Asian Avenue magazine - June 2018

asian avenue magazine

Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

TIME TO

GET OUT AND VOTE

IN 2018 ELECTIONS

June 2018 Volume 13 Issue 6

CUSTOMIZE A BOWL OF FRESH FISH & FLAVORS AT

POKE HOUSE

JAPANESE FESTIVALS

celebrate heritage and tradition

Mortgages within your reach • • • • •

We have low rates and fees We have more flexibility to approve your loan We can close a loan quickly We offer several solutions You will work directly with a banker who makes the decisions

Chuwen Z Huang Banking Officer Mandarin & Cantonese NMLS: #1500849 303.660.7942 chuwen.huang@efirstbank.com

Ruby Wong Senior Loan Specialist Mandarin & Cantonese NMLS: #566210 303.456.2189 choi.wong@efirstbank.com

HuyenThi Le Assistant Vice president Vietnamese NMLS: #1174616 303.696.2912 huyenthi.le@efirstbank.com

Sean Choi Vice President Korean NMLS#832825 303.740.5346 sean.choi.@efirstbank.com

Lancy Liu Loan Rep Mandarin NMLS: #1717549 303.635.3167 Lanycy.Liu@efirstbank.com

Thuy Aragon Vice President Vietnamese NMLS: #583281 303.805.3803 thuy.aragon@efirstbank.com

LiMin DePenning Banking Officer Mandarin NMLS: #1379947 720.304.4910 limin.depenning@efirstbank.com

Tony Oum Senior Vice President Khmer NMLS: #566263 303.742.3062 tony.oum@efirstbank.com

Lynn Ngo Assistant Vice President Vietnamese NMLS: #1088892 303.742.3094 lynn.ngo@efirstbank.com

efirstbank.com/mortgage

Victoria Lam Banking Oficer Cantonese NMLS: #1632927 303.456.2184 victoria.lam@efirstbank.com

banking for good Member FDIC

THE MEDICAL CENTER OF AURORA IS PLEASED TO INTRODUCE

TYLER W. CHAN, MD ENDOCRINE SURGERY

Dr. Chan is board certified and specializes in endocrine diseases and conditions. Dr. Chan completed his endocrine fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College, his surgical residency at Drexel University, and his medical degree from the University of Sydney. He specializes in: • Thyroid surgery and cancer • Cushing’s Syndrome • Parathyroid surgery • Pheochromocytoma • Adrenal surgery • Laparoscopic surgery • Hyperthyroidism • General surgery • Hyperparathyroidism • Hernia surgery • Hyperaldosteronism • Abdominal surgery

For appointments call 303-794-6747 Or visit: www.milehighsurgical.com

Dear Asian Avenue readers,

magazine

We hope to see you at two of our AAPI communities’ festivals this month: Philippine Festival on June 9 and Cherry Blossom Festival on June 23 and 24. This month’s cover story investigates how Japanese festivals, also known as matsuri, began in the US. After WWII and anti-Japanese sentiments, the Japanese American community organized these festivals as an opportunity for cultural exchange. Decades later, these festivals have become staples in communities across the nation—especially in Denver!

As this is an election year, we encourage our readers to participate and vote. AAPIVote and AAPI Data have provided data about Asian American voters in Colorado and our AAPI community at large. Did you know that the majority of Asians live in Arapahoe, Denver and El Paso Counties?

Our staff enjoyed visiting Poke House last month to try a customizable poke bowl, just as you get in Hawaii! This trendy restaurant also offers ice cream sandwiches and tea drinks! Stop by to enjoy the freshness of Poke House.

Lastly, we want to recognize all of the deserving community leaders who were awarded the Asian American Heroes of Colorado award last month. In addition, congratulations to the Filipino American WWII veterans and their families for being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. Truly deserving, and we thank them for their service.

Christina Yutai Guo, Publisher Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com

asian avenue www.asianavemag.com magazine

SUBSCRIPTION

staff & support Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo VanDan Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Marketing Manager: Joie Ha Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photographer: Trang Luong

contributing writers Shelley Migaki, Stacey Shigaya, Mike Simbre, Brenda Velasquez

contributing photographers Glenn Asakawa, Margarita Corporan, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Shu Li, Jennifer Myers, Dominic Nepomuceno, Francine Orr, Cami Shigaya, Eric Smith

on the cover Japanese festivals, such as Denver’s Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrate Japanese heritage and tradition through music, dance, food and more!

Photo by Glenn Asakawa

subscriptions

See you next month!

Get each issue sent to your home or business

MORE THAN 60% OFF EACH ISSUE! 1 YEAR 12 Issues for $25

Payment Enclosed

2 YEAR 24 Issues for $40

Bill Me

Name Address City/State/Zip Cell E-mail Comments Please send a check payable to Asian Avenue magazine.

Mail to P.O. Box 221748, Denver, CO 80222.

Visit www.asianavemag.com/subscribe to pay with Paypal or credit card.

P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888 Email: info@asianavemag.com Follow Us! @AsianAveMag

4

asian avenue

June 2018 | Publisher’s Note

To subscribe, e-mail info@asianavemag.com or visit asianavemag.com/subscribe. A one-year subscription is $25 for 12 issues, a two-year subscription is 40 for 24 issues. Please make checks or money orders payable to Asian Avenue magazine. For details about special corporate or group rates, please call during business hours: Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm. Shipping/handling included.

advertising Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses the most cost-effective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond.

For more information, call during business hours or e-mail us at marketing@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates.

editorial To submit story ideas, letters to the editor or calendar events, e-mail info@asianavemag.com.

Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 | info@asianavemag.com

www.asianavemag.com

Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

The Confucius Institute at

Community College of Denver The Confucius Institute at Community College of Denver is a Chinese language and cultural learning center, established in 2007 with the support of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), to promote Chinese language training and intercultural understanding.

Our programs and services include: n Noncredit Chinese language and cultural workshops n Private Chinese language tutoring n Chinese language proficiency testing n Scholarships to study in China n China summer camps n Seasonal Chinese cultural events n Seasonal professional development training for Colorado K-12 Mandarin teachers n An educational resource center For more information about the Confucius Institute, contact: Jane Lim Jane.Lim@ccd.edu n 303-352-6510 CCD.edu/ci

CONTENTS

june 2018

EVENTS

8

Event calendar

INSIDE STORY

10

Watch the documentary Pandas 3D in IMAX at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

FEATURE

11

APIAVote and AAPI Data present data about Asian American voters in Colorado

12

While Japanese festivals (matsuri) began initially as a diplomatic response to the national discrimination that Japanese immigrants experienced decades ago, these festivals now serve as opportunities for cultural exchange.

