SAN FRANCISCO - Six candidates for 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were introduced on March 22 in San Francisco Japantown.

Representatives of the Nikkei press were greeted at the Union Bank Community Room by Miki Katsuyama Novitski, Queen Program executive administrator, and Cara Mia Barnacascel, Queen Program director, both former Cherry Blossom Court members.

Queen Program Committee advisor Benh Nakajo, who has been involved in the program for decades, was introduced along with 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival co-chair Allen Okamoto.

Three members of the current Cherry Blossom Court were on hand: Princesses Rie Watanabe, Asuka Nagase and Midori Iwata. Queen Alicia Kagawa and First Princess Miwa Natsuki were unable to attend.

KTVU-TV reporter Jana Ka-tsuyama, who will co-emcee the Queen Program, was present. She will be sharing emcee duties with fellow reporter George Kiriyama of NBC 11.

It was noted that this year, for budgetary reasons, there will be no talent segment. Organizers hope to bring it back next year.

Following are brief profiles of the 2009 candidates, who introduced themselves and later sat down for interviews:

• Margaret Cheney, 24, of Los Gatos. Daughter of Nancy Kiyono Cheney and Emil Lai of Tokyo. Sponsored by Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California.
Graduated in 2002 from La Jolla High School (San Diego County) and in 2005 from UC Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in business management economics. Also attended Seisen International School of Japan.

Hobbies/interests: Traveling to different cities and enjoying local foods and culture; singing; talking and chatting with friends and families across the globe; reading (fiction, novels, comic books); hiking and taking pictures at the top of the mountain.

Professional ambition/goals in life: To be able to be the one whom people could respect and look up to, both personally and professionally. It is something that is not easily attainable and is learned by making continuous mistakes in life, but learning and growing from them.

• Stephanie Masako Hata, 24, of El Cerrito. Daughter of Ruth Suzanne Hata and Steven Kiyoshi Hata of El Cerrito. Sponsored by Benihana.
Graduated in 2002 from El Cerrito High School and in 2007 from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in human development.

Hobbies/interests: Judo (teaching and practice); snowboarding; following contemporary Asian American literature and media; dining experiences; origami.

Professional ambition or goals in life: To find a rewarding niche in the social services field. Her short-term goal is to earn a master in social work. Her long-term goal is to provide intensive foster treatment to youth. She is considering two possible career paths: joining the local police force or teaching high school English in a low-income school.

• Sarah Naomi Kasuga, 24, of Burlingame. Daughter of Aria Alexandra Kasuga and Albert Rikio Kasuga of Burlingame. Sponsored by Takara Sake USA.
Graduated in 2002 from Burlingame High School and in 2006 from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in community health. Also attending Calfiornia School of Professional Psychology.

Hobbies/interests: Yoga; tennis; chess; watercolor; reading.

Professional ambition/goals in life: To pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. Her goals include doing mission work overseas; working in community centers; and being a mother and having a family.

• Mari Masuko, 23, of San Francisco. Daughter of Shizuko Masuko and Takashi Masuko of Tokyo. Sponsored by Union Bank of California.
Graduated in 2004 from Carmel High School and in 2008 from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and anthropology. Also attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, and Rikkyo Jyogakuin in Tokyo.

Hobbies/interests: Being involved with and getting to know people at church; reading (non-fiction, newspapers, news magazines); running; playing the cello; singing.

Professional ambition/goals in life: She currently devotes her undivided attention and effort to establishing herself as a competent, reputable banker at Union Bank of California in hopes of one day becoming one of the top performers in her region.

• Eri Tagaya, 24, of Mill Valley. Daughter of Edna Ventura Tagaya and Osamu Tagaya of Mill Valley. Sponsored by Golden Gate Optimist Club of San Francisco.
Graduated in 2002 from TASIS England/The Branson School and in 2006 from Haverford College (Pennsylvania) with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and languages. Also attended Universite de Paris, La Sorbonne.

Hobbies/interests: Travel/languages; reading; exercise; piano; foreign films.

Professional ambition/goals in life: She would like to continue to travel the world, make connections, and effect change on a global scale, possibly through organizations such as the U.N. or UNESCO.

• Yurika Vu, 25, of Fremont. Daughter of Shigeko Endo Vu and Thanh Vu of Fremont. Sponsored by Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco.
Graduated in 2002 from Irvington High School (Fremont) and in 2007 from UC Davis with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and communications with minors in Japanese and human development. Currently attending Western Michigan University through distance education program to obtain a master’s in vision rehab therapy and a master’s in orientation and mobility.

Hobbies/interests: Music (guitar and singing); figure skating; photography; traveling; arts and crafts (jewelry making, knitting).

Professional ambition/goals in life: One of her near future goals is to complete both her master’s degrees in the next two years. Professionally, she is very happy with her career choice in the field of blind rehabilitation. She plans to take the certification exam to be certified as a low vision therapist. She is also studying to become a vision therapist.

Sponsor representatives presenting sashes to the candidates were June-ko Nakagawa, Japanese Chamber of Commerce; Mitsuru Mori, Benihana; Yasuhisa Tanaka, Takara Sake; George Tanaka, Union Bank; Ben Hogo, Golden Gate Optimists; and Donna Kimura and Steve Hirabayashi, Nikkei Lions.

The Queen Program will be held Saturday, April 11, at 6 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema, 1881 Post St. (at Fillmore) in San Francisco. Doors open at 5 p.m. Open seating. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the door or by contacting Tosh Mitsuda at (650) 871-9287 or tocamit@lanset.com.