Here’s one such incident. Sixty-eight years ago, Japan was a devastated land, defeated, ruined, laid waste by the tragedy called war. When they came in the past they came at their own expense solely to give. Occupation Forces. –  have been or currently an active participant/volunteer in a community organization Some of the qualifications to be eligible to apply as a candidate for the Northern California Cherry Blossom Court are as follows: –  be a female of at least 19 years of age and not more than 26 years of age by the first festival weekend in April 2010 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program www.sfcherryblossompageant.com/ There, weakened and desperate people faced hopeless deprivation.. no food, no shelter, no future. The award recognized their efforts toward international goodwill and good relations between Japan and the United States through the kimono. The day-to-day struggle turned to an hour– to–hour struggle just to survive. –  be of at least 50% Japanese ancestry So far I have been able to keep the promise made to myself, and I hope to continue. And every year since then for 40 years, every new queen has been presented a beautiful traditional furisode kimono. Thank you for your interest in applying for the Cherry Blossom Queen Program. This story was printed in the official booklet for the 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival about the beautiful relationship between the Fujiyasu Kimono Company and the Japanese American community of Northern California, by the Queen Program Chair Mr. Benh Nakajo. Initially, the recipients believed these items were donated by the general public in the United States and by the U.S. People talk about goodwill, but often it has a hollow ring. Some of the qualifications to be eligible to apply as a candidate for the Northern California Cherry Blossom Court are as follows: Even now, nearly seven decades later, some people in Japan who received help cannot forget the feeling that “penetrated their hearts” when they received these “gifts of life” from America. How can one fulfill this sort of obligation?” they asked. –  be single and not have been previously married and not have any children It was the first time in history that a commercial company was recognized by the Foreign Minister’s Office for this kind of award. Then suddenly, food and clothing arrived. As many of you know, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival has been held in San Francisco every year for the past 46 years. –  be a resident of Northern California for at least 2 or 3 years, depending on citizenship, Representing the Northern California Japanese American Community since 1968, Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program. Each year since 1973, the Fujiyasu Kimono Company had come to the festival… and each year the representatives of the company brought with them exquisite Japanese kimonos worth tens of thousands of dollars. Representing the Northern California Japanese American Community since 1968, Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program. Fujiyasu Kimono Company has done this as an expression of gratitude to the Japanese American community. Applications for the 2020 Program are now CLOSED. These beautiful kimonos keep coming, year after year after year donated by Fujiyasu Kimono Company, whose past president received those “gifts” from America so many, many years ago and vowed never to forget, vowed to give for what he received. Thank you for your interest in applying for the Cherry Blossom Queen Program. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (NCCBF) is one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. The 2017 Court showing the sister city courts around San Francisco during Hospitality Weekend! Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Show more In 1973, a Fujiyasu furisode kimono was received by the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Committee for its queen. At last there was an opportunity to express the long-felt gratitude, to attempt to repay this obligation. They donate this prize for the newly selected Northern California Festival Cherry Blossom Queen. The company neither promotes nor sells their kimonos here. Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program Candidates 2015 24hrkpop. One might think they do this as a self-promotion…as a way to promote their products …good PR. A festival was held, a queen was selected, it was a time when the Japanese Americans celebrated and enjoyed themselves and shared their culture, heritage and traditions with the general population. “How can one repay such kindness? Somehow they learned that in San Francisco, Northern California, Japanese Americans celebrated cherry blossom time. Why? But later, they learned that the donations had been sent by Japanese Americans…Japanese Americans returning from American prison camps with next to nothing themselves…having lost their homes, businesses and valuables and their freedom, incarcerated without trial or due process… Japanese Americans trying to put their own lives back together. Applications for the 2020 Program are now CLOSED. In July of 1985, the Fujiyasu Kimono Company and Mr. Seishichi Ato received a Japanese government award from Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe. However, every now and then, something takes place that goes beyond goodwill; Something that stirs in even in the most jaded of us emotions that we thought disappeared with childhood. .from America. Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program 2009. For the latest, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!. Not so. Loading ... 2014 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen & Her Court - Duration: 9:06. katsumigumi 1,113 views. . Needless to say, these gifts, coming at such a difficult time, were nothing short of a miracle. I vowed that as long as I had anything to do with the Queen Program or the Cherry Blossom Festival, I would repeat this story. Thousands were saved from untold suffering. I was so touched when I had the honor of meeting Mr. Ato in person and heard the story from his own lips. themselves. Update: 2020 Community Service Scholarship Winners Announced The 2020 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is pleased to announce the 33rd year of the annual Community Scholarship program for graduating seniors of Japanese descent in Northern California. Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. These people cut their food, took clothing off their own backs, and deprived themselves further to send the precious articles to those they knew were in more desperate need than About us Since 1968, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program has been dedicated to mentoring young women through community service, leadership, and …