84th Nisei Week Kicks Off

By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER

The 84th Nisei Week Festival officially opened on July 12, with a ceremony and introductions at the Japanese American National Museum’s Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.

Helen Ota, returning for a third time as Nisei Week president, took a moment to remind the audience of this year’s theme and the singular nature of each festival.

“Ichigo, Ichie – one time, one meeting – signifies that every moment is unique, unrepeatable and should be treasured,” she said. “The Nisei Week Foundation cherishes each festival as a unique experience, and with the spirit of ichigo, ichie, we carry a deep appreciation for the overwhelming support we receive from the community.”

The ceremony got off to a thundering start with a performance by OCO Kibou Taiko before Ota’s welcoming remarks. Serving as mistress of ceremonies was 2025 Nisei Week Queen Kimi Look, who introduced this year’s festival honorees and officials.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takano will serve as the grand marshal of the 2026 Nisei Week Grand Parade, set for Sunday, Aug. 16, kicking off at 4 p.m. Famed mural artist Robert Vargas, whose “L.A. Rising” depiction of Shohei Ohtani has become a globally recognized icon of Little Tokyo, will be the parade marshal.

This year’s recipients of the Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award, honoring four individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the Southern California Japanese American community are: global food service pioneer Mutual Trading Co., Inc.; former Little Tokyo Service Center Executive Director Erich Nakano; public relations specialist and longtime community advocate Debra Nakatomi; and So-Phis, whose mission of social and philanthropic opportunities dates back to the late 1950s.

Each year, Nisei Week recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the Japanese American community and beyond. This year’s honorees:

Dan Fukushima, first president of the Southeast Los Angeles–North Orange County Junior Japanese American Citizens League, founding secretary-treasurer of the Suburban Optimist Club, official with the Orange Coast Optimist Club and co-founder of the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council.

Music instructor Miyoko Hataye, founder of the Sakura Chorus, a vocal group that has provided performances and lessons at retirement homes in L.A. and Orange counties. She later created the the Nisei Week Choral Festival, and was named first presi-dent of the Nikkei Choral Federation of Southern California in 2005.

Dr. Kenji Irie, who for generations has dedicated much of his life to advancing healthcare and social welfare for the Japanese American community and Southern California’s diverse populations. Recognizing the challenges faced by Japanese immigrants, he established a health counseling program in 1973 to help them navigate America’s healthcare system. Though mostly retired at age 84, Dr. Irie continues to participate in health-related events in the community.

Joyce Wakano Chinn, former elementary school teacher and an active leader in the Japanese and Japanese American community for more than a half-century. She is at the forefront of service with the Nisei Week Foundation, Japanese American Optimist Club, Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California, and Los Angeles-Nagoya Sister City Affili-ation, where she is a board member.

Attorney Yuriko Shikai, a member of the Japanese American Bar Association and volunteer legal counsel for Little Tokyo Senior Nutrition Services, which provides meals for congregate and home-bound seniors in the Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights communities. She serves in several capacities for organizations including the Little Tokyo Business Association, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, and Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California, and helps organize the Oshogatsu Festival in Little Tokyo every New Year’s Day.

Nancy Uyemura, a Little Tokyo-based Sansei artist and writer who has been exhibiting in the U.S. and Asia since the 1970s. Uyemura has been dedicated to bringing art into the community decades, her work can be seen at locations including Casa Heiwa, Little Tokyo Branch Library, Tokyo Towers, Azay and Little Tokyo Towers.

The Nisei Week President’s Award this year is being given to Alan Miyatake, the third-generation owner of Toyo Miyatake Studio, the legacy photography business that was established by his grandfather and has chronicled every Nisei Week Japanese Festival since the first one in 1934.

Certainly the most anticipated moment of the Opening Ceremony was the introduction of this year’s candidates who will vie to be selected as the 2026 Nisei Week Queen at the Coronation and Awards Gala on Aug. 15. The candidates and their sponsors:

Kara Kimiko Chu, 23, Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council

Emily Kaori Gruhn, 25, Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute

Ai Grace Kusayanagi, 23, Japanese Restaurant Association of America

Jacqueline Fujiko Naito, 24, East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center

Meagan Sueko Pham, 25, San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center

Kailah Julianne Tokushige, 26, Gardena Evening Optimist Club

Deena Maiko Umeda, 26, Venice Japanese Community Center and Venice-West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League

One of the nation’s longest-running ethnic festivals, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival will be held at locations in and out of Little Tokyo from Aug. 15 to 23. The ever-popular Nisei Week Baby Show takes place ahead of those events, taking the stage this year on July 25 at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center in West Covina.

For a complete schedule of events and locations, visit NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at (213) 687-7193 or email info@ niseiweek.org.

– Additional information provided by Nisei Week Foundation