Camp Chibikko Counselors
Camp Chibikko is now accepting applications for Camp Counselors! We will be accepting college students and high school students to be in charge of facilitating/supervising many of the activities; such as crafts, games, lessons, skits, and lunches. Lunch will also be provided to counselors everyday.
It is a fun-filled week where you can play an active role in helping to educate and engage the students in fun and interesting ways through this cultural and recreational week-long camp.
For more information please email, Melissa Kozono, Programs Director, Youth Services at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.
ESGVJCC Queens Program
The ESGVJCC Queens Program prepares candidates to run for the title of ESGVJCC Queen. The ESGVJCC Queen will participate in various events and provide outreach to ESGVJCC members and organizations. As ESGVJCC Queen, she will also go on to represent the ESGVJCC as she competes to become that year’s Nisei Week Queen. As a member of the Nisei Week Court, she will represent not only the ESGVJCC and the Nisei Week Foundation, but also the Southern California Japanese American community as a cultural ambassador during various community events, as well as during travels to Japan, Hawaii, and San Francisco.
On Sunday, April 22, 2026 the ESGVJCC crowned Jacqueline Fujiko Naito as the 2026 East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center Queen.
History of the ESGVJCC Queens Program
The tradition of the ESGVJCC Queens Pageant is both long and rich. In 1968, Dawn Shinmoto was named as the Citrus Valley Optimist Club Queen. Thirteen women followed in her footsteps, with three becoming the Nisei Week Queen- Cheryl Kawakami (1973), Elisa Akemi Cuthbert (1974), and Loris Kurashige (1977).
In 1982, the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center became the official sponsor of these past queens and a new title was born. Janet Midori Barnes became the first ESGVJCC Queen in 1982 and was crowned Nisei Week Queen as well. The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center has been sponsoring candidates for Nisei Week since then. For the past 42 years, the ESGVJCC Queens have not only been representing the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center but also the Japanese American Community.
Click here for our 2027 information packet/application
Important Dates for the 2026 ESGVJCC Queens Program:
Virtual Info Sessions:
Wednesday, November 25 and December 9 at 7pm on Zoom
Application Deadline – January 8, 2027
(Submit application to Melissa Kozono at mkozono@esgvjcc.org)
In-person interview (if more than 1 applicant) – Tuesday, January 19, 2027 at 7pm
Mandatory Orientation – Sunday, January 31, 2027 at 11am on Zoom
Training Sessions – Once a week for 2-3 hours beginning the week of February 1st
Queen Coronation – April 11, 2027 at the ESGVJCC
Cherry Blossom Festival – April 24, 2027 from 12pm-6pm
Interested in becoming the next ESGVJCC Queen, please contact Program Director, Melissa Kozono at mkozono@esgvjcc.org
Qualifications
- Applicant must be at least 20 years old and not older than 26 years old on the day of Nisei Week Coronation in August 2026
- Applicant must be of at least 50% Japanese ancestry
- Applicant must have been born or naturalized in the US as a permanent resident, never married and without children
- Applicant may be engaged, but if crowned ESGVJCC Queen, she must remain unmarried for the duration of her reign
- Applicant must be an ESGVJCC member
- Applicant will become a member of the ESGVJCC Court, a one-year mandatory commitment to the ESGVJCC
- If applicant is crowned ESGVJCC Queen, she will represent ESGVJCC as a candidate for Nisei Week Queen and will remain active throughout her reign as well as one additional year
Programs
For more information please email, Melissa Kozono, Programs Director at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.
Internship Opportunities for College Students
The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center is dedicated to fostering and preserving the culture unique to Japanese American ancestry and to serving the community through social services, artistic, recreational, and educational programs. We are looking for a Program Intern to support us in helping create engaging and effective programs and events for youth, seniors, and all those in between.
Internship Objectives:
- Giving young people greater exposure to opportunities and needs in the Japanese American community
- Promoting interaction and networking between existing Nikkei organizations and institutions
- Connecting interns with mentors in the Japanese American community who inspire and peak their interest in the work of our organizations
- Providing a fun learning experience that creates energy and a desire to engage in the community
The Intern will gain experience with working with volunteers, leadership skills, and project management.
Applicants should have:
- Strong research and writing skills
- Strong interpersonal communication skills (phone, e-mail communications)
- Excel, word processing, and minimal graphic design/page layout experience
- Ability to take direction as well as initiative
- Excellent organizational abilities
Applicants may be graduate or undergraduate students and should be able to commit to 15-20 hours per week for at least one quarter (8-10 weeks).
Read about intern experiences on our ESGVJCC Intern Blog: Engage & Empower
For more information, please email Pearl Omiya, Executive Director at pomiya@esgvjcc.org.