Helen H. Ota
By J.K. YAMAMOTO
The 2025 president of the Nisei Week Foundation, Helen H. Ota, has a long history with Nisei Week and is a familiar face both as a performer and a community leader.
“My earliest memory of Nisei Week is being in the Grand Parade in a marching band when I was 14 years old,” she recalled. “I remember preparing in the city’s Lot 7 parking lot. It was hot, but I had a great time being in the parade, and seeing all the people who came out to watch it was a thrill for me.”
Her first involvement in the Nisei Week organization was in 1989 as a member of the Nisei Week Court. It was also her start as an active member of the Japanese American community.
“There are a lot of highlights I experienced on court — being on a float during the Grand Parade and meeting all the amazing community members, leaders, volunteers, and businesses in Little Tokyo. The most memorable highlight for me is making lifelong friends. Our court are very close friends, and we still get together. We even do an annual trip to Las Vegas.”
The other members of the 1989 court: Queen Sandra Fukushima, Jacqueline Borja, Joyce Arakawa, Sharon Wada, Kimberly Yoshida, Stacy Yamato and Jennifer Sugimoto.
Ota first served as Nisei Week president in 2008. She reflected on how things were different in those days: “We still had Suehiro, Mikawaya, Aoi, Oiwake, and other long-time and legacy businesses in Little Tokyo. Social media was just starting to take off.
“Frances Hashimoto, a pillar of the community, was my mentor. Through her support and guidance, I was able to navigate my year with ease, and much of the advice she shared then still resonates with me.
“Though the landscape and environment have changed, and some of the leaders I had the privilege to work with are no longer here, one thing has not changed that inspires me every day — the resilience and determination the Little Tokyo community has to ensure organizations like the Nisei Week Foundation and the festival continue to thrive. For that, I am truly grateful.”
The community has been going through changes in recent years, and Ota sees her organization addressing that. “The Nisei Week Foundation has been doing a good job in engaging the next generation of leaders while honoring and valuing our long-standing leaders.
“We also use a kaizen (continuous improvement) approach. By doing this, Nisei Week looks at ways to uphold the traditions established by the Nisei, as well as how to improve our current offerings and develop new ones to keep us viable and relevant.”
Helen Ota was recognized by Kizuna in 2015 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. From left: George Ota (brother), Nathaniel Ota (nephew), Ling Ota (sister-in-law), Hiroko Ota (mom), Harry Ota (dad), Helen Ota, and Mike Palma (husband). The late Alan Nishio (not pictured) was also honored.
Ota has worn many hats in her community service. She was artistic director of Cold Tofu Improv, an Asian American comedy troupe. She is a long-time member of the Grateful Crane Ensemble, which performs nostalgic songs for Issei, Nisei and Sansei as well as audiences in Japan. She has been a board and staff member of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, has served on the board of the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance and Zentoku Foundation, and is an advisory council member of Kizuna, which develops young leaders. She is a recent addition to Asian Persuasion, which performs oldies but goodies.
Asked how she is able to juggle all of her responsibilities, she replied, “I think I’m no different than many of our community members and leaders who are also involved with a variety of organizations in Little Tokyo and the Japanese and Japanese American communities.
“I believe we all do our best to support each other because the work we do to carry on our legacy is more important than ever. Sharing and celebrating our history, our arts and culture, our traditions, and our community is the best way to support one another.”
Noting that Nisei Week’s theme this year is kansha (感謝) or gratitude, she said, “This year offers a special opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and honor the Nisei who founded the festival in 1934. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our current partners, supporters, and stakeholders who contribute to the festival’s enduring success.”
Ota summed up her philosophy of life: “Being kind to others and treating them with respect and dignity, and doing your best to make meaningful contributions in your family life, friendships, and community.”