Asian Avenue magazine - December 2020

December 2020

Volume 15 | Issue 12

Spotlight on Japanese Sculptor

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Gift Ideas to Support Local Businesses

Kazu Oba

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PRESIDENT’s NOTE To our Asian Avenue readers, As we do every December, let’s take a moment to ask ourselves: Where did the year go? How did the year fly by so quickly? Except this year is different. 2020 is a year unlike any other and I’d say most of us are ready to say good riddance to this stressful, depressing, and isolating year.

(Need I go on?). But if there is any silver lining, it is in this quote, “I thought that 2020 would be the year I get everything I want. Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciate everything I have.”

And of course, when we step back from it all, we always have a lot to be grateful for.

As we wrap up the year, we bring you our Best of 2020 issue with the help of our readers’ votes. We are excited to share with you the results—from the best dumplings to the best Asian fried chicken. The Best of 2020 is a tribute to the hard work of our local Asian business owners. Shop local! We’ve heard it all year long, but December is really the time to get creative with your holiday shopping and gift giving. Purchase gift cards from the restaurants featured in this issue and check out our 10 Gift Ideas to Support Local Asian Businesses feature! You may find a unique Asian trinket, a charcuterie and cheese box, Hmong-inspired jewelry, or a custom made face mask will make the perfect gift for a loved one! And if you still end up on Amazon looking to shop, please remember to use Amazon Smile to support nonprofit organizations, including Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN). CACEN is the nonprofit that operates Asian Avenue magazine and we would appreciate your support with your Amazon purchases this holiday and beyond!

Thanks to so many individuals and organizations for your generous donations of gift bags and goodies that will be delivered to Asian seniors this month. Even in difficult times, compassion for others is what keeps our community going. We wish you all happy holidays and a splendid new year! We will ‘see’ you next year!

Annie Guo VanDan, President | Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com

President’s Note | asian avenue magazine

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DEC 2020 5

FEATURE: 10 Gift Ideas to Support Local Asian Businesses

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COMMUNITY: Kumon Learning

Centers supplement students’

learning during a difficult year for education

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18

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COVER STORY: Best of 2020: best restaurants and businesses based on readers’ votes

SPOTLIGHT: Kazu Oba, local sculptor and potter shares about his shop O’baware FEATURE: A look at the 2020 election and historic wins for Asian Americans across the country TAIWAN: Taiwan is crucial to the global fight against cybercrime

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ON SCENE: Takayama, Japan,

spotlighted in Culture Day Zoom

event hosted by Denver sister cities committee

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CULTURAL TIDBITS: Fun Facts

about Christmas and how the

holiday is celebrated in Asian countries

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Asian Avenue Magazine

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December 2020 | Table of Contents

2 YEAR 24 Issues for $40 Payment Enclosed Bill Me

President Annie Guo VanDan Editorial Director Mary Jeneverre Schultz Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager Joie Ha Marketing Coordinator LINA ZHU Staff Writer Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer Jessalyn Herreria Langevin

on the cover With the help of our readers’ votes, we bring you our annual “Best of” issue and recognize the top restaurants and businesses of 2020.

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.

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P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com

Publisher & Founder Christina Yutai Guo

Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a costeffective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at marketing@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to info@asianavemag.com.

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

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2020 Year in Review

By Annie Guo VanDan

2020 was a year unlike any other.

We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve comforted each other during difficult times and cheered each other on. Through it all, Asians and Asian Americans had much to celebrate through these unprecedented times.

February 2020 The South Korean black comedy film directed by Bong Joon-ho,“Parasite,” wins four Academy Awards at the 2020 Oscars including Best Picture, Directing, International Feature Film and Original Screenplay. The film not only took home the most awards at the 2020 Oscars, but it also became the first non-English language film to win the award for Best Picture. The storyline follows the members of a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family.

APRIL 2020 Mindy Kaling’s series “Never Have I Ever” releases on Netflix and delivers South Asian representation on screen.

Based on Kaling’s personal experiences, the show is a coming-of-age comedy about the complicated life of a modern-day first-generation Indian-American teenage girl.

Bong Joon-ho

JUNE 2020

MAY 2020 After the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, Asian Americans reignited community movements in solidarity with Black lives. While Asians for Black Lives began years ago after the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, Asian American justice organizations refueled initiatives to show up for Black lives and have conversations at home and within Asian families about anti-Blackness.

Efforts included developing resources, showing up at rallies and protests, and starting campaigns in support of Black community members and Black-owned businesses. See resources at: asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/asians-for-black-lives

OCTOBER 2020 22-year-old Japanese Naomi Osaka wins the 2020 U.S. Open in a quiet arena due to COVID-19 precautions. She became the first Asian player—man or woman—to capture three Grand Slam singles titles. Not only a tennis champion, she is also a champion for racial justice, wearing masks during each of her matches with the names of Black victims of police violence: Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Tamir Rice. Born in Japan to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother, Osaka has lived and trained in the U.S. States since she was three years old.

Chinese-American chef Melissa King wins Top Chef All Stars L.A, the Season 17 champion of the Bravo competition series. In the final episode King paired her Italian techniques and local ingredients with the Chinese flavors of her San Gabriel Valley childhood: char siu glazed octopus with fennel, and squash agnolotti with Szechuan chili oil. King lives in San Francisco na is an advocate for LGBTQ equality as well as women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and food education for youths.

MELISSA KING

NOVEMBER 2020

NAOMI OSAKA

KIM NG

Kim Ng is named general manager for the Miami Marlins becoming the first female and first Asian American general manager in Major League Baseball history. She has more than 30 years of experience in the league. The organization says Ng is now the highest-ranking woman in MLB team operations.

2020 Year in Review | asian avenue magazine

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10

Gift Ideas

to Support Local Asian Owned Businesses Compiled by Annie Guo VanDan

Books for the children in your life Whether your learner is able to do in-person or remote learning this year, we all know it takes a village to raise our kids. The one thing that former 7News journalist Christine (Chang) Gillette has tried to keep consistent is making sure reading is on the top of her list. That’s why she’s been a book lady with Usborne Books & More for two and a half years and loves it!