COVER STORY

12

16

A history of biculturalism: Japanese festivals preserve tradition and embrace the future Thriving for the 46th year: Denver’s Cherry Blossom Festival, June 23-24

RESTAURANT PEEK

18

Enjoy fresh fish bowls with toppings to your liking, followed by an ice cream sandwich at Poke House

ASIAN AMERICAN NEWS

20

National news about Asian American people and communities

28

29

Asian Communities Together lead a walking tour of Denver’s former Chinatown and Japantown Denver high school students win Allstate scholarship awards at Asian Education Advisory Council ceremony

BOOK REVIEW

22

23

Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li depicts the behind the scenes drama of running a restaurant Q&A session with author Lillian Li

ON SCENE

18

24

26

10th annual Asian American Heroes of Colorado awards six AAPI leaders Filipino American WWII veterans receive Congressional Gold Medal

ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE, INC. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 | Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com | www.asianavemag.com 6

June 2018 | Table of Contents

24 Find us @AsianAveMag

#AsianAveMag

1147 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 Tel: 303.993.7444 www.drinkbambu.com

Authentic Tokyo Ramen

HOURS: Sun - Thur: 10am to 10pm Fri - Sat: 10am to 11pm

RAMEN YAKITORI SUSHI 2907 Huron St. Unit 103 Denver, CO 80202 Tel: 720.639.2911

48 parking spots available behind the building!

HOURS

Mon - Sat: 5pm - 1am Sun: 4pm - 9pm

FRESH FISH FROM TSUKIJI, TOKYO FLOWN IN EVERY WEEK!

WWW.MYTOKIO.COM

Unmatched Chè, Incredible Tea Selection, Bold Coffee Drinks and Exotic Fruit Smoothies & Juice

Pandan Waffle

Taiyaki Fish Cake Coming Soon!

upcoming events

Philippine Festival

Saturday, June 9 | 11am to 5pm

Filipino-American Community of Colorado 1900 Harlan St, Edgewater, CO 80214 Free and open to the public For more info, visit www.coloradofilipinos.org.

In celebration of the 23rd year of the Philippine Festival, Filipino-American Community of Colorado invites you to enjoy live music and cultural performances, such as the traditional Philippine dance called tinikling, as well as Filipino food like lumpias. The festival will also feature local vendors. And best of all, it will have a family oriented atmosphere!

3rd Annual Global Food & Brews Fest

World Refugee Day - Colorado Celebration Rally Wednesday, June 20 | 10am to 12pm

Colorado State Capitol 200 E Colfax Ave, Ste 136, Denver, CO 80203 Free and open to the public For more info, visit www.facebook.com/COWRD.

Thursday, June 14 | 5pm to 8pm

The Spring Cafe 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203 Cost: $12.50 - $26.50 For more info and tickets, visit www.springinstitute.org/events/2018-06 Join the Spring Institute for the 3rd Annual Global Food & Brews Fest! Enjoy an evening of live world music, delicious international cuisine from local food trucks, and craft beers from local breweries. Enter in a raffle to win exciting prizes. Kids will enjoy face painting and games.

All proceeds go towards The Spring Café, a local café and coffee shop and social enterprise that provides refugees and immigrants a head start on their careers through on-the-job training.

Each year on World Refugee Day people around the globe gather to honor the spirit and courage of millions of refugees worldwide. In Colorado we will pause to recognize the contributions refugees make to our state, the talents they bring, and celebrate the many partnerships that make our state a welcoming place for newcomers. The celebration will include music, dancing, refugee speakers and much more!

Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant

● The Best Chinese Restaurant by 710 AM Restaurant Show ● The Best Chinese Restaurant by the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show ● Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese Restaurant in the US

1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210 8

June 2018 | Event Calendar

g

ADVERTISE WITH US

IN ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE

WITH VARIOUS AD SIZES AND FLEXIBLE FREQUENCY

WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR BUDGET. ASK US ABOUT OUR DISCOUNTS FOR NONPROFITS AND FIRST TIME ADVERTISERS! WE ALSO OFFER SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB BANNER ADS. CONTACT US TODAY TO SEE HOW WE CAN GROW YOUR BUSINESS!

MARKETING@ASIANAVEMAG.COM | TEL: 303.937.6888

WWW.ASIANAVEMAG.COM

LUCKY CHINA

CHINESE RESTAURANT 2000 S. Havana St. Aurora, CO 80014 Tel: 303.745.1373

Open Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-9:30pm Closed Tuesdays

Northeastern Steamed Bun Pickled Cabbage with Pork Pot Seaweed Shrimp Dumpling Soup Taiwanese Style Braised Beef Noodle Pan Fried Pork Dumpling Pan Fried Buns with Beef H Hot and Spicy Beef Pot Steamed Twisted Roll Fried Leek Dumplings

HANDMADE DUMPLINGS WITH A VARIETY OF FILLINGS

ORIGINAL TASTE OF NORTHEASTERN CHINA

UNIQUE, DELICIOUS, UNFORGETTABLE!

IM AX PA O F AT N N AT DE DA U NV S RE E 3 R & D M SC U : IE SE N CE UM Animal lovers will dig the new IMAX movie featuring pandas

O

Runs now thruSeptember 6, 2018

SHOWTIMES: Daily: 10:30am & 3pm Fri and Sat: 6pm

10

June 2018 | Inside Story

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Ohhs and ahhs will be heard throughout the theater as the 43-minute documentary opens up with a scene of baby pandas laying on the ground, nursing on their bottles during feeding time.

Families with young children and those curious about conservation will enjoy Pandas 3D as viewers travel from China to New Hampshire and back to China.

As a conservation story, the film focuses on how mankind is destroying and slashing the bamboo-rich reserves for pandas. Today, scientists counted 2,000 pandas in the wild with about an estimate of 300 in captivity.

The main star of the show is Qian Qian, a panda club born at Chengdu Panda Base in China.

She prepares for life on her own in the mountains of Sichu and discovers her true animal nature.

Of course, the irresistible, cuddly pandas makes viewers want to take the baby cubs home.

The IMAX, narrated by actress Kristen Bell, is currently showing twice daily at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

For more information, visit www.dmns.org/ imax/current-films/pandas-3d.

Photos provided by Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Time to get out and vote

ASIAN AMERICANS IN COLORADO

in the 2018 elections

According to APIAVote, in nearly every state, the population growth rate of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) climbed between 2010 and 2016. AAPIs increasingly made up a larger share of the electorate within these six years, leading to record turnout in the last two presidential election cycles. Here’s a look at the data for Colorado:

POPULATION FACTS FOR COLORADO: • Largest AAPI ethnic groups in Colorado:

45,273 34,801

33,188

30,490 25,511

25,504

CHINESE

FILIPINO

INDIAN

VIETNAMESE

KOREAN

JAPANESE

• From 2010 to 2016, the number of eligible AAPI voters in Colorado grew 24%.

• This compares to a 12% growth rate for the statewide • eligible voting population between 2010 to 2016.

• AAPI youth (ages 18-29) comprise 28% of the AAPI Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP) population in Colorado.

• AAPIs age 50 and up comprise 31% of the AAPI CVAP population.

Nearly a third of the AAPI population in Colorado live in Arapahoe, Denver, and El Paso Counties.

• 70% of Asian Americans in Colorado speak a language other than English at home, and of those, more than 45% speak English less than “very well.”

• About 16,127 Asian Americans in Colorado (10%) lack health insurance.

• About 17,985 Asian Americans in Colorado (12%) live in poverty.

