Curtain Call

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS

The 2014 Nisei Week Court made their official debut on Sunday at the Japanese American National Museum. The candidates are: (seated front row, from left) Tiffany Akemi Hashimoto (Gardena Evening Optimist Club), Dominque Ariande Mashburn (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council) and Melissa Sayuri Kozono (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center); (standing, from left) Tori Angela Nishinaka-Leon (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute), Lindsey Emiko Sugimoto (West L.A. Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center). They are joined by Mike Okamoto, Nisei Week Foundation president, Aki the Akita and Hello Kitty, Nisei Week parade marshal. At right, Nisei Week choreographers Madame Fujima Kansuma and Kansuzu are joined by their dancers.

2014 Nisei Week Court at this year’s opening ceremony

2014 Nisei Week Court at this year’s opening ceremony

Dancers entertain the crowd at the Japanese American National Museum.

Dancers entertain the crowd at the Japanese American National Museum.

Nisei Week choreographers Madame Fujima Kansuma and Kansuzu are joined by their dancers.

Hello Kitty, this year’s parade marshal, with Nisei Week mascot Aki the Akita

From right, Nisei Week Queen Lauren Iwata, Nisei Week Foundation President Mike Okamoto, L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Japan Business Association President Yuko Kaifu and Izuru Shimmura, acting consul general, break open the sake barrel at the Nisei Week Opening Ceremony.