67th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival
To Take Place August 18-26
Christine Wai Lan Kimoto
(Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council)
As a 24-year-old first grade teacher, Christine Wai Lan Kimoto, has learned the meaning of responsibility, time management and appreciating the small joys in life. This Huntington Beach resident is a charter board member of the Young Adult Optimist Club and coaches various Orange Coast Optimist Club children’s basketball teams. Christine graduated from University of California, San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in human development and a minor in teacher education, and plans to obtain a master’s degree in education and one day open her own daycare. She has chosen to support as her Nisei Week platform the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.
Jennifer Kiku Minami
(Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Loft Hawaiian Restaurant)
Jennifer Kiku Minami is 24 years old and attends California State University, Long Beach. In the fall 2007, she will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies/elementary education. Later, Jennifer plans to pursue a multiple subject teaching credential with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. This Torrance resident is quite busy, in addition to working at the Loft Hawaiian Restaurant and as a dental assistant; she is a volunteer tutor for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Long Beach Unified School District. She has chosen to support the Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance as her platform.
Mandy Michiko Kusumoto
(East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Physical fitness is a primary concern for 25-year-old Mandy Michiko Kusumoto. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Her dream is to one day become a physical therapist and a director of her own sports care rehabilitation center. To gain experience in this field, Mandy currently works at Yonemoto Physical Therapy. This Arcadia resident has a passion for running and is training for her first marathon, to be held in Hawaii this December. She has chosen the Special Olympics as her Nisei Week platform to support.
Monika Taniguchi Teuffel
(West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizen League & Auxiliary & Venice Japanese Community Center)
Monika Taniguchi Teuffel is 23 years old and graduated from University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in international studies, and a triple minor in Japanese language and literature, art history, and management. She also had the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University. Monika is currently enrolled in the UCLA Extension architecture and interior design program and works for Mainstay Business Solutions as an account manager. This Huntington Beach resident has selected UNICEF to support as her Nisei Week platform.
Saki Uechi
(Little Tokyo Lion’s Club)
Saki Uechi, 25 years old, grew up playing sports. After playing girl’s varsity basketball and boy’s varsity golf, she was recruited to play golf on the University of California, Los Angeles’ women’s golf team, earning a scholarship and becoming a member of the 2004 Pac-10 and national championship team. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Japanese, Saki spent two years on the professional golf tour. This Redondo Beach resident currently works for Famima!! Corporation and aspires to become a business entrepreneur. She chose the Tiger Woods Foundation as her Nisei Week platform.
Yoshie Margaret Okada
(Japanese Restaurant Association of Southern California)
As a 24 year old, Yoshie Margaret Okada has had many Japanese influences. The opportunity to study at a Japanese university for a year enhanced her identity as a Nisei and is her most memorable experience. This San Gabriel resident has been a member of Zenshuji Zendeko Taiko since 1996 and was a Japanese American National Museum volunteer from 1997-2001. Yoshie graduated from the University of California, San Diego with degrees in political science and psychology. She currently works for Pasona NA Inc, a Japanese staffing firm. Yoshie has chosen to support the One Campaign as her Nisei Week platform.