“Our books are interactive, educational, and above all, fun! The illustrations are bright, bold and inviting. Giving the gift of reading will last a lifetime with our kids!” she said.

Usborne Books & More is a division of Educational Development Corporation (EDC), a company that has twice been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the 200 Best Small Companies in America. The company produces children’s books from babies to middle schoolers and up.

colorful decor to brighten your home Denver-based husband and wife duo Alex Nguyen and Lilly Zheng teamed up to create Lume.ly! With Lilly’s love for fabric and Alex’s tech background building mobile apps, it just made sense for the two to start their own home decor line. Lume.ly comes from the word luminous, which means shining, bright, and brilliant.

“The heart of why we created Lume.ly is to brighten up the home with love and joy, because that’s what we have in our amazing marriage together and wanted to bring that into peoples homes in the form of bright, colorful, and joyful home decor,” said Nguyen.

Visit their website at lumely.co. Enter coupon code: ‘asianave’ to receive 25% off sitewide (10% of their profits will be donated to church). Follow Lume.ly at: instagram.com/lumelysocial.

Browse & shop at: g7601.myubam.com Follow her at: instagram.com/faithnbooks Need book recommendations?

E-mail Faithnbooks@gmail.com

charcuterie & cheese right to your door

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December 2020 | Feature

Le Fancy Boards offers artisan arrangements to spread the love of food! These beautifully-designed charcuterie and cheese boards are delivered right to your door and make the perfect gift for any occasion!

After Vuong Le had worked in Finance/Accounting and IT for more than 20 years, she decided it was time to stay home and spend more time with her baby. That is when she explored her passion for food arrangement. “I have been making charcuterie boards as a hobby for a couple of years and decided to open a business to share my creativity,” she said.

Order at lefancyboards.com or send a direct message through Facebook or Instagram @lefancyboards.

Asian fit frames for colorado’s sunny days In 2015, Dr. Jeong and her husband JK founded Envision Eye Care with the belief that everyone has the right to better health, vision, and style. In a beautifully modern office, they provide caring, efficient and affordable vision care.

This holiday, stop by Envision Eye Care for high-quality Asian eyewear and sunglasses directly and exclusively from Japan and Korea. At Envision, you will find unique Asian eyewear that you can’t find anywhere else in Colorado.

Each year Colorado receives 300 days of sunshine—don’t forget that winter eye protection is just as important as summer! Check out Envision’s selection of light, stylish and affordable frames to help you and your loved ones enjoy our state’s beautiful outdoors through all seasons!

Envision Eye Care is located at: 5001 S Parker Rd #204, Aurora, CO 80015.

Visit their website at envision-eyecare.com. Follow Envision Eyecare at: instagram.com/envisionaurora.

baby and toddler outfits to adore Adore by Nora is a mommy run shop founded by Pamela Yang in Central Park (formerly Stapleton). Inspired by her daughter, Yang opened the children’s boutique in 2019 that has now gained a substantial following nationwide. Each item is designed and handmade by Yang, with a focus on being timeless, aesthetic, and high-quality.

“I believe that motherhood should be a celebrated journey, and I get to do what I love best, dressing up my girl. I’m happy to share with you the pieces of everyday children wear we love and truly adore,” said Yang.

Yang had always dreamed of owning a children’s boutique, a dream that began when she was working in children’s retail during college.

“All the love, time, and energy put into this shop has been a blessing. I am a self pioneered woman, and loving every bit of it. Each piece is ethically made by me; hand cut, hand sewn and packaged from my own basement. I also diligently try to source as many sustainable, eco-friendly, and organic fabrics as I can.”

Yang brings moms and their children fresh and slow fashion pieces that she adores and loves seeing on her own daughter. Her one-of-a-kind pieces make stunning outfits for family photos. Follow Adore by Nora at instagram.com/adorebynora.

Natural skincare products to leave your loved ones glowing The well-known skincare and cosmetics retailer, The Face Shop, has two locations in Colorado—one in Aurora’s H-Mart shopping center and the other in Lakewood’s Belmar Center.

You will feel welcomed by the bright space and the knowledgeable staff, trained by owner Alexia Kim, whom can help you pick out the perfect products and holiday baskets for both the men and women in your life!

Take time to find the perfect skincare line. Anti-aging creams, eye serums, blemish control washes, they have it all. Friends and family will be excited to open a gift from a top beauty brand! The Face Shop also offers great stocking stuffers such as gift sets, face masks, lip glosses, brushes, hand sanitizers, nail polishes and travel-sized products.

Stop by either location or follow The Face Shop Colorado at: fb.faceshopcolorado.com.

How Adore By Nora Works!

Every purchase is made to order with a 4-6 week turn around. Occasionally, the shop will have “ready to ship” sales and a “drop” of a clothing collection available for a “live sale.” This allows the shop to bring new products and styles, stay fashion forward, restock on best selling items; and never be stagnant on their clothing collections.

Don’t miss out on “drop” sales by subscribing to the mailing list at adorebynora.com.

Gift Ideas to Support Local | asian avenue magazine

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ASIAN GIFTS worth giving

Get decorations, flowers, and snacks to celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year (LNY) at Truong An’s LNY Street Market Fair.

Truong An Gifts has been a staple of Denver’s Asian community for over 35 years. Located inside the Far East Center, Truong An sells everything from bamboo, clothing, anime, and small kick-knacks to furniture, water fountains, crystals, K-pop products, teas, and snacks. The shop has a large selection of face masks and other beauty products. Family owned and operated since 1983, Truong An carries a wide array of products that will certainly fulfill the needs of shoppers from all over.

Follow Truong An Gifts on Instagram & Facebook @truongangifts

Mention this article from Asian Avenue and receive 10% off your entire purchase.

add mama’s chili oil to spice up your dishes

hmong-inspired jewelry and handmade accessories to last a lifetime Based in Thornton, Colo., VueDecors is a shop that features decorative art, accessories, and Hmong-inspired jewelry. Founded in 2015 by Sia Lor, the shop originally offered edible fondant cake toppers.

