photo by Kenji G. Taguma/Nichi Bei Times

By AKITO YOSHIKANE
Nichi Bei Times

The five candidates for Northern California's Cherry Blossom Queen were introduced on March 15 at the Union Bank of California Hospitality Room in San Francisco's Japantown, each claiming residence to a different city, with a diverse mix of academic backgrounds and involvement in student and civic activities.

designed by Isumi Kurokawa

A design created by Izumi Kurokawa of Sherman Oaks, Calif. was selected as the winning entry for the 41st annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival’s Poster Contest.

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on April 12 and 13, and April 19 and 20 in San Francisco's Japantown.

Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan aka Redevelopment II

Dear Editor,

I attended a community meeting on the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan on March 18. I came away from that meeting believing that the Japanese Community in San Francisco was being "done" to and not fighting back...

Obama Is Bust

Dear Editor,

I am a Sansei and an anachronistic individualist (redneck to you all).

So are my friends, first through third generation JAs. We like our guns, our swords, and our freedom most of all, and you baka for Baracka folks scare us...

Nichi Bei Times file photo

By KRISTEN SATO
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

SAN JOSE — For most teenagers, community service is an academic requirement rather than a voluntary act of goodwill. For San Jose teen Adara "Addi" McClure, it was a choice made easy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On March 11, Kiyo Matsumoto was nominated by President Bush to serve as federal district court judge for the Eastern District of New York. If confirmed, Matsumoto would become the second-ever APA woman to serve as a federal district court judge and the third APA federal district court judge outside of California and Hawai'i.

photy courtesy of Kathy Aoki/Nichi Bei Times

By KATHY AOKI
Nichi Bei Times

Wendy Kohatsu put her passion for cooking to good use.

"I always loved to cook," said Kohatsu. "I was lucky that my mother let me loose in the kitchen when I was seven."

Kohatsu works as an assistant professor of family medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and also is the co-director of the university's Integrative Family Medicine Program. She knows having good nutrition is key to leading a healthier life.

Kyodo News photo

By MAYUMI SAITO
Asahi Shimbun

TOKYO — "Yasukuni," a two-hour documentary by Chinese filmmaker Li Ying, is not a comfortable film for Japanese audiences. But not for the usual guilt-trip inducing reasons.

Kyodo News photo

SURPRISE, Arizona (Kyodo) — Veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo has failed in his bid to land a starting slot with the Kansas City Royals but wants to compete for a place in their bullpen.