If you, or anyone you know, has difficulty with language access or needs any other type of voting assistance (including questions about polling locations or voting procedures), please call the National Asian American Voter Hotline at 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).

For more information, visit www.apiavote.org.

Feature | asian avenue magazine

11

A history of biculturalism: Japanese festivals preserve tradition and embrace the future

By Brenda Velasquez

Nisei Week

On the west coast, one of the oldest Japanese festivals called Nisei Week takes place in the “Little Tokyo” neighborhood of Los Angeles. Organized by the nisei during the Great Depression in 1934 as a way to revitalize the struggling issei-owned local businesses, the festival would play the same vital role in reviving Little Tokyo’s ethnic economy after WWII internment resulted in an estimated $400 million in economic losses for Japanese civilians.

The centerpiece of the festival was the voting of a Nisei Week Queen; community members received voting tickets for purchases made at local businesses, which they deposited into ballot Nisei Week was a glamorous event. Left: The Queen and her Princess Court wave to festival attendees.

Photo belonging to 1953 Nisei Week Queen Judy Sugita.

12

June 2018 | Cover Story

Historically, Japanese festivals (matsuri) were born of a stark reality, serving as a diplomatic response to the national discrimination that first-generation Japanese immigrants (issei) and their second-generation children (nisei) experienced in the U.S. Japanese communities organized festivals as opportunities for cultural exchange and ambassadorship, educating their American neighbors through showcases of traditional Japanese arts.

At the same time, however, issei encouraged their American-born children to assimilate into mainstream culture, encouraging them to attend universities, pursue white-collar careers, and migrate away from their ethnic enclaves into Caucasian-populated suburbs. Today, Japanese American communities reside in all regions of the U.S., which also house an array of notable matsuri rooted in economic, political and religious histories.

boxes. Daily tallies of the votes were published in local bilingual newspapers and closely followed until the Coronation Ball where attendees cheered on in solidarity as the Queen, personifying nisei biculturalism in traditional kimono and Western ball gowns, would take the role of promoting the Little Tokyo community and its businesses.

Annually, Nisei Week has attracted the support of world-class athletes, Hollywood actors and high-ranking politicians. As its name suggests, the festival celebrates the ensuing generations, looking to the future of Japanese communities and embodying the spirit of collective perseverance.

Neighborhood newspapers rallied the community’s excitement with publications of upcoming Nisei Week festivities. Document belonging to 1954 Nisei Week Queen June Aochi.

Document belonging to 1954 Nisei Week Queen June Aochi.

National Cherry Blossom Festival The east coast is home to another notable Japanese festival, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival (NCBF) that commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the city of Washington, DC. In a simple ceremony in 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Iwa Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees in West Potomac Park. From these humble beginnings, the spring festival now spans three weeks and welcomes more than 1.5 million attendees annually.

The NCBF exists as a cooperative effort by many civic organizations, one of which is the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS), a D.C.- based

nonprofit that helped to re-launch the first postWorld War II NCBF in 1948 and also organizes the weeklong Cherry Blossom Princess Program, which takes place during the NCBF and whose program alumnae include two current U.S. Senators. Since the First Lady Taft’s involvement, our nation’s First Ladies have each been involved in the NCBF: First Lady Mamie Eisenhower crowned the Cherry Blossom Queen Janet Bailey in 1953, and in 1976 First Lady Betty Ford invited the Cherry Blossom princesses to the White House. In 2012, for the 100th year anniversary of the 1912 gift, First Lady Michelle Obama reenacted the initial cherry tree planting alongside the Japanese ambassador’s wife.

First Lady Michelle Obama alongside the wife of the Ambassador of Japan re-enact the initial 1927 cherry tree planting ceremony for the NCBF’s 100th year anniversary.

Photo from DOI.gov.

Since 1927, involvement in the National Cherry Blossom Festival is considered a First Lady legacy. The above photo features Lady Bird Johnson planting a cherry blossom tree in April 1965.”

Photo from NPS.gov.

Patricia Nixon (front center), eldest daughter of the 37th U.S. president, poses with the 1970 Cherry Blossom Princess contestants. Photo from nixonlibrary.gov.

Japanese Festivals | asian avenue magazine

13

Midwest Buddhist Temple

14

The Midwest Buddhist Temple Rev. Ron Miyamura leads weekly Family Service. Photo from mbtchicago. org.

Osaka-native Yoko Noge and her jazz band Japanesque blend traditional Japanese folk music with Chicago blues. Photo from michiganavemag.com.

Japanese American relations with the U.S. have come a long way since the tragic internment of 120,000 issei and nisei in the rural Midwest; after the war, many internees remained in the Midwest region, reluctant to return to abandoned west coast Japantowns, and as a result, the Japanese population became dispersed and disjointed.

Following his own release from the Rohwer Arkansas Relocation Camp, Reverend Gyodo Kono moved to Chicago where he saw the need to establish a place where fellow Japanese could find a sense of community. Rev. Kono thus founded the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT) presently located in Chicago’s Old Town.

The Temple, which practices the school of Jōdo Shinshū considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan, organizes both secular and religious-based festivities for Chicago residents whose demographics include one of the largest populations of Japanese Americans in the Midwestern states.

Visitors to the MBT Ginza Holiday Festival enter the festival through traditional red torii gates and into an exciting blend of tradition and modernity.

In the late 1970s, the MBT began an association with The Waza, a federation of Japanese artisans dedicated to the continuation of traditional crafts, each mastering a craft handed down through their families for 300 years. Ginza visitors thus have the unique opportunity to purchase artisanal Japanese pottery, fabrics, dolls, and more.

Juxtaposing this traditional exhibit, MBT has recently expanded its musical showcase to include contemporary artists like Osaka musician Yoko Noge and her jazz band Japanesque, whose sound blends Japanese min’yō (folk music) with Chicago Blues, incorporating the shamisen and taiko drums alongside the saxophone, blues bass and harmonica.

As younger Japanese American generations move away from

Shinto (an indigenous Japanese religion worshipping kami) and Buddhism, towards Christianity, the MBT offers two events to promote its religious heritage: the Bon Odori and Mochitsuki festivals. The former refers to the ancient Buddhist tradition dating back 1500 years that revolves around honoring past loved ones; held on a midsummer night, it is essentially a memorial observance with colorful lanterns lighting the area and participants dancing to live taiko drumming.

A few months later near New Year’s Day, MBT hosts Mochitsuki, centered around mochi (pounded rice), which the Japanese have historically presented as offerings on festive occasions to kami (gods) and one’s ancestors; the mochi is divided and given to each person to eat, ensuring good health and fortune. Through these festivals, the MBT preserves the spirit of Buddhism in its community while embracing the changes of modern times.

June 2018 | Cover Story

The Japan America Society of Southern Colorado annually hosts Mochitsuki, rice cake pounding event at Colorado College. Photo by Jennifer Myers.

Actress Shirley MacLaine serves as grand marshal of the 1963 Nisei Week Festival. Photo courtesy of Toyo Miyatake Studio.

In stark contrast to the discrimination prevalent during the 20th century of Japanese immigration, the U.S. has fallen in love with Japanese culture as citizens of all backgrounds from all regions flock to show their appreciation at local matsuri.