“My customers would ask if there was a way to preserve the handmade fondant toppers, which sparked the idea of switching to polymer clay as an alternative medium, which cures through baking and may be treasured for years to come,” said Lor. This medium then opened up many possibilities as she now creates key chains, figurines, jewelry, and hair accessories.

“I want to inspire others and keep my culture alive through my craft. You will also find Colorado and floral inspirations in my shop,” she said.

Visit VueDecors’ shop at: etsy.com/shop/ VueDecors

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Follow VueDecors on Instagram & Facebook @vuedecors

Get Mama Sue’s homemade Thai chili oil that is so delicious, you can eat it with anything. It is so hot that it will surely keep you warm this winter. Buy some for yourself or as a unique gift for friends and family. It can be shipped to you or picked up at the Tuk Tuk Thai restaurants.

Order a jar today at mamasuekitchen.com and follow Mama Sue on Instagram & Facebook @mamasue.kitchen

masks (and more) made singlehandedly

Motivated at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a lack of access to face masks, Chinese American Jen Nguyen began sewing away! Her shop Singlehandedly Crafts began as a quarantine activity that turned into custom orders for family and friends. It has now grown to taking nationwide orders and requests for unique custom fabric masks (boba lovers, there is a mask for you!). Nguyen was born with one hand and a love of crafts! Singlehandedly Crafts offers flower shadow boxes, custom cards, and more!

Follow Singlehandedly Crafts on Instagram @singlehandedly.crafts.

December 2020 | Feature

Centers Supplement Students’ Learning During an Already Difficult Year for Education As schooling across the country moved to virtual classes, so did Kumon Learning Centers that offer math and reading programs for students pre-kindergarten through high school.

“With COVID, we had to take Kumon into online mode and my faith and belief in Kumon deepened tremendously,” said Ferooza Eswaran, instructor at the Centennial-Foxfield location. “Since Kumon students have always had to ‘work from home’ in that they do homework every day, they hit the ground running when schools went online and they were to work from home. What’s unique is the fact that the students work with good ol’ pencil and paper, but just our interaction moved online.”

The Proven Kumon Method to Help Children Succeed For more than 60 years, Kumon’s after-school academic enrichment program has helped children achieve success worldCentennial-Foxfield wide.

Kumon Kumon strives to instill in children the desire to achieve and the motivation to learn on their own.

Instead of taking notes, memorizing facts, and being fed information from teachers or a tutor, children actively develop critical, self-learning skills through carefully designed worksheets. Kumon worksheets cover everything from counting to calculus, and phonemics to Shakespeare.

Kumon was founded in 1954 in Japan by a father and gifted math teacher, named Toru Kumon, who wanted his son, Takeshi, to develop a love for learning. He also wanted him to be thoroughly prepared for rigorous high school and college entrance exams in his future. Each day, Toru gave Takeshi short, incremental assignments to complete, allowing his son to master each concept complete-

ly before learning a new skill. The method was so successful that by sixth grade, Takeshi was solving calculus problems.

demics is highly valued by all Asian Americans and they also are not shy of making the children work hard and they realize the value and rewards of conWhy Local Asian Americans sistent hard work. BuildLakewood-Bear Creek Opened ing a good work ethic is a Kumon Kumon Learning Centers priceless byproduct of this For Joey Le and Qui Nguyprogram and we know the valen, the husband and wife opened ue of that.” a Kumon Learning Center in Lakewood The Kumon method provides students on December 1, 2019 because the Ku- with the tools necessary to develop their mon philosophy aligned with their be- problem solving skills and become indeliefs in education and community sup- pendent learners. With individualized inport. struction, students are given the oppor“Kumon teaches students to be inde- tunity to progress at their own pace. pendent self-learners, builds their confidence and strengthens the fundamental Adapting to COVID-19 foundational skills,” said Nguyen.

In Lakewood, Nguyen said, “This past In Centennial, Eswaran officially year has been tough with all the changopened her location off Parker Road in es and uncertainties of COVID; however, September 2011 after exploring possibil- with the help of our families, we have ities to open dating back to 2005. been able to adjust well. We have been Eswaran said, “As a microbiologist taking the information provided by the and educator, I had been working in HR CDC and accommodating our instrucfor seven years and started feeling that tion methods to keep everyone safe. We something was amiss. A good friend of transitioned to remote learning during mine was operating a Kumon and en- the stay at home order and, eventually, couraged me to do the same.” we were able to reopen our center with Being an educator all her life, Eswaran a limited capacity.” loves to see the difference Kumon can Eswaran said, “Many families lost make in a child’s life. “For me, Kumon is jobs and incomes these past months. not a business. I have built relationships I was able to help these families by not that will last a lifetime and I am so hap- charging tuition. I tried my best to not let py and proud to say that I am in touch their economic situation interfere with with not just current students and their their academic progress.” parents, but families who were with For more information: me years ago,” she said.

LAKEWOOD Asian American Families Believe in Kumon According to Eswaran: “Asian Americans are definitely the higher percentage of Ferooza Eswaran with her my students. Most first student at the Centennialgeneration immigrants— Foxfield Kumon Asian Americans included— value education and find value in a program like Kumon.”

“I think culturally, excellence in aca-

BEAR CREEK 3200 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Unit D Lakewood, CO 80227 Email: lakewoodbear creek_co@ikumon.com

CENTENNIAL FOXFIELD 6262 S Parker Rd #100 Centennial, CO 80016 Email: feroozaeswaran @ikumon.com

Kumon Learning Centers | asian avenue magazine

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thank you to our readers for voting! without further ado...

Best Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich)

New Saigon Bakery and Deli

640 S. Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 newsaigon.com | @newsaigonbakery

New Saigon Bakery & Deli

Located in the heart of Denver’s Vietnamese community, New Saigon® Bakery and Deli was established in 2012, specializing in banh mi sandwiches and food to go such as pâté chaud, a savory puff pastry, bánh bao, a bun containing pork or chicken meat, onions, eggs, mushrooms and vegetables, and other pastries and cakes. Be sure to try their top-selling sandwich, the grilled lemongrass pork banh mi and get a cup of Vietnamese iced coffee to go!

