During the second weekend of the 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, we welcomed our royal JA sister city courts from Seattle, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, and their hospitality committee members, chaperones, and other guests. We truly appreciate their visiting us and we are so glad to see them once more before the end of our court year. Although our “reign” has officially ended, we were not technically done yet. We’ve made so many great memories with our sister city courts; thank you to everyone for their love, care, support, and generosity!!!!!!! Our friendships and memories will always be a huge part of us and we hope to continue to keep in contact with you all!!!!!
On Saturday, 4/18, the new, 2009 NorCal court and the visiting courts were given a tour of San Francisco by our Hospitality Chair, Mr. Hamilton Niwa. We hope you enjoyed your stay here!!
Later that day, the 2008 Court and Mr. Graig and Sean Inaba (Hospitality) prepared and hosted a special Hospitality Royal Reception Dinner for the guests. We hope you enjoyed all the food!!
(2008 + 2009 NCCBF Courts) CONGRATS TO THE 2009 COURT!!
Here, 2008 Princess Asuka Nagase was presented [by Mr. Benh Nakajo on behalf of the Committee] with gifts that exemplified her and her work on this blog and in other ways (photography, artwork, etc.) throughout her court year. 
Now in first-person grammar, I will speak in regards to this. This was completely unexpected, and I truly appreciate Mrs. Miki Katsuyama Novitski and the rest of the 2008/2009 Queen Program Committee members for your generosity. I love all of the cute gifts and will cherish them all. Receiving this made me emotional and this really touched my heart. Through this Program, I gained friendships with many people (including my “Sakura Sisters”); personal growth; a further appreciation towards the JA community, my family, and friends; and learned the meanings of life, love, care, and all other aspects of living and breathing. In anything, it is not about the title or the prize; it is about what one personally acquires from each of his/her experience through contribution and participation. I worked as hard as I could, and I know everyone else has done so too. THANK YOU for this wonderful experience and opportunity. Words cannot express my appreciation enough; this is only a summary. As I’ve said in the Nichi Bei Times Festival Official Guide, I am so grateful and feel so fortunate to have been one of the cherry blossom petals to bloom in Japantown. I know this sounds cheesy, but I mean it; I love you guys and I feel so lucky to have you guys. ICHINEN’KAN+ OSEWA NI NARIMASHITA. It has been my pleasure updating this blog site to share our experiences. Thank you to Ms. Cara Mia Barnacascel and my sakura sisters in contributing to this blog too; Cara Mia, without you, we could not have launched this site!!
Other photos from the dinner:
(2008 Court w/ Miki)
(guests/chaperones from LA (Michelle and Jennifer), Seattle (Jana), and HI (Cheryl))
(guests/hospitality committee members/chaperones from HI (Wedge) and LA (Andy and Leiton)
(more guests/committee members, incl. Inoue family, Tosh, Uncle Bobby and Auntie Marian from LA, Mr. Alan Yamada from Seattle)
(guests Mr. Nobuyuki Okada from LA and Mr. Ray Urabe from Hawai’i)
(Thank You for your love and support, Mitch and Ann!!)
(guests from Honolulu; the 2009 HCBF Court and Mr. Ray Yamamoto)
(2008 Greater Seattle JQS Court & NorCal CB Court)
(2008 Nisei Week Court & NorCal CB Court
We apologize that we cannot upload every single picture taken; there are many more people who were in attendance and whom we would like to thank.