Japanese Americans continue to blend into the mainstream as younger generations experience more social and economic mobility alongside rising interracial marriage rates. This permeating integration broadens the relevance and support for these ethnic celebrations, yielding a balance between the melting pot and mixed salad characteristics of American society – a balance that looks back and salutes the long history of Japanese Americans’ bicultural legacy.

After the war, Nisei Week was revived in 1949 with Terri Hokoda crowned Nisei Week Queen. Photo courtesy of Toyo Miyatake Studio.

SAN DIEGO

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Diego takes place at the Japanese Friendship Garden. Photo courtesy of Dominic Nepomuceno.

ARIZONA

The Arizona Matsuri, founded in 1984, is an annual festival held at Heritage & Science Park in downtown Phoenix featuring the sights and sounds of Japan, art, music, and dance.

Japanese Festivals | asian avenue magazine

15

46

Thriving for the

th Year:

The sun is shining brighter, the days are longer and the flowers are dressing the city with amazing colors! That means it’s festival time in Denver and the Cherry Blossom Festival is right around the corner!

TRI-STATE/DENVER BUDDHIST TEMPLE (DBT) and SAKURA FOUNDATION, proud co-presenters, have been hard at work planning the festival, which is the largest fundraiser for the Temple each year. June 23 and 24 will be a weekend filled with Japanese/Japanese American culture, food, entertainment and shopping.

Here’s a sneak peek of the festivities:

By Stacey Shigaya As you enter the Cherry Blossom Festival from 19th or 20th Streets, you’ll be greeted with a block-long MARKETPLACE, bursting with Japanese-themed products from vendors in Colorado and all over the U.S. You’ll find colorful clothing, tote bags, jewelry, plants, incense, anime figures, Japanese artwork, pottery, bath & body products, glassware with your mon (family crest) and much more!

Included in the 40+ booths are 10 new vendors, three beverage/dessert vendors and the delectable Temple-run food booth. You can feed your mind and spirit with information from the nonprofit booths representing Japanese and Japanese Amer-

16

June 2018 | Cover Story

ican organizations that support the community.

Each year festival-goers look forward to JAPANESE DANCING performed by the delightful school-age members of the Temple and the DBT dance group Minyo Kai. Okinawan dance will be featured by Shiroma Ryu and Pikes Peak YOSAKOI from Colorado Springs will make their Cherry Blossom Festival debut. The live stage will be transformed by kimonos and other Japanese attire worn by the dancers, coupled with traditional music and graceful moves.

The soothing sounds of the KOTO, a Japanese stringed musical instrument, will be offered by Rocky Moun-

tain Sankyoku. There will be several opportunities to hear the exhilarating beats of TAIKO DRUMS from rousing performances by Denver Taiko, One World Taiko, Taiko with Toni and Chris Holland.

Be sure to get a seat for the exciting MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS. There is something for everyone with presentations from DBT Judo, DBT Aikido, Foothills Budokai and Colorado Budokan. Not sure what differentiates each type of martial art? Come to the festival for answers and see the action - live!

Other LIVE STAGE PERFORMERS include the ukulele groups Humu Humu Ukulele Group and Wahines &

june

23-24

sakura square

Denver Taiko performs the Japanese taiko drums each year at the Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown Denver.

Kanes, singing from the DBT Karaoke Club and Sakura Chorus Mile High, hula dancing from Little Grass Shack Kuki Dancers and a Japanese Style Parade!

At the opposite end of the live stage, quench your thirst with LOCAL CRAFT BEER from Jagged Mountain Brewery featuring a special Cherry Blossom craft brew, SAKE from JFC International and Asahi beer!

The tasty JAPANESE FOOD at the festival is sure to satisfy all appetites. For the convenience of festival-goers, there are three locations to feed your hunger: the Temple gym, the Temple-run marketplace booth and Arts & Eats Underground. Get your hands on the grilled teriyaki chicken, eat up the Asian salad, slurp some somen (chilled noodles), sample the sushi and munch on manju (dessert) and edamame (salted soybeans)! And don’t forget the in-demand SPAM musubi and teriyaki burgers with Karami sauce (Japanese salsa)!

Be sure to visit ARTS & EATS UNDERGROUND! Enter the Temple gates on Lawrence Street, turn right and go downstairs where you will find delicious Japanese food and talented artists! Local artist Gerhard Kaaihue and his colleagues will have Japanese-inspired artwork on display. Chat with these gifted artists and hear about their inspirations and techniques.

The CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL has been the largest Japanese/Japanese American festival in the region for the past 46 years. Its longevity is attributed to the loyal volunteers, festival partners, sponsors and attendees. Come experience the Cherry Blossom Festival yourself and you’ll see why it continues to thrive!

EVENT DETAILS Sat, June 23, 11am to 6pm Sun, June 24, 11am to 4pm Sakura Square at 19th and Lawrence Street in Downtown Denver

Audiences enjoy the live stage performers including martial arts demonstrations, Japanese dancing and musical instruments.

Photos by Cami Shigaya

FREE Admission and Open to the Public Cherry Blossom Festival | asian avenue magazine

17

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photos by Joie Ha

Poke House | 2420 17th St, Ste 102 | Denver, CO 80202 Open: Mon-Sat: 11am - 9pm | Sun: 11am - 8pm pokehousedenver.com Downtown commuters, calorie counters and those wanting to eat fresh food can head to the Platte River area on 17th Street and try one of the newest restaurants called Poke House.

Situated on the first floor of the WeWork Building at 2420 17th Street, the casual dining restaurant attracts on-the-go millennials, forever dieters and adventurous diners willing to try something new. Just around the corner, Poke House lures brewers, brew aficionados and pub hoppers from a local brewery, making Platte River the next hot spot for good eats and libations.

Hello Denver! This new and young chef is bringing her California vintage-modern style to Colorado. Raised in California, Kelly Bui incorporates her Vietnamese background into the menus, while adding some Japanese and Hawaiian touches throughout the restaurant. Since the age of 14, Bui has cooked family-style cuisine; she has since discovered this type of eatery is not oversaturated in Colorado.

“Poke House is more modern, more hip and we offer a variety of unique ingredients,” said owner Kelly Bui, 27. “I’m confident that people will love this place.”

For a little more than one year, Bui has scouted, planned and designed a restaurant to offer a unique style to Colorado living.

The ambiance of sleek, modern yet elegant is felt throughout Poke House. The silver-type furniture and décor scream out the ultra-modern dining. Booming music and latest songs playing add to the trendy feel.

The main star of the menu is the customized seafood bowl. Starting with a base, diners can select white rice, brown rice, salad mix, power greens, noodles or nachos.

The main protein choices include Tuna, Spicy Tuna, Salmon, Chicken Breast, Shrimp and Tofu. To add fresh flavors, customers can choose sweet onion, green onion, cilantro, jalapenos and masago (small forage fish of the

18

June 2018 | Restaurant Peek

smelt family found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic Oceans).