Honorable mentions: 1) Baker’s Palace 2) 5280 Banh Mi and Grill

Pho Duy

925 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80011 phoduyrestaurant.com For years, Pho Duy and Pho 95 have sat at the top for the best pho in Denver. This year, Pho Duy reigns. If you are craving a bowl of warm and savory pho, Pho Duy always hits the spot! Delicious soup, tender meat, and a variety of options, Pho Duy has all the essentials you need to survive this pandemic as well as the cold winter months ahead!

Best Pho

Pho Duy

Honorable mentions: 1) Pho 95 2) Now Pho

Mason’s Dumpling Shop Best Dumplings

Mason’s Dumpling Shop Honorable mentions: 1) Yuan Wonton 2) Uncle Zoe’s Chinese Kitchen 10

December 2020 | Cover Story

9655 E Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80010 masonsdumplingshop.com | @masonsdumplingshop_co Mason’s Dumpling’s story started in California, where the owner opened their first store in LA in 2001. At the beginning of 2018, the couple expanded to Highland Park, Colo., naming their new eatery Mason’s Dumpling Shop after their son. The new store in Colorado continues the tradition of hand making each dumpling from scratch and bringing delicious food to all dumpling lovers throughout the Denver metro. The menu includes boiled dumplings, steam dumplings, and pan fried dumplings as well as other delicious noodles and rice dishes.

Sushi Den

1487 S. Pearl St., Denver, CO 80210 sushiden.net | @sushidendenver

Best Sushi

Opened on Christmas Eve 1984, and celebrating 36 years, Sushi Den continues to set the standard for high-quality seafood and is on the cutting-edge of Japanese cuisine.

Prior to the pandemic, the restaurant served an average of 700 guests daily.

Currently, the dine-in service is open by reservation and walk-in at Sushi Den. Sushi Den provides lunch and dinner takeout menus and they are also accepting online orders up to 5 days in advance.

Sushi Den Honorable mentions: 1) Uchi Denver 2) Izu Sushi

Star Kitchen

Best Dim Sum

Star Kitchen

Honorable mentions: 1) Super Star Asian Cuisine 2) Empress Seafood Restaurant

2917 W Mississippi Ave Ste 5, Denver, CO 80219 starkitchenseafooddimsum.com Ask any long-time Denver resident for their favorite dim sum restaurant and nine times out of ten they will say Star Kitchen. In fact, during Chinese New Year, this restaurant is packed with diners from all over metro Denver and the surrounding suburbs. It is common to experience two-hour wait times on weekends to get your favorite shrimp balls, pork shu mai, and turnip cakes. Dine-in and take out are currently available at Star Kitchen, so stop by and pick up your go-to dim sum items, which are just as delicious when heated up at home!

Katsu Ramen

Best Ramen

Katsu Ramen Honorable mentions: 1) Ajinoya Ramen 2) Tokio 3) Uncle

1930 S Havana St #4, Aurora, CO 80014 ramendenver.com | @katsuramen_co As the traditional Japanese ramen spot of Aurora, Katsu Ramen offers steamy and rich broth with fresh made noodles and an authentic Japanese experience in every bite. All of the food is authentically prepared by an experienced Japanese chef from Osaka, Japan.

They also offer rice bowls, poke bowls, rice balls and other delicious appetizers.

Now serving Japanese sakes, beers, and cocktails, enjoy a lunch or dinner meal from Katsu Ramen to go!

Best of 2020 | asian avenue magazine

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Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

Best Hot Pot

Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot Honorable Mentions: 1) Aki Asian Hot Pot 2) The Bronze Empire

2080 S. Havana Street, Aurora, CO 80014 seoulkoreanbbq.com | @seoul.koreanbbq For many years, Seoul Korean BBQ has lured diners, who love Korean dishes and sushi. Seoul Korean BBQ has won many awards for best of Korean cuisine in Aurora. Last year, Seoul Korean BBQ began providing All You Can Eat Hot Pot, which includes a variety of meats, fresh seafood, noodles and vegetables. They have quickly become our readers’ favorite hot pot spot, which some even say they love more than their KBBQ! The experience is different than other hot pot locations in that you serve yourself versus having toppings brought to you (pre-pandemic). Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot now offers dine-in, delivery and pick-up options.

The Yabby Hut

3355 S Yarrow St, Lakewood, CO 80227 yabbyhut.com | @yabbyhut The Yabby Hut is a place to relax, scream for your favorite sports team with a beer in hand alongside with friends and family (pre-pandemic). Decked out their genuine fisherman gear, this casual restaurant has a unique bayside theme and food. Specialized in crawfish, their one-of-a-kind Cajun seasoning gives a little twist to your taste buds that is irresistible. With a twist of the bayside theme and traditional Philippines way of eating food (everything with bare hands and fingers), the good ol’ day is back in action. Ordering The Yabby Hut to go and getting excited for your seafood boil is just as exciting at home!

Best Seafood & Crawfish Boil

The Yabby Hut Honorable Mentions: 1) The Crawling Crab 2) The Asian Cajun

Monsoon Cuisine of India Best Korean Soup

Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

24107 E Commons Ave, Aurora, CO 80016 monsoonsouthlands.com

Best Indian

Monsoon Cuisine of India remains faithful to the eatery’s Indian roots by wholeheartedly embracing the country’s bold, age-old cooking techniques and by using fresh, preservative-free ingredients, with no artificial flavors or food Honorable Mentions: coloring. Simple-old 1) Tofu House 2) DAE GEE Korean BBQ fashioned great tastHonorable Mentions: ing favorites executed with over years of 1) Yak & Yeti 2) Star of India Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot combined experience 2080 S. Havana Street, Aurora, CO 80014 under one roof-making for a delicious traditional seoulkoreanbbq.com | @seoul.koreanbbq Indian meal served in a contemporary setting.

Not only voted as best hot pot, Seoul Korean BBQ & Hot Pot also won the Best Korean Soup this year (a new category)! Seoul offers over 13 different soup and stew dishes including some of the most traditional ones such as Doenjang-Jjige, Kimchi-Jjige, Mandu-guk, and Soon-tofu. Definitely try out their Korean soup the next time you are enjoying your BBQ there!

