francisco
Age: 24
Parents: Thomas Martyn and Taeko Martyn of Tokyo
Education: Westfield High School, Virginia Tech (bachelor’s degree in international relations)
Hobbies/interests: Being involved, doodling, hanging out, learning, running
Professional ambition/goals in life: To become a children’s book illustrator and public affairs diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service.
Creative expression: Drawing
Sponsor: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
• Tiffany Sieu Okimura (おきむらティファニー シゥ)
Residence: Foster City
Age: 22
Parents: Rickey Okimura and Cecilia Okimura of Foster City
Education: San Mateo High School, UC Santa Barbara (bachelor’s degree in sociology)
Hobbies/interests: Baking, Giants baseball, photography, swimming, travel
Professional ambition/goals in life: To always be happy and positive, to always live life to the fullest
Creative expression: Odori dance
Sponsor: Takara Sake USA Inc.
• Kimberly Miya Sasaki (佐々木キンバリーみや)
Residence: San Francisco
Age: 24
Parents: Gary Sasaki and Denise Sasaki of San Francisco
Education: Lowell High School, UC Davis (bachelor’s degree in animal biology)
Hobbies/interests: Dance, film, hiking, music, yoga
Professional ambition/goals in life: To work as a psychiatric pharmacist
Creative expression: Jazz dance
Sponsor: Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco
• Kelly Yuka Walton (ウォルトン・ケリー 夕花)
Residence: San Francisco
Age: 25
Parents: David Walton and Machiko Nakatani of San Francisco
Education: Lowell High School, Stanford University (master’s degree in education)
Hobbies/interests: Dance, discussing social issues, reading, volunteering, travel
Professional ambition/goals in life: To continue in education as a teacher, principal or politician
Creative expression: Modern dance
Sponsor: Kagami Kai
The new queen will be crowned on April 13, the first day of the 46th annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown. For more information on the festival, visit http://sfcherryblossom.org/.