For most bowl lovers, the sauce is everything. So Poke House offers The OG, House, Chili Ponzu, Sweet Ginger, Sesame Miso, Spicy Mayo, and Cucumber Wasabi Aioli. Topping ingredients include Wonton Chips, Crispy Onions, Cucumber, Edamame, Radish, Corn, Mango, Pineapple, Crab Salad, Seaweed Salad, Ginger, Avocado, Sesame, Crispy Garlic, Nori, Furikake, Tempura Crisps and Taro Sticks.

Some enjoy the unique flavors of Hot Cheetos or lotus chips sprinkled on top, while others who are health conscious prefer kale and brussel sprouts.

On social media, customers rave about the lychee lemonade.

With a touch of tartness plus lots of sweetness, the non-alcoholic beverage is the perfect summer drink on the patio. It tastes like a summer kiss. Other favorite beverages are the light green Matcha Thai Tea and the sweet Strawberry Lemonade.

Be adventurous and try the basil popcorn chicken as a side appetizer. Every bite of chicken ends with a kick of spice. The restaurant also offers Spam Musubi, Mac Salad and Miso Soup as side options, too.

For those with a sweet tooth, customizable ice cream sandwiches with a Macaron Shell and generous servings of ice cream is the perfect ending to the meal. The Fruity Pebble pops with colors of pink and fluorescent green. For families with children under 12, Unicorn and Cookies N Cream are all-time favorites.

To avoid crowds, online ordering is available. Just call the restaurant ahead of time. Healthy, light and an offering of fresh ingredients, it’s the perfect restaurant before a summer baseball game at Coors Field.

Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Instagram @Jeneverre. She posted some of her favorites from Poke House.

pokehouse.co

CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT! $45 for 50 pieces of sushi

NOODLES

SUSHI

RICE BOWLS

Celebrate Japanese heritage and culture at the 46th annual Cherry Blossom Festival!

Hope to see you there on June 23-24!

AKI Asian Hotpot ALL YOU CAN EAT

醉香鍋

12303 E Mississippi Ave Unit 127, Aurora, CO 80012 | Tel: 720.638.3193

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Sun - Thur: 11:30am – 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am – 10pm

WINE & LIQUOR AVAILABLE!

For Your Selection SOUP BASE: Hot-Spicy Broth, Herbal Broth, Corn w/ Bone Broth, Clear Broth, Beef Bone Broth MEAT: Lamb Slices, Beef Slices, Beef Manifold, Beef Tripe, Pork Belly, Pork Rind, Pork Blood Curd, Luncheon Meat, Chicken, Pork Intestine, Beef Meat Ball SEAFOOD: Squid, Mussel, Shrimp w/ Head, Clam, Fish Fillet, Fish Ball, Cuttlefish Ball, Fish Tofu VEGETABLES: Enoki Mushroom, King Oyster Mushroom, White Mushroom, Napa Cabbage, Watercress, Tong Ho, Lettuce, Lettuc Spinach, Taiwanese Lettuce, Lotus Root, Winter Melon, Chinese Yam, Pea Sprouts, Baby Bok Choy, Wood Ear, Taro Root, Sweet Corn, Pumpkin Slices, Kelp Knot, Sliced Potato SOY PRODUCTS: Tender Tofu, Silky Tofu, Fried Bean Curd Sheet,Yubu NOODLE: Udon Noodle, Instant Noodle, Rice Vermicelli, Green Bean Vermicelli, Korea Rice Cake

Kids age 3 and under: FREE Ages 4-6: $6.99 Ages 7-9: $10.99 Ages 10-12: $12.99 Seniors: $17.99

Adults: $19.99

AsAm Trump singles out two Asian American heroes in signing ‘Heritage’ proclamation

P

resident Trump signed a proclamation making May Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

This year’s proclamation draws attention to two Asian American heroes who played important roles in American history: Indian American Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian descent to fly into space and Susan Ahn Cuddy, the daughter of the first Korean couple to immigrate to the U.S and went on to play an important role in World War II. The proclamation reads: Indian American Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian descent to fly in space, and became an American hero for her devotion to the Space Shuttle program and its various missions transporting cargo and crew to and from the International Space Station. For her achievements, the Congress posthumously awarded her the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posthumously awarded her the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Ms. Chawla’s courage and passion continue

Kalpana Chawla

to serve as an inspiration for millions of American girls who dream of one day becoming astronauts.

Susan Ahn Cuddy, who was the daughter of the first Korean couple to immigrate to the United States, also uplifted the Nation through strong work ethic, an unwavering love of country, and a steadfast devotion to her life mission, even in

Susan Ahn Cuddy

the face of great adversity. She was the first Asian American woman to join the U.S. Navy. During World War II, she excelled as a code breaker and became the first female aerial gunnery officer in the Naval Forces. Lieutenant Cuddy would go on to further serve her country as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency.

Meet the Filipina American student journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize Mariel Padilla

20

June 2018 | National News

S

he had no idea that she had won journalism’s highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize.

Mariel Padilla, a student at Columbia University School of Journalism, was in class when The Pulitzer winners were named.

“I was in shock,” Padilla said, “Obviously, I couldn’t make noise or anything because my professor was still talking.” It wasn’t until the class break that a classmate made the announcement.

During Padilla’s internship at the Enquirer, the newspaper had a special project chronicling a week of Cincinatti’s heroin crisis. Padilla, 23, was assigned to visit the county jail each morning to sort through hundreds of paper arrest slips and flag opioid mentions.

On her own initiative, Padilla was able

to use technology to gather the data in a useful form. She created a spreadsheet, documenting the time, location, and nature of every opioid-related event that occurred over the week 24/7. Reporters and editors took to using her spreadsheet to chronicle their reporting.

Published in September 2017, the story, “Seven Days of Heroin,” prompted a nationwide conversation about the opioid crisis, with newspapers around the country taking up the baton passed on by the Enquirer series.

“I mean, I technically am a Pulitzer winner, I am just so humbled by the fact that they put the interns on the byline,” says Padilla, “I feel like I still need to learn all the things that I’m learning, which I think is why my general reaction was just straight shock. I still don’t believe it.”

Source: asamnews.com

NEWS

Texas: Two Asian American novice politicians to challenge Republican incumbents Gina Ortiz Jones

Sri Preston Kulkarni

T

wo Asian Americans won their party’s nomination in Texas run-off elections.

Austin’s Gina Ortiz Jones, 37, and Houston’s Sri Preston Kulkarni, 36, topped the Democratic Party contests in the 23rd and 22nd Congressional Districts, respectively.

Ortiz Jones, a Filipina American, beat Rick Trevino, a former high school teacher, with more than 17,000 votes.

“Gina will be a strong, principled representative for hardworking, middle class Texans and these results show her grassroots campaign is building momentum and will be highly competitive in November,” said Ben Ray Luján, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

If she wins in November against Republican Rep. Will Hurd, Ortiz Jones will be the first lesbian, first Iraq War veteran and first Filipina American to represent Texas in Congress.

Ortiz Jones’ November opponent is well-financed and has served in Congress for two terms. District 23 leans Republican but has elected Democrats in the past. In 2016, the district went for Hillary Clinton. The district has been targeted by

Hundreds Protest Homeless Shelter Planned for L.A. Koreatown

C

the Democratic Party as one that could flip to their ranks.