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December 2020 | Cover Story

Monsoon Cuisine of India

H

Bonchon Chicken

8340 E Northfield Blvd, Denver, CO 80238 bonchon.com | @bonchonstapleton

Best Asian-Style Chicken

Bonchon Chicken

Honorable Mentions: 1) Angry Chicken 2) Funny Plus

A new category for 2020 - Bonchon Chicken in Stapleton is this year’s best Asian-Style Chicken. And what we are really talking about here is fried chicken!

Bonchon is a global restaurant chain best known for its crunchy double-fried chicken, savory signature sauces, and unique pan-Asian menu. Founded in South Korea in 2002, the word “Bonchon” means “my hometown” in Korean which represents their authentic, traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, ensuring the highest level of flavor and care with each dish. For these reasons, Bonchon has been recognized by many industry leaders and has won many awards for best chicken wings restaurant chains.

Tokyo Premium Bakery

Best Asian Bakery

Tokyo Premium Bakery

Honorable Mentions: 1) New Saigon Bakery 2) Le Petite Bakery

1540 S Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210 tokyopremiumbakery.com @tokyopremiumbakery Tokyo Premium Bakery provides all kinds of Japanese-style breads and pastries. Their products are made from scratch and baked fresh. Tokyo Premium Bakery also provides a variety of drinks such as their staff recommended authentic matcha latte and hojicha latte which pair nicely with their fresh bread and fruit tarts. On the weekend, Tokyo Premium Bakery shows lines of customers waiting to order their favorite morning delights. Customers can also order their Shoku-Pan (loaf of bread) online.

HMart

Honorable Mentions: 1) Pacific Ocean Supermarket (Aurora) 2) Pacific Ocean Marketplace (Denver)

2752 S Parker Road, Aurora, CO 80014 myhmart.com

Best Asian Supermarket

HMart

H-Mart is our winner for the best Asian Supermarket the seventh year! This Korean-owned supermarket opened its first Colorado location in January 2004. Packed with shoppers, H-Mart is best visited during the weekdays as weekends and holidays show long lines and huge crowds for the large selection of Asian grocery choices.

The grocery store offers a mini fish market, where shoppers can ask for cleaning and frying of fish onsite. The produce area has a lot variety of fruit and vegetables, even durian, mangos and papayas; and the bakery offers fresh breads and pastries.

Best of 2020 | asian avenue magazine

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US Thai Cafe

5228 W 25th Ave Edgewater, CO 80214 303-233-3345 (no website/social) Head to Edgewater if you like your Thai food spicy! US Thai Cafe brings the heat with force and flavor, but it’s not just a gimmick. Thai chiles enhance and balance massive amounts of other spices — galangal, lemongrass, garlic, kaffir lime leaf and ginger, to name a few. Curries are thick with the pulp of said seasonings, while dressings on papaya salads and larb assert themselves with lime and fish sauce.

Best Thai Curry

US Thai Cafe

Honorable mentions: 1) Pearl of Siam 2) Suvipa Thai Food

Happy Lemon

9686 E Arapahoe Rd, Greenwood Village, CO 80112

happylemoncolorado.com | @happylemonco

Best Bubble Tea

Happy Lemon

Honorable mentions: 1) Kung Fu Tea 2) Tea Street

Happy Lemon opened its doors in Colorado this year and has topped the charts as the local favorite! The global bubble tea chain established in China in 2006, now has over 1,500 locations across the globe. Happy Lemon is determined to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, grapefruit, strawberries, avocado, mint leaves and other natural ingredients in their tea making process. Some of its most popular items include Jasmine Green Tea with Salted Cheese, Milk Tea w/Oreo and Puff Cream, and freshly baked Bubble Waffles.

SNOWL

1930 S Havana St #5-6, Aurora, CO 80014 snowlcafe.com | @snowl.cafe Decorated in a boho manner, the interior of SNOWL lures customers to stay and enjoy their dessert. The favorite at SNOWL is taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with ice cream. The menu board shows a wide range of options. Ask for suggestions because it’s hard to decide on which dessert to order!

Best Dosa

Best Asian Dessert

SNOWL

Honorable mentions: 1) Meet Fresh 2) Milk Rolled Ice Cream

(South Indian Dish)

Bawarchi Biryani Point

Honorable mentions: 1) Tiffins India Cafe 2) Masalaa 14

December 2020 | Feature

Bawarchi Biryani Point

11001 E Arapahoe Pl, Centennial, CO 80112

denverbawarchi.com @bawarchi_denver

A dosa/dosai is a rice pancake, originating from South India, made from a fermented batter predominantly consisting of lentils and rice. Bawarchi Biryani Point at Centennial won this new category this year! Bawarchi is a chain restaurant focused on authentic India food. Its name Bawarchi, is synonymous with Authentic Indian Biryanis, where aromatic spices come together to create a tantalizing Pot of Biryani. The Centennial location provides Cone Dosa (made in the shape of cone) and Chocolate Dosa (made with chocolate).

Yuan Wonton Food Truck

Best Asian Food Truck

Yuan Wonton Food Truck Honorable mentions: 1) No Ke Aloha -Hawaiian/Polynesian 2) BG Dough

@yuanwonton

Yuan Wonton Food Truck is Denver’s mobile dumpling truck specializing in signature chili-garlic wontons, handmade dumplings and other Asian noms. At Yuan Wonton, every delicious dumpling is made with passion and love.

And for Penelope Wong, owner of this popular food truck, sharing this family tradition with Denver is personal. A long time chef, Penelope, developed a love of food when she was very young. And her unique take on wontons, dumplings, noodles and rice dishes has quickly helped Yuan Wonton become a local favorite. For information on schedules, pop ups, events, and ordering details, be sure to check out their stories on Instagram @yuanwonton.

Tea Street

4090 E Mississippi Ave, Denver, CO, 80246 teastreetdenver.com | @teastreetdenver Tea Street was recognized as the Best Asian Owned Business of the year by our readers! Tea Street puts a modern twist on classically inspired drinks, building upon the foundation of invigorating bold brews of tea. Their craft drinks do not contain synthetically flavored powders or syrups. Syrups and toppings, including but not limited to their puddings, herbal jelly, red and mung bean are all made from scratch. As one nominator shared: “Tea Street not only has delicious offerings but they are also very supportive of the Asian community in Colorado through donations as well as advocacy.”

