March 1, 2017 International Examiner

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

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CID business advocates call for temporary halt on large events following Womxn’s March

By Chetanya Robinson IE Staff Writer Following the Womxn’s March in January, some business advocates in the Chinatown International District are calling for a temporary halt on large events in the neighborhood because of how the march affected local businesses.

Between 100,000 and 200,000 people filled the streets for the Womxn’s March on January 21. Starting at Judkins Park in the Central District and ending at Seattle Center, the route took the sea of marchers through Jackson Street, the main arterial cutting through the neighborhoods of Little Saigon, Chinatown, and Japantown in the International District. Organizers of the march didn’t foresee the consequences of this route.

The timing of the march was a rebuke to the inauguration of Donald Trump the day before. But likely unknown to most marchers, it also fell on the weekend before the Lunar New Year, the largest annual holiday celebrated in the neighborhood. For many businesses in the CID, the Saturday of the

The Womxn’s March passes through Little Saigon on January 21, 2017. • File Photo

Womxn’s March was the biggest shopping day of the year—the equivalent of Black Friday.

With Jackson and King streets blocked off, and the streets and sidewalks filled with marchers, many customers and employees couldn’t get to the neighborhood to park or shop.

“Many businesses, especially grocery stores and restaurants in Little Saigon, were greatly affected as their loyal customers

were unable to access the stores,” according to Jessa Timmer, executive director of Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA), in an email to the International Examiner. “Many saw huge revenue drops that day in comparison to previous years.”

Viet Wah, a major Vietnamese grocery store in Little Saigon, was one of the businesses affected. “None of our inventory was moving because no one was able to get to our store to shop,” said Leeching Tran, Viet Wah vice president. “We lost about 60 percent of our sales that day compared to the typical Saturday before new year. Pretty major.”

It is usually Viet Wah’s biggest shopping day of the year, said Tran. To prepare for the Lunar New Year holiday, many of Viet Wah’s customers drive to the neighborhood to buy groceries, decorations for the home and gifts, from an inventory Viet Wah orders months in advance, Tran said. Because it’s the largest Vietnamese specialty grocery store in the western Washington area, customers come from as far as Bellingham and Olympia.

Saturdays are also the busiest days for Lam’s Seafood Market, especially the one before Lunar New Year, according to employee David Tran. But because of the march, business was slower than usual, and the market lost 50 percent of its sales. “It was just terrible,” Tran said. Employees of the market couldn’t get to work because of traffic, because the roads that would allow them to get to the parking lot were closed off.

Not all businesses in the neighborhood were hurt that day. Momo, a gift shop in Japantown on the corner of 6th and Jackson Street, had a business day twice as profitable as a normal Saturday, to the surprise of Momo co-founder Lei Ann Shiramizu. “We had people that didn’t know about us, discover us.”

As Shiramizu pointed out, Momo’s location might have helped; it was impossible for marchers to miss it. While Momo found some new customers, Shiramizu said the march probably discouraged some of the store’s regulars. “If I was a store that was MARCH: Continued on page 8 . . .

Navigation Center: Engagement, safety at forefront of concerns surrounding new homeless shelter

By Lyra Fontaine IE Contributor

City of Seattle representatives, Ben Han with the Department of Neighborhoods and Jess Chow with the Human Services With the Seattle Navigation Center Department, heard questions and shelter scheduled to open in Little Saigon concerns. this year, city officials hope to transition “We hope you can pause it until you can homeless people off the streets and into address all of our community needs as permanent housing. However, community members are calling for a clearer plan, well as only open when you are actually transparent community engagement, sure that everything is secure,” said and city-allocated resources to address Quynh Pham, Friends of Little Saigon board chair. “I want the center to be impacts on the neighborhood. very planned out and the community is More than 30 people gathered at a engaged and knows what’s happening public safety meeting hosted by Seattle before it opens.”