Kulkarni beat his Democratic rival almost two-to-one, but the road ahead for Kulkarni in District 22 will be even tougher.

The Indian American, a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, will try to upset five-term GOP Rep. Pete Olson this November.

Trump carried the district by 8 points in 2016, but it is also one of the most diverse districts in Texas, so immigration may be a big issue in November. In addition, Santa Fe High School where 10 people were killed last week, is a Houston suburb. The shooting will likely make gun control, anathema to Republicans, an issue in the 22nd.

“As we look ahead, let us remember what is at stake this fall. We are fighting for the students who fear gun terror in their schools; we are fighting for immigrant families who are seeking the American Dream; we are fighting for the teachers and everyday heroes struggling to support their families. Tonight we celebrate, but tomorrow we strive forward to bring decency back to our country,” Kulkarni said.

ity officials in Los Angeles plan to build a temporary homeless shelter on the edge of Koreatown. Hundreds of K-town residents protested those plans in traffic-stopping numbers on May 25.

During what the LA Times described as a “raucous” City Hall meeting, the proposal mustered enough committee support to await vote by full council. Because the planned site, an empty parking lot on Vermont Avenue, is already city-owned, there will be no public hearing.

At the meeting, city councilman Mike Bonin, said the new shelters were urgent for the city’s growing homeless population,”nothing short than a matter of life and death.” Last year, Los Angeles saw a 20 percent spike in the number of unsheltered residents to over 34,000, according to the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.

Three days later, neighborhood dissenters took to the streets: “No hearing, no shelter!”

That’s not fair,” Koreatown resident Joe Pak said to LA Weekly. “Also, if the parking lot is city-owned, who owns the city? The residents.”

Photo Credit: Francine Orr, LA Times

Kevin Negandhi named anchor of SportsCenter

K

Kevin Negandhi

evin Negandhi has taken over as the new co-anchor of the 6 p.m. Eastern Time edition of SportsCenter on ESPN along with Sage Steele.

Negandhi says he’ll keep his politics out of the sports show.

Negandhi was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University in 1997.

After college, according to Wikipedia, he became the second Indian American to become a local sports anchor in the country, working at KTVO in Kirksville, MO. AsAm News | asian avenue magazine

21

bookreview NUMBER ONE CHINESE RESTAURANT Author: Lillian Li Price: $27 | Pages: 304 ISBN: 978-1250141293 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Connect with Lillian at: www.LillianLiAuthor.com Twitter and Instagram: @ZillianZi Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @Jeneverre

Like most family enterprises, drama stems from employees, relationships between employees, familial ties and everything in between.

While set in a Chinese-American restaurant located in a suburb of Washington, D.C., it’s easy to imagine the story of this book taking place in other metropolitan suburbs such as San Francisco, Chicago, or even Denver.

There are nearly 41,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States, according to the magazine Chinese Restaurant News, three times the number of McDonalds franchise units and at $17 billion in annual sales.

Lillian Li’s insightful debut takes readers behind the scenes of a Chinese restaurant called the Beijing Duck House in Rockville, Maryland. Second-generation owner Jimmy Han, son of the restaurant’s deceased original owner, runs the business but is trying to sell it to transition to a more upscale venue, the Beijing Glory, an Asian fusion restaurant on the Georgetown waterfront.

Instead of selling it, a fire brings the original restaurant to an early demise. As Jimmy tries to save face, he and his older brother, Johnny, have a running argument about the direction of the Duck House. who wants the restaurant to remain traditional—since the death of their father.

Restaurant manager, Nan, and Ah-Jack, a waiter, have been friends for 30 years but lately have become romantically involved. Meanwhile, Nan’s troubled

22

June 2018 | Book Review

17-year-old son, Pat, a dishwasher, and Johnny’s disaffected daughter, Annie, a hostess, have been having not-so-secret sex in the storage closet for everyone to hear.

Other characters come into play, such as the brothers’ mother, the girlfriend of Johnny and other wait staff who become minor players in the drama of running a restaurant business.

A godfather-like character, hovering over all of them is Uncle Pang, a mysterious, nine-fingered man, who might hold the key to their futures. Despite the novel’s leisurely plotting, Li vividly depicts the lives of her characters and gives the narrative a few satisfying turns, resulting in a memorable book debut.

Some of the most notable parts of the book are vivid descriptions of the food offered on the restaurant’s old menu, the twists of other fusion cuisine introduced into the new restaurant and how manager Nan conducts elaborate presentations on seafood selections such as crab. It is easy to visualize these scenes as a reader, since dining in Chinese restaurants has become a part of American mainstream.

Li has been published in Guernica, Granta, Glimmer Train, and Jezebel. She is the recipient of a Hopwood Award in Short Fiction, as well as Glimmer Train’s New Writer Award. She received her BA from Princeton University and her MFA from the University of Michigan. Originally from the D.C. metro area, she now lives in Ann Arbor.

q&a Asian Avenue: What is the inspiration for writing this story?

Lillian Li (LL): I like this question because it basically lets me write my own origin story! So I worked, briefly, in a Chinese restaurant the summer before my MFA program. I wasn’t trying to work in a Chinese restaurant to write a novel about it—I was trying to get over a break-up, make some money, and kill the few weeks I had left before I moved to Michigan for school. I was actually working on a different novel, about two families that keep running into each other over the years. So it was a total surprise to me that I ended up writing the novel that I did.

It was a hard job. I only lasted four weeks, a scary and lonely four weeks. The other waiters were nice, but there was a language barrier. I could understand them almost perfectly, but I couldn’t really say more than your average Chinese toddler. But when they learned that I was quitting, they each individually congratulated me on getting out.

The words that very possibly sparked the novel came from one of the older waiters, who was in his seventies. He told me that working in a restaurant meant having a cage over your heart. Those words stayed with me. They captured my brief experience perfectly, and also opened it up, and made me imagine my four weeks stretching into years, then decades. Those words ended up obliterating the novel I had been working on (funnily enough, during the hour break between lunch and dinner service).

Asian Avenue: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

LL: The plot. I worked so hard on that plot. I had hundreds of pages written of what I thought was a plot, except that nothing happened. They were mostly character sketches, which ended up being really helpful, since I had my

with Lillian Li

characters down by the time I got to the plotting. But really “plot” is a misnomer, because what plot really is, for me, is the cohesion of everything that a novel needs to have to work— character, tension, stakes, theme, and so on. So of course it was the hardest part. It’s the litmus test that tells you if you have a book or not. I’m basically saying the hardest part of writing this book was writing this book.

Asian Avenue: What do you want readers to walk away with after reading this book?

LL: My answer changes every time I think about this question. In the end, there are so many different kinds of readers out there from so many different backgrounds. I hope each one walks away with something that startled them, something that resonated with them, and something that felt necessary to them.

Asian Avenue: What advice do you have to share with new writers?

LL: Be rigorous, and be HONEST. Work hard to tell the truth.