Best Asian Owned Business

Tea Street Honorable mentions: 1) Comrade Brewing 2) Salon Joa

Saranya Cooks Thai (Thai meal kit)

Best New Food Delivery

Saranya Cooks Thai

Honorable mentions: 1)Jada’s Mochi Donuts 2) Kitsune Bento

saranyacooksthai.com | @saranyacooksthai Want to create your own authentic Thai food at home? S​ aranya Cooks Thai meal kits are the way to go! Saranya Cooks Thai delivers boxes of fresh, authentic ingredients to your front door (in the Denver Metro, Northern Colorado, and Boulder areas) so you can create delicious Thai dishes in the comfort of your own home. Every kit comes with all the ingredients needed for four servings. Founded by Thai American, Zonya Dawson, the business has been thriving especially as many people are eating more at home.

Best of 2020 | asian avenue magazine

15

Fun Facts About Christmas

By Lina Zhu

“Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.

The song was written in 1857

by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was supposed to be played in the composer’s Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famous Medford sleigh races. “Jingle Bells” was also the first song to be broadcast from space.

Hanging stockings started by accident.

According to legend, we hang stockings up by our chimney, thanks to a poor man who did not have enough money to buy dowries for his three daughters. Generous old St. Nick dropped a bag of gold down their chimney, where the girls hung their stockings to dry. That’s where the gold ended up, and the tradition began.

Two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up.

According to data analyzed from Facebook posts and statuses, couples are more likely to end their relationship two weeks before Christmas and two weeks after Valentine’s Day. Christmas Day, however, is the least favorite day for breakups.

Celebrating Christmas used to be illegal.

When the Pilgrims settled in Boston, the celebration of Christmas had been outlawed. From 1659 to 1681, anyone caught making merry would face a fine for celebrating. After the Revolutionary War, this day became so important that Congress even held its first session on December 25, 1789. Christmas was not declared a federal holiday for the next century.

Christmas wasn’t always on December 25.

While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, there is no mention of December 25 in the Bible. In fact, most historians assume that Jesus was born in the spring. And his birthday itself didn’t become an official holiday until the third century.

Some historians believe the date was actually chosen because it coincided with the pagan festival Saturnalia, a celebration in honor of the agricultural god Saturn.

16

December 2020 | Cultural Tidbits

Christmas decorating sends nearly 15,000 people to the ER. If you’ve seen Clark Griswold decorate his house over the Christmas holidays, you probably won’t be surprised. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 14,700 people visit hospital emergency rooms each November and December for holiday renovations, so be careful when getting on your ladder.

Do Asian Countries Celebrate Christmas?

Japan | The major religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto. Less than two percent of Japanese claim to be Christians so Christmas is more of a commercial event that Japanese people celebrate for fun. It is common for Japanese parents to give Christmas presents to their children at Christmas.

Corporate offices and malls are sometimes decorated for the occasion.

South Korea | Christmas is more widely celebrated in South Korea, as Christians make up about 30 percent of the population.

However, another 70 percent of South Koreans are Buddhist (about 25 percent) or have no religious affiliation, so if they celebrate Christmas, it’s more for the joyous sentiment the holidays bring. Unlike In Japan, Christmas is an official public holiday in South Korea, but Koreans still need to go to work or school on Boxing Day, the 26th. One of the biggest differences between South Korean and Western Christmas celebrations is the food.

Koreans typically celebrate it by eating more traditional dishes.

The Philippines | More than 90 percent of Filipinos are Roman Catholic, making the Philippines one of two predominantly Christian countries in Southeast Asia (East Timor is the other). Christmas is celebrated publicly throughout the country, aside from a handful of places where Islam is the predominant faith. As for the rest of the country, a strong emphasis on religion can be seen during the Christmas holiday. You’ll even hear Christmas songs being played in October as the country gears up for one of its favorite holidays!

China | In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities. Christmas is not an official holiday in China, so most offices, schools, and shops remain open.

Although it is not an official holiday, Chinese people still get in the holiday spirit around the 25th of December just for fun. During Christmas time, there are Christmas trees, lights, and other decorations on the streets and in department stores.

Vietnam Known in Vietnam as Noel, Christ- Midnight Mass. There are also French mas is one of the major festivals in the influences in the Christmas traditions country, celebrated with much fanfare from years of French colonial rule. by all religious communities. Despite In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s the fact that Buddhism is the domi- largest city, people like to go into the nant religion and Christians form only city center on Christmas Eve to enjoy a minority, the people love celebrating the light shows and decorations, eat the spirit of Christmas, predominantly out, throw confetti, and take pictures. on Christmas Eve when they attend a Children in Vietnam love Santa Claus.

Christmas Traditions | asian avenue magazine

17

Kazu Oba, a potter and sculptor based in Boulder, Colo. was born in Kobe, Japan. He was inspired to travel on his own and live in the U.S. after watching the American movie “Grease” in 1989. He then dropped out of high school in Japan and attended Gilpin County High School in Colorado and graduated in 1990.

Oba worked in restaurants for about 15 years.

During his time, he became increasingly interested in the vessels for the food he was serving in the restaurants. While studying at the University of Colorado Boulder, Oba apprenticed under Jerry Wingren, a sculptor in stone and wood for four years.

He then decided to go back to Japan to study under one of the world’s most renowned potters in Karatsu (one of the ceramic centers in Japan), Takashi Nakazato. After his training in Japan, he returned to Colorado in 2004 and eventually started his own studio, O’baware, creating ceramics and sculptures with his wife, Yuka.

By Lina Zhu

What does the process of making an O’baware look like?

Each O’baware is made by our hands one piece at a time to bring out the natural curves and the warm textures that only handmade pottery

can

bring.

They may be slightly odd shaped and irregular, just like us, but that’s a part of the beauty.

