by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

Eri Tagaya, 24, of Mill Valley was crowned as the 2009 Cherry Blossom Queen on April 11 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco Japantown.

The title of First Princess went to Sarah Naomi Kasuga, 24, of Burlingame.

Tagaya was also named Miss Tomodachi, a title given by the candidates themselves to the most congenial candidate.

The daughter of Edna Ventura Tagaya and Osamu Tagaya, Eri Tagaya was sponsored by the Golden Gate Optimist Club of San Francisco. She was educated in England, France and the U.S., and speaks six languages. Her goal is to work for an international organization such as the U.N.

The daughter of Aria Alexandra Kasuga and Albert Rikio Kasuga, Sarah Kasuga is sponsored by Takara Sake USA Inc. Currently a Ph.D. candidate at the California School of Professional Psychology, she wants to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist and to do mission work overseas.

Tagaya was crowned by 2008 Cherry Blossom Queen Alicia Kagawa, and Kasuga by 2008 First Princess Miwa Natsuki. Tagaya also received the Tomodachi Award from the 2008 recipient, Princess Rie Watanabe.

The evening's six candidates will now make up the 2009 Cherry Blossom Court. The other members are:

Princesses Margaret Cheney, 24, of Los Gatos, sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California;

Stephanie Masako Hata, 24, of El Cerrito, sponsored by Benihana;

Mari Masuko, 23, of San Francisco, sponsored by Union Bank of California;

Yurika Vu, 23, of Fremont, sponsored by Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco.

Tagaya received a furisode kimono from the Fujiyasu Kimono Co. in Tokyo, courtesy of Seishichi Ato, former president, and Kazunari Mochizuki, current president.

For her goodwill visit to Japan, she received the Japan Airlines Award from Yoshiaki Hata, vice president and northwestern regional manager for JAL, as well as the Prince Hotels and Resorts Award from Hiroko Takeuchi-Iwata, the hotel chain's director of groups/corporate sales for the western and northwestern regions of the U.S.

The Queen Award was presented by Richard Hashimoto, 2009 co-chair of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Kasuga received a commemorative pendant from Masaharu Nagasuga of Miseki Jewelers and the First Princess Award from Allen Okamoto, the other co-chair of this year's Cherry Blossom Festival.

The contestants were judged by a panel of community leaders on the basis of essays on their reasons for running for Cherry Blossom Queen, interviews conducted before the program, their self-introductory speeches on the stage, and on-stage interviews by the evening's emcees. There was no talent segment this year.

During the Q&A session, Hata — who won a number of titles as a student of the East Bay Judo Institute — talked about the importance of overcoming one's fears and not giving up in competition, which she has applied to other aspects of her life. She said her role models are people who work with children, which she plans to do as a social worker or law enforcement officer.

Masuko talked about the importance of advocating civil rights, recalling that she spoke out when she was the target of racial remarks in high school. She also learned about the importance of human rights while working for the U.S. consulate in Shenyang, China, which is near the border with North Korea.

Kasuga, who grew up in Burlingame, said she would like to see Japantown do more community outreach beyond San Francisco. She also recalled what a "powerful" experience it was and how "connected" she felt when she visited her grandfather's hometown in Japan.

Cheney talked about the importance of not being afraid to make mistakes, saying that it is part of the learning process. She also said she was very appreciative of the guidance she has received from her parents.

Tagaya discussed her desire to foster greater understanding between nations as a diplomat and noted that she has experienced different sensibilities when she speaks different languages, such as gesturing more when she speaks Spanish or Italian as opposed to English or Japanese.

Vu, who works with blind veterans at the VA, said that she has not only helped them, but they have also contributed to her life. She also said it was a "blessing" to be a part of both Japanese and Vietnamese culures — but admitted that she prefers ramen over pho.

The candidates appeared in two choreographed numbers, which were not judged: in kimono during the first half of the program and in evening gowns during the second half.

Emceeing the queen program for the first time were KTVU-TV reporter Jana Katsuyama, who served as a judge last year, and NBC Bay Area reporter George Kiriyama.

Serving as judges were:

Ayako Nagamine, wife of Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine;

Teresa Ono, advancement service manager at San Francisco State University;

Leroy Morishita, vice president of administration and finance at SFSU;

Marci Matsushita-Sanchez, counselor and dance instructor at Napa Valley College;

Grace Horikiri, design director at NDD Creative;

Patty Wada, Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific regional director for JACL;

Rev. Gary Barbaree, United Methodist Church minister.

The results were tabulated by Lowell Kimura, CPA; Douglas Nakatani, assistant vice president at Bank of the West; and Gohei Seino of the Office of Lowell Kimura.

Outgoing Court

The Klara Ma Award, named in memory of a Japantown community leader who was actively involved with the festival and queen program, was presented to Princess Midori Iwata of the 2008 court by the 2007 recipient, Princess Martha Hayakawa.

Hayakawa stressed that while all members of the outgoing court are involved in community service, the award is given to the one who comes closest to Ma's spirit of volunteerism. Iwata, who was surprised to receive the award, said that she wished she had known Ma personally.

A farewell speech was given by 2008 Queen Kagawa, who called her fellow court members — Natsuki, Watanabe, Iwata and Asuka Nagase — her "sakura sisters," friends that she could call at any time, even 4 o'clock in the morning. A slide show followed, featuring highlights of the 2008 court's participation in local community events and the Nikkei queen pageants in Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu.

Natsuki's last duty as first princess was to tell the story of the Fujiyasu Kimono Co.'s involvement with the queen program. As president of the company, Ato began donating the valuable furisode kimono in 1973 to express gratitude to the Japanese American community for sending much-needed supplies to Japan immediately after World War II.

Natsuki also thanked Madame Kimiko Shintaku for her annual donation of the kimono worn by all of the candidates.

The program also included opening remarks by Benh Nakajo, queen program advisor; Consul General Nagamine; festival co-chairs Hashimoto and Okamoto; and Masaaki Tanaka, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Tanaka presented the festival with a donation of $30,500.

Entertainment was provided by Stacy Young and friend from the Spirit of Polynesia.