60th Cherry Blossom Festival Contestant
Edrea Eri Katsunuma
Parents: Tomohito& Yoshiko Katsunuma
High School: Capistrano Valley High School / 2004
College: University of Hawaii Manoa
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Apparel Product Design and Merchandising and Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing / 2013
Occupation: Marketing Executive
Ambition: To found my own self-sustaining yoga studio and non-profit animal shelter while traveling the world and always challenging myself to give more and expect less
Interests: Staying active (yoga, hula, Zumba, diving, hiking, running), traveling, volunteering, eating, learning new languages and spending quality time with mom
As KohakuUtaGassenbrings in the New Year, my family eats toshikoshi soba and wishes my mother a Happy Birthday. In the morning, we gather together to eat the osechiryorimy mother tirelessly prepared days preceding New Years Day. No matter how hectic our lives may be, Oshogatsuis the time of year my family sits together to celebrate my mother, new beginnings and good fortune for the year ahead. Raised in a traditional Japanese family, Oshogatsuembodies the love and affection we simply cannot express with words. My mother’s presentation of the osechiryoririvals the world’s greatest chefs while more importantly defines her deep-rooted love for her children. New Years Day most significantly epitomizes “omoiyari”, which can be defined as love we do not communicate verbally. I deeply value Oshogatsubecause it conveys my family’s unconditional love and understanding for one another by simply being present.