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Wendy Fujihara Anderson, Co-Founder/Executive Producer was
born, raised and continues to reside in the City of Pasadena.
Born shortly after World War II (her parents met while incarcerated
at Manzanar), she was brought up with minimal culture of her
Japanese heritage due to the hatred of the Japanese following
the war. After the death of both her parents in 1997, her
cultural heritage started taking on a bigger meaning. Kellye
Nakahara Wallett, Co-Founder/Ambassador is an actress (best
known as Nurse Kellye in the popular television. series M*A*S*H
for 11 years) and well known watercolor artist and of Pasadena.
RYOMA was founded in 2002 originally to administer Japanese
and Japanese American cultural events, bridging generations
and exposing the mainstream population to these cultural arts.
Pasadena was the original site of the Festival for five years
since both Wendy and Kellye reside in Pasadena as well as
the City of Pasadena is recognized worldwide due to the Tournament
of Roses. However, it was determined that although a beautiful
city, it became difficult to produce this free to the public
admission festival and survive in Pasadena. In 2007, the Festival
moves to its new home in the Little Tokyo district of downtown
Los Angeles.
Today, Ryoma's goal has expanded to administer other cultural
events to bridge generations and expose the mainstream population
to various diverse cultural arts. We have partnered with the
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach for 6 years with the
Autumn Festival. This co-production is produced by WOW! Production
for Ryoma. In 2006, Cherry Blossom Festival became a working
sponsor of the Latino History Parade & Jamaica, where
we brought expertise with vendor coordination to this annual
festival.
The goal for the Cherry Blossom Festival is to produce a
Festival that grows more spectacular yearly - Raise funds
to expand future Cherry Blossom Festivals and carve a cultural
perception to an already historic city for more visibility,
publicity and tourism; also, to bridge generations and expose
the mainstream population to the Japanese/Japanese American
cultural arts and history.
This event is produced by a Volunteer team and underwritten
by private donations and sponsors. WOW! Event Productions
& Public Relations serves as the pro bono Event Producer.
As of 2006, there are 500 “Pink Cloud” cherry
trees planted in the City of Pasadena.
Selection of the name RYOMA
In Japanese history one of their most respected heroes was
a samurai by the name of Ryoma Sakamoto, born in Kochi Japan
in 1835. His contribution to Japan's rapid modernization marked
the end of 700 years of feudal government bringing laws, a
parliamentary system and a diplomatic office. The impact he
had on the country was such that he is fondly known by his
first name, Ryoma. This name was chosen as Ryoma was a visionary.
Keeping this in mind, Ryoma will keep that same focus of being
a visionary organization as it creates opportunities for growth
in the mainstream population on understanding and appreciating
the differences as well as the similarities in the various
cultural arts events Ryoma produces.
Ryoma, is a project of Congressional District Programs, a
501(c)(3)
Public Charity, ID#65-0970090
TODAY'S RYOMA
WENDY FUJIHARA ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
WOW! Event Productions & Public Relations – EVENT
PRODUCER
KEVIN LEE – VICE PRESIDENT
Entertainment/Marketing
JILL HAMAI LEE
Hawaiian Village Entertainment
DONNA OGAWA
Main Stage Entertainment
GARY QUAN – GARY ENDO
Martial Arts Arena
AARON TSO
Dianne Tso & Alyssa Tso
Kid’s Crafts
JANET MALONEY
Runway Fashion Show
KEN KANESKA
Kimono Fashion Show
ARLENE NAKAMURA
Odori/Ondo Street Dancing
SANDY JACOBS
Decorations
JANE TAGUCHI
Graphic Design - Signage
JOE QUAN
JANET TAGUCHI
KEVIN LEE
WENDY ANDERSON
Program Book
JOE QUAN, VICE PRESIDENT
Vendors/Facility Management
DONNA BATANGAN
Vendor Registration
GRACE ISHIHARA
Day of Event Vendor Coordination
REGINA SAKURAI
Cultural Pavilion
WENDY ANDERSON
Vendor Outreach
JOE QUAN
Permits
CRAIG LEE
Parking
DOROTHY TAMASHIRO, VICE PRESIDENT
Volunteers
SANDY JACOBS
Volunteer Coordination & Volunteer Handbook
CAROL TAKAFUJI
Volunteer Coordination
WENDY ANDERSON
Volunteer Food/Tee-Shirts
WENDY ANDERSON, ACTING VICE PRESIDENT
Public Relations/Administration
WENDY ANDERSON
Sponsorships
JOE QUAN
Website Design/Development
WENDY ANDERSON
DOROTHY TAMASHIRO
CAROL TAKAFUJI
DONNA OGAWA
VIP Reception AM/PM
KEITH MATSUDA
Non-Profit Designation
WENDY ANDERSON
Administrative/Mailings/Procedures
ARLENE NAKAMURA
DONNA OGAWA
VIP Reception Invitations
CLARENCE WONG, Japon Bistro
CATERING
WENDY ANDERSON
Cherry Tree Campaign
ANDREW TAMASHIRO
Master Database
DONNA OGAWA
Administrative Executive Assistant
NADINE WASHINGTON, VICE PRESIDENT
Awards
IKU KIRIYAMA
George Kiriyama Educational Excellence Award
NADINE WASHINGTON
WENDY ANDERSON
Teachers Making a Difference Award
WENDY ANDERSON
Senator Daniel Inouye Leadership Awards
Blossom Award
BOB ESTRIN, VICE PRESIDENT
Logistics
BOB ESTRIN
Safety – Layout - Set Up – Ground Crew –
Tear Down
BOB ESTRIN
Going Green
WENDY ANDERSON
Rentals
WENDY ANDERSON
Sound/Sanitation/Security
KEITH MATSUDA, TREASURER
KEITH MATSUDA
Budget & Finance
MEI YEE
Disbursements
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
JILL HAMAI LEE., Hawaiian Village
JAPANESE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION – DR. GORDON
SASAKI, First Aid
JEFF MIO, Member-at-Large & Origami Cranes
ANN FUJIHARA, Origami Bead Decorations
ANGIE QUAN, Event Day Volunteer Lead
HELEN JEW, Event Day Volunteer Lead
FAY JEW, Event Day Volunteer Lead
MIKE HAMADA, Safety-Disaster-Lost Children
CHIYOMI OGAWA, Main Stage
ANDE RICHARDS, Main Stage
KARI KANESAKA, Cultural Pavilion
ANNIE TANG, Runway Fashion Show
LAUREL CHUNG, Runway Fashion Show
FRANCIS NAKANO, Ph. D., George Kiriyama Educational Excellence
KIYO FUKUMOTO, George Kiriyama Educational Excellence
SPECIAL THANKS
Los Angeles City Councilwoman JAN PERRY & STAFF
STEPHANIE MAGNIEN
PHOTOGRAPHERS
MADELEINE FLANAGAN
DOROTHY TAMASHIRO
SANDY JACOBS
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