Chinatown International District PresLocal business owner and Friends of ervation and Development Authority Little Saigon member Tam Nguyen said (SCIDpda) on February 21. Many voiced the community supports city efforts to frustrations about the City’s lack of prior help the homeless. communication and concerns about the potential effects of the shelter on the CID “We want to understand the whole community. logistics and plan so we can be part of

the solution,” Nguyen said. “We need the City to talk to us from the very beginning.

How do we work as partners, instead of being put on the sidelines?”

community, hear from the community regarding their concerns and needs, and allocate the required resources to mitigate safety, health and financial impacts from A letter dated February 20 to city the Navigation Center. officials requesting a pause on the project was signed by Friends of Little Filling a gap Saigon, Helping Link, Summit Sierra On February 8, the Office of Mayor Public School, Viet Wah Supermarket, Ed Murray announced the center would Asian Plaza Redevelopment, Vietnamese be located at the Pearl Warren building American Community of Seattle & Sno- at 606 12th Ave. S. and would open to King County, and Tet In Seattle. a limited number of people this spring.

The organizations called the decision While the facility is being completed, the to locate the center in Little Saigon City plans to provide similar services at without prior engagement “disrespectful, temporary sites. short-sighted, and antithetical to the The center fills a gap in the city’s shelter values of racial equity that we expect types, as it would be a 24-hour, lowfrom a ‘Sanctuary City.’” The letter barrier shelter that connects homeless requested a hiatus on the project until city individuals to services and helps them officials create an inclusive community engagement plan with the Little Saigon NAVIGATION: Continued on page 5 . . .

2 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE OPINION

You Are Not Alone

By Brandon Hadi IE Columnist I remember the cap feeling awkward. I had only worn one like it before, for high school, and hated how bad it ruined my hair. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun, the temperature—it all just felt right. A perfect day for graduation.

Decorated with leis and stoles, I walked across that stage feeling immensely proud and accomplished. Looking around, I was surrounded by my best friends and family, and then it hit me. We all started this journey together—college—but we finished it one person short.

I wish I could hop into a time machine and send myself back two years.

I wish I could tell you all the things I’ve learned since you died—some we wish we shared with you, some that you’d be proud of, and some that might have saved your life. Maybe I’d leave you a letter from the future.

Two years.

I didn’t see the signs, or maybe I just wasn’t looking. Maybe I noticed some and heard about others, but hey, we were in college. Isn’t it normal to miss class a few times a quarter? Isn’t it typical of our generation to try a few drugs?

But these were just excuses for me not to get involved. Excuses for me to stay focused on myself—I have my own problems, and I’m not asking anyone else for help. He can do the same. I was busy with my own life—I wanted to get good grades, beef up my med school resume, and focus on my personal development. They’ll understand, I thought, once I become a doctor, it’ll all be worth it. My friends, even those I considered family, were an afterthought.

But when you’re having trouble getting out of bed, feeling hopeless, or have no energy to do anything at all, maybe those things that you are able to do are also a cry for help—for those who care enough to take notice. See me. I am here, and I want to feel that you care about me—that you’ll miss me if I’m gone.

I wish I saw him. I wish it didn’t take losing his life for me to realize this.

How are you doing today? It’s an easy question to ask. We’re so tuned to our

IE STAFF

Established in 1974, the International Examiner is the only non-profit pan-Asian and Pacific Islander American media organization in the country. Named after the International District in Seattle, the “IE” strives to create awareness within and for our APA communities. 409 Maynard Ave. S. #203, Seattle, WA 98104. (206) 624-3925. iexaminer@iexaminer.org.

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canned responses. Good, how are you? It becomes almost a useless phrase. Do we really even care? Why do we ask a question that we already expect to know the answer to? Are we really listening anymore?

Today we have our phones, Facebook, email ... you name it. We don’t have an excuse not to stay connected to friends, family, loved ones. It’s quite simple really. Check in with them. See what’s going on. Take that step—because you never know if that one text message could save their life. They may have been waiting for that message. Jesse may have been waiting for that message.