The

process

of

making an O’baware

18

KAZ

Location: 1061 Mercury Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026 Website/Online Shop: www.obaware.com Follow on Instagram: @oba_ware

es of bowls for his ramen while he was in search of a restaurant location.

Kazu’s pottery is dedicated to functional, everyday ware to be used in the home. His background as a chef distinctly influences his work, as he maintains a constant focus on the relationship between his pots and the food that will occupy them.

He initially wanted deeper bowls for his Shoyu and Miso ramen that have more broth, and shallow but wider bowls for his signature Ramen Star ramen.

Now he serves all hot ramen in the deeper

always starts with a need for that particular vessel. For ex-

bowls and uses the wide and shallow bowls for his cold

ample, Takashi, owner of Ramen Star (located in Denver),

ramen. The shape of the bowls were made to meet their

and I spent four years trying many different shapes and siz-

function.

December 2020 | Spotlight

O

“

My work and designs come out of my lifestyle, a Japanese living in the western world, a family with a small child, surviving through Covid. My pots are about all those things.

- Kazu Oba

How does your work represent your own identities, cultures, and ideologies?

My table and chairs at home make it a lot more comfortable to use dishes in Japanese fashion (lifting various vessels off the tabletop) because my chairs are two inches higher than the standard height, so my forearms don’t come in contact with the tabletop. The standard height tables and chairs are in fact made for a dining experience where all the dishes are left on the table. This

ZU

OBA How have things changed for you since becoming a parent?

I never made dishes for babies before but now

includes Chinese and Korean table etiquettes.

Many of the tools and techniques I use in the studio required years in development, but the final products often take a few minutes, if not seconds to produce. I view pottery making as calligraphy. We spend our lifetime perfecting the simple gestures, with the least amount of fussing at the potter’s wheel. I believe the pots made in the simplest and quickest fashion are the healthiest and most honest dishes.

How has your business been affected by the pandemic?

Most of my shows this year got canceled, starting with a show in New York in March and one in Tokyo in April along with two others in Japan this summer.

A local event that was planned for this spring is now happening at The Source. An all-wood sculpture show at Arvada Center, which was planned for this fall, is taking place in January.

have created various versions as my daughter Maya*

Although many events were canceled due to COVID-19,

is getting bigger. She is still tiny, but as she learns to

Kazu Oba is arranging future events to showcase his works and

use different utensils like chopsticks and to interact

exchange ideas. Connect with him and find out more about

with vessels differently, I’m making bowls and plates

O’baware’s events on their website (obaware.com) and social

with different features.

media (@oba_ware).

*Maya was born in Colorado in August of 2018.

Kazu Oba | asian avenue magazine

19

2020 ELECTION results

AAPIs are the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters.

More than 11 million were able to vote this year, making up nearly 5% of the nation’s eligible voters. AAPIs are the only major racial/ethnic group in which naturalized citizens – rather than the U.S. born – make up a majority of eligible voters.

Source: Pew Research Center

Election Day is behind us.

All eyes are now on the Georgia’s Senate runoffs in January, in which AAPI voters may play a pivotal role.

Rounding out the 2020 election, top AAPI voter concerns were the economy (favoring Republicans), healthcare, education, and racial discrimination (all other three concerns favoring Democrats). And despite significant diversity in socioeconomic status and ethnic background, AAPIs showed solidarity on issues of inclusion, social safety net, and economic justice.

Of Asian American voters:

63%

voted for Biden

Comprised of more than 20 different ethnicities, AAPI voters’ alignment with the political parties varies significantly, with a high proportion of AAPI voters identifying as unaffiliated. As seen below, Vietnamese Americans were more likely to vote for Trump (with 42% identifying as Republican). By contrast, Indian Americans were more likely to vote for Biden (with 50% identifying as Democrats).

31%

voted for Trump Source: NBC News Exit Poll “Asian Americans have been distinct from the general U.S. public when it comes to progressive views on health care, the environment, gun control and a social safety net provided by the government. These issue positions have propelled Asian Americans toward the Democratic presidential candidate for the past seven election cycles.”

- Janelle Wong Senior Researcher, AAPI Data

20

December 2020 | Feature

AAPI voters are dispersed throughout the country, but more than half live in only three states. California holds 35% of the U.S. Asian electorate (3.6 million), followed by New York (920,000) and Texas (698,000).

Historic wins for Asian Americans Alex Lee, made history in NIKIL SAVAL has become the multiple ways when he won Califorfirst South Asian American elected to nia’s 25th District Assembly race. At Pennsylvania’s state Senate. Elected 25, he’ll become California’s youngest to represent Philadelphia’s diverse Asian American state legislator ever, District 1, Saval was co-editor-in-chief the first openly bisexual state legisof the literary magazine n+1, where lator and the first assembly member he prioritied coverage of issues like from Generation Z. social justice and labor unions. Saval, 37, went to Columbia University and The district, which encompasses received a Ph.D. in English from StanFremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, ford. His parents emigrated from Banin East Bay and Silicon Valley, is one galore, India, to New Mexico in 1970 of the heaviest Asian state legislative before settling in Los Angeles. They districts in the state. Lee’s parents are ran a pizza restaurant that primarily immigrants from Hong Kong. employed immigrants of all statuses.

KESHA RAM made history Adrian tam, a 28-year-old when she became the first woman of Asian American defeated a leader of color to be elected to the Vermont the Hawaii chapter of the Proud Boys, Senate in a state that’s more than 94 a far-right extremist group, to become percent white. In her early career, the only openly LGBTQ person in she was the youngest member of the Hawaii’s Legislature. Tam, a first-time House of Representatives and the candidate, took 63 percent of the vote youngest legislator serving at the against Nicholas Ochs. time. She is still the youngest Indian American to ever serve in state electTam was born to immigrants from ed office. Ram, the daughter of an Hong Kong and Taiwan. He graduated Indian immigrant father and a Jewish with a degree in history from Pennmother, said her parents’ experiences sylvania State University, and upon deeply influence the way she thinks returning to Hawaii, began working government can affect people’s lives. for his family’s real estate company.

Source: NBC Asian America

Marilyn Strickland won the open seat in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. She previously served as the 38th Mayor of Tacoma from 2010 to 2018.