I don’t mean listing facts, or sticking to reality. I mean looking deep into what shames you and what moves you, and communicating it as clearly as you can. It’s funny that we need fiction to tell the truth, but then again, if fiction didn’t tell the truth, why would we keep reading it?

Asian Avenue: What hobbies do you enjoy?

LL: I love cooking. I love country music. I love listening to people talk about their lives. I love dancing badly and singing karaoke in a private room (the Asian, and correct, way).

Asian Avenue: Future projects?

LL: I just started a new project, but it’s so new that it feels as flimsy as a house of cards. I’m afraid if I say more, I’ll accidentally sneeze on it and send everything flying. But it takes place, like the first book, in a predominantly Chinese and Chinese American space.

LILLIAN LI

Author of Number One Chinese Restaurant Photo Credit: Margarita Corporan

Number One Chinese Restaurant | asian avenue magazine

23

The 10th annual Asian American Heroes of Colorado Awards ceremony was held on May 19, where six leaders were recognized for their service to Colorado’s Asian Pacific Islander community.

Left to Right: Kevin Leung, Derek Okubo, Eed Cefkin, Christine Wanifuchi, Naureen Singh and Ron Abo.

2018 ASIAN AMERICAN HEROES HONORED DURING APAHM

By Annie Guo VanDan

24

June 2018 | On Scene

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), the 10th annual Asian American Heroes of Colorado Awards ceremony recognized six outstanding leaders in Colorado’s Asian American community. The event, sponsored by Sakura Foundation and Asian Pacific Development Center, included a dim sum brunch on May 19.

The young hero award recognized Naureen Singh, Policy Director for Colorado Sikhs and a U.S. delegate for the International Human Rights Summit.

With a background in architecture, Ron Abo is the founder of The Abo Group. He has spent decades advocating for small and minority businesses and currently serves on the Sakura Foundation Board and is also Board Chair for the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Eed Cefkin is a leader in Colorado’s Thai community, having served as a teacher, interpreter, trainer and more for refugees and immigrants. She has also been a Thai language teacher for the U.S. National Guard.

As the director of the Douglas County School Board of Education, Kevin Leung believes in the importance of education. His wife, Shirley Leung, introduced him at the award ceremony, proclaiming that her husband works hard for the community as well as his family.

Derek Okubo is the Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships for the City and County of Denver. He serves as a board member for Japan America Society of Colorado as well as Sakura Foundation.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Christine Wanifuchi in honor of her work as the CEO of Asian Pacific Development Center before her retirement in 2017. In this role, she supported API communities with behavioral health and other social services.

The awards program is hosted by the nonprofit Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, which promotes and educates the public about Asian and Pacific Islander culture, in partnership with Asian Avenue magazine. Awardees are selected by a committee of representatives from AAPI organizations.

Photos by: Shu Li

Tony Oum, Christine Wanifuchi and Annie VanDan.

Emcee Jen Nguyen,Tarika Cefkin, Eed Cefkin, Ben Cefkin and Annie VanDan.

Kevin Leung thanks his wife Shirley Leung for the introduction.

Peggy Moore (Asian Chamber of Commerce), Ron Abo and Annie VanDan.

Derek Okubo (left) addresses the audience, while thanking Stacey Shigaya (right) for his nomination.

Naureen Singh, policy director for Colorado Sikhs, accepts the young hero award.

Past recipients of the Asian American Heroes of Colorado awards attended the 2018 awards ceremony.

From left to right: Gloria Williams (2015), Suzuho Shimasaki (2015), Soyon Bueno (2015), Donna LaVigne (2017), Linda Yip (2011), Jimmy Yip (2011), Lily Shen (2016), Dr. Alok Sarwal (2011) and Giselle Rushford (2016).

Asian American Heroes of Colorado | asian avenue magazine

25

27

WWII veterans honored with Congressional Gold Medal

By Mike Simbre, Director of FilVetREP, Region 6

Photos by Eric Smith

The Filipino Veterans Recognition and bat—into service defense of the United acts, which declared those who were in Education Project (FilVetREP) Region 6’s States, promising US nationality and vet- the Philippines Commonwealth Army presentation of the Congressional Gold eran’s benefits. Eventually 250,000 sol- who fought with Americans and Filipino Medal in honor of WWII veterans who diers rallied and willingly served under Americans were not classified to serve fought in the Philippines theatre was the command of General McArthur in on active duty which denied the benefits held at the Filipino American Communi- the US Army Forces in the Far East. These originally promised to them. ty of Colorado (FACC) Cultural Center on soldiers would serve under the most gruIt was not until December 14, 2016 April 28. A crowd of nearly 140 attended, eling and brutal conditions of the war that President Obama, signed into law, honoring 27 next of kin families accept- including the Bataan Death March. Over awarding the Congressional Gold Medal ing the medal on behalf of the deceased 57,000 were killed in action, thousands to these Americans and Filipinos and fiveteran. nally giving recognition to them Special guests in attendance 75 years after the war. were Army (R) Lt General EdThe Congressional Gold Medal ward Soriano, Army (R) Major passed by Congress in NovemGeneral Antonio Taguba, repber 2016, did not discriminate resentatives from the offices of in recognizing the brave men Sen. Bennett, Sen. Gardner, Rep. and women who undeniably Degette and Rep. Perlmutter, and unequivocally served their Jefferson County Commissioncountry despite the ugliness er Tina Francone, Gil Asakawa and inhumanity suffered. They and Roberto Rey from AARP, suffered for doing their duty and Kim Monson and Molly Vogt of experiencing discriminatory radio KDMT, and Nelson Garcia acts by Congress after the war. of KUSA Channel 9.

The Congressional Gold MedThe event was organized by al is simply recognition to thank USAF (R) MSgt Michael Simbre, them for their valor, their loyalDirector of FilVetREP, Region 6; ty, and their promise to defend Frank Francone, former Philiptheir homeland. They all had pine Scout; the FACC Board of guaranteed their mission with Directors; and the FACC comtheir lives. munity.

The Congressional Gold MedThe Congressional Medal of Honor recognizes FilVetREP’s mission is to raise al is the highest award bestowed Filipino and American veterans who fought in awareness through academic

by Congress to individuals or the Philippines during WWII. research and public education groups who displayed outstandand obtain national recognition ing achievements to the United of the Filipino-American WWII soldiers more wounded for life and hundreds States. for their wartime service to the United upon hundreds were missing in action.

The regional ceremony in Denver States and Philippines from July 1941 to So many thousands suffered as prisoners welcomed a mix of military and Filipino December 1946. of war. Yet, they fought, died and sur- culture. After the medals were awarded, On July 26, 1941, President Franklin D. vived for over four years and defeated the audience was treated to two Filipino Roosevelt used his constitutional powers the Japanese Imperial Forces and helped cultural dances as well as two Filipino directing all organized military units in liberate the Philippines. songs by the Mano Po choir. There were the Commonwealth of the Philippines— Toward the end of the war, on Febru- two authentic paintings depicting the Philippines Army, Philippines Scout, Phil- ary 18, 1945, Congress passed and Presi- Bataan Death March and the treatment ippines Constabulary and separate com- dent Harry Truman signed the rescission of prisoners. Paintings were courtesy of

26

June 2018 | On Scene

Left to right: Major General (R) Antonio Taguba, Mrs. Menchie Bautista Gregorio, Master Sergeant (R) Michael Simbre, Mr. Buddy Bautista, Mr. Ed Anolin, Lieutenant General (R) Edward Soriano, Sergeant First Class Nicholas Velando Victor Fulford. In the lower level of the FACC building, posters were displayed with events of the war and the names of honored veterans who were there.

