2026 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program
2026/4/17
The 2026 candidates in kimono
Remarks by Deputy Consul General Ishihara
On the evening of Saturday, April 4, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program was held at Cowell Theater in San Francisco. Deputy Consul General Takeshi Ishihara attended, and expressed his appreciation for the 2025 queen and court and his hope that the current court and program alumni will continue to be strong bridges between Japan and California, and with the Japanese and Japanese American community.
The 2026 Northern California Cherry Blossom Court is:
Queen: Ms. Kristina Michiko Hiraishi
First Princess: Ms. Kaitlin Keiko Wong
Princess: Ms. Natalie Tokiwa Decena
Princess: Ms. Emi Terada
Princess: Ms. Julia Kirari Obuchi
The Queen Program is a year-long commitment which introduces the Queen and Court to the Japanese and Japanese American community of Northern California, providing them with hands-on experiences preparing them for involvement and leadership.
Since 1973, each year the Queen is gifted a furisode kimono from the Fujiyasu Kimono Company in Japan. The Queen also visits Japan as part of a goodwill trip representing the festival and Northern California’s Japanese & Japanese American community.
The Queen Program is part of the 59th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which will be held on April 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026 in San Francisco Japantown. Details can be found at https://sfcherryblossom.org/
The 2026 Northern California Cherry Blossom Court is:
Queen: Ms. Kristina Michiko Hiraishi
First Princess: Ms. Kaitlin Keiko Wong
Princess: Ms. Natalie Tokiwa Decena
Princess: Ms. Emi Terada
Princess: Ms. Julia Kirari Obuchi
The Queen Program is a year-long commitment which introduces the Queen and Court to the Japanese and Japanese American community of Northern California, providing them with hands-on experiences preparing them for involvement and leadership.
Since 1973, each year the Queen is gifted a furisode kimono from the Fujiyasu Kimono Company in Japan. The Queen also visits Japan as part of a goodwill trip representing the festival and Northern California’s Japanese & Japanese American community.
The Queen Program is part of the 59th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which will be held on April 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026 in San Francisco Japantown. Details can be found at https://sfcherryblossom.org/
Queen Program Committee Chair Emeritus Benh Nakajo thanks the audience
MC interviews the participants
Ms. Hiraishi is crowned the 2026 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen
Deputy Consul General & Mrs. Ishihara with the 2026 Queen and Court