Strickland will be among the first Korean American women elected to Congress, and she will be the first member of Congress who is of both Korean and African American heritage. Strickland was born in Seoul; her father, a veteran of World War II and the Korean war, met her mother while stationed there.

Two Indian Americans were elected to the New York State Assembly — making them the first South Asians voted into the lower house of the state Legislature. Both Democrats,

Jenifer Rajkumar and Zohran Mamdani won

by 66 percent and 72 percent of votes respectively. Mamdani (left), 29, is a housing advocate, who was born and raised in Uganda. Rajkumar, 38, is an Indian American lawyer who served as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s director of immigration affairs.

2020 Election | asian avenue magazine

21

Taiwan is crucial to the global fight against cybercrime According to World Health Organization statistics, as of September 30, 2020, there were more than 33.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1 million related deaths worldwide. Having experienced and fought the SARS epidemic in 2003, Taiwan made advance preparations in the face of COVID-19, conducting early onboard screening of inbound travelers, taking stock of antipandemic supply inventories, and forming a national mask production team. The government’s swift response and the Taiwanese people’s cooperation helped effectively contain the spread of the disease.

The international community has been putting its resources into fighting COVID-19 in the physical world, yet the cyberworld has also been under attack, and faces major challenges. The Cyber Attack Trends: 2020 Mid-Year Report published in August 2020 by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a well-known IT security company, pointed out that COVID-19 related phishing and malware attacks increased dramatically from below 5,000 per week in February to over 200,000 in late April.

At the same time as COVID-19 has seriously affected people’s lives and safety, cybercrime is undermining national security, business operations, and the security of personal information and property, causing significant damage and losses. Taiwan’s success in containing COVID-19 has won worldwide acclaim. Faced with cyberthreats and related challenges, Taiwan has actively promoted policies built around the concept that information security is national security. It has bolstered efforts to train IT security specialists and develop the IT security industry and innovative technologies. Taiwan’s national teams are ever present when it comes to disease or cybercrime prevention.

Cybercrime knows no borders; Taiwan seeks cross-border cooperation Nations around the globe are fighting the widely condemned dissemination of child pornography, infringements on intellectual property rights, and the theft of trade secrets. Business email fraud and ransomware have also generated heavy financial losses among enterprises, while cryptocurrencies have become an avenue for criminal transactions and money laundering.

Since anyone with online access can connect to any internet-enabled device in the world, crime syndicates are exploiting the anonymity and

22

December 2020 | Taiwan Update

freedom this provides to conceal their identities and engage in illegal activities.

The Taiwanese police force has a special unit for investigating technology crimes comprising professional cybercrime investigators. Cybercrime knows no borders, so Taiwan hopes to work with the rest of the world in jointly fighting the problem.

With state-sponsored hacking rampant, intelligence sharing is essential to Taiwan.

Every month, Taiwan’s public sector experiences an extremely high number of cyberattacks from beyond Taiwan’s borders—between 20 and 40 million instances. Being the priority target of state-sponsored attacks, Taiwan has been able to track their sources and methods and the malware used. By sharing intelligence, Taiwan could help other countries avert potential threats and facilitate the establishment of a joint security mechanism to counter state cyberthreat actors.

Additionally, given that hackers often use command-and-control servers to set breakpoints and thus evade investigation, international cooperation is essential for piecing together a comprehensive picture of chains of attack.

In the fight against cybercrime, Taiwan can help.

At the invitation of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) visited its office to exchange intelligence

By Huang Ming-chao Commissioner Criminal Investigation Bureau Ministry of the Interior Republic of China (Taiwan) and evidence. The two entities established Operation TAIEX. Under this plan, the CIB provided key evidence retrieved from suspects’ mobile phones to Europol, which sieved through the evidence and identified the suspected mastermind, known as Dennys, who was then based in Spain, which led to his arrest by Europol and the Spanish police.

The fight against cybercrime requires international cooperation, and Taiwan must work together with other countries. Taiwan can help these other countries, and is willing to share its experiences so as to make cyberspace safer and realize a truly borderless internet. I ask that you support Taiwan’s participation in the annual INTERPOL General Assembly as an observer, as well as INTERPOL meetings, mechanisms, and training activities. By voicing your backing for Taiwan in international forums, you can play a critical role in advancing Taiwan’s objective of taking part in international organizations in a pragmatic and meaningful manner. In the fight against cybercrime, Taiwan can help!

To crack down on hacking syndicates, Europol invited Taiwan’s CIB to jointly form Operation TAIEX.

Takayama, Japan, spotlighted in Culture Day Zoom event The Denver Takayama Sister City Committee (DTSCC) held its third annual Bunka No Hi, or Japan Culture Day, on November 7.

One positive side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cancellation of in-person events is that people from families and friends to organizations have gotten used to meeting virtually using Zoom.

Takayama, nestled in the mountainous region of Gifu prefecture in central Japan, is known for its local cuisine including its seasonal mountain vegetables and high-grade “Hida Beef,” as well as its history as a center of traditional carpentry, woodworking and lacquerware, and a traditional “Old Town” district with shops and homes that were built hundreds of years ago.

Takayama is Denver’s second-longest-lasting Sister City – the relationship was started 60 years ago, with exchange trips of students and adult groups. And events throughout the year.

Over 140 people logged on for the event, which began with a

welcome message from Midori Takeuchi, the Consul General of Japan in Denver. The first portion of the event featured a virtual walking tour video of Takayama’s Old Town district, with tour guide Mika Shiraishi explaining the video and answering viewers’ questions live.

There was a brief break featuring a video of students from Hie Junior High School performing Rajio Taiso (“Radio Exercise”), a daily broadcast of stretching exercises that millions of Japanese have done every morning for decades. The second half of the livestream was a cooking demonstration of Takayama specialties on a traditional grill. A Q&A session followed.

The event succeeded at introducing viewers to Takayama and the city’s culture and educating Denver audiences about a part of Japan that isn’t on the usual tourist itineraries, but should be.

Written by: Gil Asakawa, Chair of the Denver Takayama Sister City Committee

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