The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2023 queen candidates during its virtual preview press conference March 15 over Zoom. The program, a highlight of the city’s annual cherry blossom festival, will take place April 8 at the Cowell Theatre in Fort Mason. The candidates are: Samantha Michiko Teshima, Maya Isaka, Emily […]
NorCal Cherry Blossom Queen Program introduces 2022 candidates
March 17, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2022 queen candidates during its inaugural virtual preview press conference March 9 over Zoom. The program, a highlight of the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 9 at the AMC Kabuki 8. The candidates are: Katy Akiko Drennan, Stephanie Misa Doi, Michelle […]
Kelly Eshima crowned NorCal sakura matsuri queen amid unprecedented year
April 15, 2021 by Leave a Comment
While the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the event last year, San Francisco’s 54th annual Cherry Blossom Festival held an online program and crowned its 2021 queen April 10. Akiko Jacqueline Bates, Ashlyn Sumiko Hom and Kelly Noelani Eshima competed in this year’s program emceed by Jana Katsuyama, KTVU Fox 2 reporter. The three women, along with […]
S.F. Cherry Blossom Festival crowns naginata practitioner Yuki Nishimura queen
April 25, 2019 by Leave a Comment
San Francisco’s 52nd annual Cherry Blossom Festival crowned its 2019 queen April 13 during the ceremony held at the AMC Kabuki 8 in the city’s Japantown. The program, emceed by KTVU Fox 2 reporter Jana Katsuyama and Devin Katayama, host of KQED’s “The Bay” podcast, had Nami Katie Saito, Elena Anne Harumi Nielsen, NaOmi Leilani […]
S.F.’s Cherry Blossom Queen Program candidates address JA identity
March 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2019 queen candidates during its annual preview March 10 at the Union Bank Community Room in San Francisco’s Japantown. The program, a highlight of the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 13 at the AMC Kabuki 8. The candidates are: Nami Katie […]
Nicole Tachiki named 2018 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen
April 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment
San Francisco’s 51st annual Cherry Blossom Festival crowned its 2018 queen April 14 during the ceremony held at the AMC Kabuki 8 in the city’s Japantown. The program, emceed by KTVU-TV reporter Jana Katsuyama and KGO-TV reporter David Louie, had Lauren Kieva Matsuno, Rachel Mika Kawawaki, Maya Hernandez, Nicole Tachiki and Emiri Sakurai vying for […]
S.F. Cherry Blossom Queen candidates announced
March 15, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2018 queen candidates during its annual preview March 11 at the Union Bank Community Room in San Francisco’s Japantown. The queen program, a highlight of San Francisco’s annual cherry blossom festival, will take place Saturday, April 14 at the AMC Kabuki 8. The candidates are: […]
FROM SUMO TO MUSIC: Former Ozeki KONISHIKI to be Grand Marshal of parade
April 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Hail the conquering hero … once again. When KONISHIKI last came to the Bay Area in 1996, the much celebrated sumo wrestler in Japan was taking a victory lap of sorts at a tournament in San Jose while he wound down a history-making career. Sunday, April 16 in San Francisco, the Hawai‘i-born KONISHIKI will return […]
Cherry Blossom Festival celebrating 50 years and embracing the future
April 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
San Francisco’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary with organizers hoping to present a celebration of Japanese culture that is bigger than ever. This year, the two weekend-long event will host a 50th anniversary gala, more than 200 guests from Japan and expanded entertainment, including a scavenger hunt. Richard Hashimoto, who previously […]
S.F. Cherry Blossom Queen candidates announced
March 16, 2017 by 1 Comment
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program presented its 2017 queen candidates during its annual festival preview March 12 at the Union Bank Community Room in San Francisco’s Japantown. The Queen Program, a highlight of San Francisco’s 50th annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place Saturday, April 8 at the AMC Kabuki 8. The […]
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