The ceremony was dedicated to the veterans. The general public does not know about this dark side of history.

Which is why FilVetREP’s next phase will be focused on education.

Today text books scantily mention the fighting in the Philippines. FilVetREP plans to lobby each state legislature and

the Department of Education to devote at least one chapter in the history curriculum at the high school junior level about the fighting in the Philippines during WWII. Thanks to Tina Francone for obtaining Governor Hickenlooper’s proclamation that October 20, 2018 is to be Filipino American Veterans Day. FilVetREP will be collaborating with other Filipino organizations to celebrate that day.

FilVetREP relies on sponsors and indi-

MSgt (R) Michael Simbre, Mrs. Chae Simbre, MG (R) Antonio Taguba

Dr. Erlinda Rojas Santos received the medal for her father Major Dr. Teofilo Rojas (USAFF Medical Corps, Filvet POW) with her son Arch. Mauro Bernardino Santos Jr.

(R) after the rank stands for retired.

vidual donors to help the organization purchase the bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal. The organization hopes to continue these meaningful award ceremonies with funds donated from the public.

It is through these events hosted by FilVetREP and other Filipino-American organizations that keep the legacy of the WWII Filipino and American soldiers alive.

To learn more, visit www. FilVetREP.org for more information and updates.

MG (R) Antonio Taguba, Josephine Velando

Congressional Gold Medal | asian avenue magazine

27

Tracing what was once Denver’s CHINATOWN and JAPANTOWN through a walking tour

28

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Asian Communities Together organized a walking tour, tracing the history of Chinatown and Japantown in downtown Denver last May 26.

The guided tour was titled “Looking for ‘John Chinaman’” as a reference to the first recorded Chinese person in Colorado.

Dated June 29, 1869, the man’s name was “John.”

Meeting at the corner of Larimer and 16th Streets, a group of students, curious historians and new Denver transplants walked along the path of the 1880 anti-Chinese riot, where early white Denverites burned Denver’s Chinatown (Hop Alley) to the ground and murdered one Chinese man, Sing Lee. During this time, headlines without any political correctness screamed out the anti-sentiment against “Chinamen,” who were likely blamed for economic distress from other immigrant groups such as those from Ireland. In fact, to this day, the St. Patrick’s Day parade runs on the same route Chinatown died.

Attendees reflected if that was intended by city officials.

Historical markers of Hop Alley Chinese Riot of 1880 and the Red Light District Market Street are placed in Lodo for those looking for the history of the Wild Wild West.

The group also visited Sakura Square. Attendees learned about how the Japanese American community settled in this area for the cheap rent. At the time, it was an undesirable location next to pool halls, opium dens and brothels, also known as the Red Light District.

Back in the 1970s, Sakura Square was bigger than one block

with flourishing businesses such as bakeries, grocery stores, tailors and restaurants. With the move of gentrification and the flight to suburbs, the cityscape of Sakura Square changed over the years from the 1970s to present day 2018.

Other ethnic enclaves included Jewish and African American neighborhoods. Unless armed with old newspaper archives, it is difficult to find remnants of these neighborhoods around LoDo, RiNo, and surrounding communities.

The organizers cited archives from the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post to illustrate the xenophobia towards Asians and anti-sentiments against those from China.

“We need to tell the stories in our community,” said Justin Valas, one of the organizers and storytellers of the tour. “It is important to tell our own stories as public narratives can cause so much damage.”

The tour ended at TeaLee’s TeaHouse at 611 22nd Street. The group had a chance to meet with each other, exchanged ideas of building community and plan for future events.

Visit the Facebook page of Asian Communities Together at www.facebook.com/asiancommunities5280 to learn more about future events. See the historical documents prepared by Asian Communities Together at bit.ly/acthistory18.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mary Jeneverre Schultz checks out Chinatowns throughout the US, such as in Seattle, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Now she can add Denver to this list. Follow her on Twitter @Jeneverre.

Community members joined in the two-hour walking tour of downtown’s “Asian America” to learn about the history of Chinatown and Japantown.

While leading the guided tour, Justin Valas introduces The House of Mirrors on Market Street, which was once a Buddhist Temple.

June 2018 | On Scene

Denver High School Students Win Allstate Scholarship Awards

By Shelley Migaki

at the 33rd Asian Education Advisory Council of the Denver Public Schools Annual Ceremony

Rachele Espiritu, Keynote Speaker at awards ceremony

Two Denver area high school seniors were presented with $500 academic scholarships through an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant.

Roger Nakagawa is the winner of the Allstate Student Academic Award, and Sara Moradi is the winner of the Allstate Leadership Award. The scholarships were presented at the 33rd Annual Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council Award Ceremony on May 6. Good luck to all students as they continue their education!

Over 100 students, teachers, paraprofessionals, school administrators and parent volunteers were recognized at the event for their contributions and services to Denver Public Schools.

Sara Moradi is a senior at the Martin Luther King Early Learning Center. She is a refugee student and immigrated to the US with her parents. The hardships that she experienced as a refugee and immigrant have made a huge impact on her to become a mentor through the STARS Mentoring program that provides her with training to help troubled kids. Despite her tight schedule in school, Sara prioritizes her time doing volunteer work and working part-time in a restaurant. Sara plans to major in sociology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Roger Nakagawa is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School. He has a GPA of 4.868 and his academic pursuits are matched by his passion for sports, particularly in golf. His interest in golf and programming spurred him to create multiple golf-theme apps that are unique, well designed and functional. Apart from winning academic awards and golf awards over the years, Roger is active in community services and has volunteered at several nonprofit organizations such as the Special Olympics Golf, Bonfils Foundation, and Chibi Gakko as a mentor (Japanese Culture School). Roger aspires to be a mechanical engineer and will be attending the South Dakota School of Mines.

Sara Moradi Winner of the Allstate Leadership Award

Roger Nakagawa Winner of the Allstate Academic Talent Award

Mile High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

29

Miracle Touch 30 min Foot Massage $20 30 min Back Massage $20 60 min Foot & Back Massage $30 60 min Combo Massage $35

Our massages soothe aches and relax your body. Restore balance and rejuvenate your energy at an affordable price!

Massage & Reflexology

Open 9am to 9pm

HYL Health-Youth-Life Foot and Body Massage

720.929.2222 www.HYL-MASSAGE.com

3945-B East 120th Ave. • Thornton, CO 80233 • Mission Trace Shopping Center

Tel: 303-359-2622

12203 E. Mississippi Ave. #137 Aurora, CO 80012

$ 5.00 Off

for Deep Tissue Massage with this coupon Expires: 6/30/2018

Open 7 days a week • Appointments/Walk-Ins Welcome