But Ms. Cherry, who will soon become a social work therapist, said she would like her own children to learn Japanese, go to Japanese festivals, play in Japanese sports leagues and have a Japanese first name.
"Even if they're a quarter, I want them to know that that's still part of who they are,'' she said.
For now, she will be passing on her crown to the next Nisei Week queen during this year's festival Aug. 7 to 15. Of all she learned during her reign as goodwill ambassador for Japanese-Americans, she said, visiting Japan last year was an eye-opener.
"All the girls dye their hair brown and they're obsessed with expensive jeans,'' she said. "Even in Japan, they're becoming very American.''