” And I submitted the audition thinking it was completely outside all possibility.

JUN NAGATA/Rafu ShimpoJoann Shin CordeiroThis year is a special one for Nisei Week.passing the torch from Nisei to Sansei and now to Yonsei.

Those are some of the ways we hope to continue to move forward and evolve.such as Jerry Fukui and now his daughter.Courtesy Joann Shin CordeiroNisei Week Queen Joann Shin (center) and the Nisei Week Court are joined by Norman Mineta and Linda Honda.

including a special tribute to 140 years of Little Tokyo during the Nisei Week Closing Ceremony.Generations continue to stay involved and give back.

She is the first former Nisei Week Queen to lead the organization as president.

Kristine Yamabayashi Morita (1997 First Princess).Bourland published a book titled Ikebana: Harmony Through Flowers.

she was named a Lifetime Member by Ikebana Internationals headquarters in Tokyo in recognition of her contributions.Bourland became a founding member of the North American Ohara Teachers Association.

attracted thousands of visitors and garnered attention for being an exhibition by a solo female artist.Gold and Silver Rays for contributing to promoting economic relations between Japan and the U.