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Fukiko Murase (2nd from L) Click here for information on Nisei Week 2000 TRACI MURASE IS CROWNED 1999 NISEI WEEK QUEEN What is it like to be up close and personal at a Pageant? As six young women gracefully performed the Japanese ceremonial ondo dance, I took in their amazing grace and beauty and postulated which one of these women would be crowned the 1999 Nisei Week Festival Queen. The candidates had to demonstrate their verbal communication skills by giving speeches on personal experiences to a lively audience of supporters and family and to an honorable panel of judges. The witty Los Angeles news anchorman David Ono was the master of ceremonies, accompanied by actress Marilyn Tokuda. The question and answer part of the show was so intense, the nervousness of the candidates made my own hands tremble. The big question: "As soon as your official Nisei Week duties are over one year from now, what is the first thing you will do and why?" I personally loved candidate Naomi Takahashi's response which was simply "to eat." Finally, scores were tallied and sponsors were presented, and the queen was crowned. The 1999 Nisei Week Festival Queen was the beautiful 21 year old Traci Murase. - Photo and Story by Jennifer Jue, AC Team Member More on the Pageant Winners from Nisei Week Traci Murase, a 21 year old senior at University of California at Irvine was crowned Queen of Nisei Week Festival the oldest continuous Japanese cultural event in the U.S. Her grandmother, 81 years old was a Princess at Nisei Week's first Festival in 1935. For Traci and her court's bios click here. Five other young women, representing various regions of Southern by Southern California community organizations, these young women comprising the 1999 Nisei Week Court, will serve as cultural ambassadors for the Nisei Week Festival and Los Angeles Japanese American community throughout the year at functions in the surrounding area as well as in Japan, Hawaii, Washington and Northern California. The first Nisei Week Queen's contest was held in 1935, when those who purchased an item at a store or business in Little Tokyo was able to vote for their favorite queen candidate. The young woman who had the most votes was crowned queen. In its day the contest was very popular, bringing more interest and revenue to the Los Angeles Little Tokyo community. Although the contest has changed tremendously over the years, its purpose has not. "This popular contest enables young women to enhance their public speaking ability, build poise and confidence, learn team work and most importantly introduce them to the Japanese American community," said Tim Itatani, chair, 1999 Nisei Week Festival. "We hope that Nisei Week will be the bridge to other community activities that the women may become interested in and get involved with in the future." Also visit the Nisei Week website at http://www.niseiweek.org/
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