But for him, it never arrived.

About Brandon: Fueled by my guilt and regret, I have embarked on a new journey to understand what happened, and how we can prevent a tragedy like this long before it becomes a possibility. I have since realized that our community needs more education.

A form of that education happened a year ago on that same campus, where we held a one-day summit with workshops on AsianAmerican identity, gender/sexuality, religion/spirituality, intergenerational trauma, and self-care. We shared open, honest, and non-judgmental discussions about our daily struggles. In doing so, we learned that we can support each other simply by listening and sharing. We learned that sharing is healing.

We all need to be prepared—to know how to listen, to recognize signs, and what to do next. And although we can’t expect ourselves to all become experts, the more prepared we are, the greater our chances of being able to recognize when somebody needs us to provide the love, care, and support that’ll help them get back on their feet—or, to refer them to somebody who can.

24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800)-273-8255 24-Hour Crisis Line: 866-4-CRISIS (866-427-4747) King County 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1800-6214636 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

WA Recovery Help Line: 866-7891511 (24/7) 1-800-SUICIDE: (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK: (1-800-273-8255) Or text us: 1-800-799-4889 LGBT Youth: 1-866-4-U-TREVO

We get it now. Without you around, we see the value of connecting with each other regularly. We give and we give, taking very little. We go for the assists, put others on our shoulders, and find satisfaction in their success.

If you’re out there, I want you to know that life gets better. Life is worth it.

You have so many of us here who love and care about you. We don’t know everything that’s going on inside your head, but we are here to help. We want to help. Sometimes, we just don’t know how to.

We promise to do better—to be better.

We promise to ask you how you’re doing, and really mean it. We promise that Dear Jesse, someone will listen. It may not be the first person, or the third, or the tenth, but there I see you.

I see how you smile and bring joy to those is somebody. Have faith. of us around you, because that’s how you Love always, feel useful. That sense of purpose gives you life, while the rest of us dream about big The people who care about you homes and fancy cars, your life has been about us—friends, family, relationships.

You wish we saw life the same way you do, but you are patient with us.

You are not alone.

In the article, “King County funding supports API community programs,” in the You are not the only one who has February 15, 2017 print edition of the International Examiner the story incorrectly listed trouble sleeping at night, staying asleep, ACLF Northwest and ICHS as organizations who benefited from the Youth Sports or waking up in time for class. You are Facilities Grants Program. The story has been updated online to reflect that Wilderness not the only one experimenting with Inner-City Leadership Development (WILD) Program, Austin Foundation, and the marijuana and other drugs. You are not Filipino Community Center benefited from the Youth Sports Facilities Grant Program. the only one who feels hopeless about the The article “The ADA Developers Academcy: Bridging the gap between the digital future, unsure of your place in it, or how and social divides” published in September erroneously contained an error concerning many more days you think you can make Wang’s early experiences in tech. The online version of this article has been updated. it through.

Corrections

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INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 3

IE OPINION

Never Again—Every American has a stake in the Constitution Debbie Nomaguchi Guest Columnist Growing up, I had three grandparents.

I never got to meet my grandpa Tadaichi, or Charlie, as his Caucasian friends called him. I asked my dad about the stranger in the photograph on their dresser, and he told me that grandpa had died of a heart attack long before I was born. I wanted to know more, but my dad shrugged and said grandpa’s heart just wasn’t strong enough.

When I was older, I learned that grandpa Charlie didn’t die at home or in a hospital.

He died on a cot in a hastily repurposed horse stall serving as the family’s quarters at Camp Harmony in Puyallup. It was 1942 and the fairgrounds had been converted into a temporary detention facility after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. As a result of this order, nearly 7,400 Puget Sound area residents of Japanese ancestry were forcibly evicted from their homes and communities and incarcerated behind barbed wire, constantly watched by armed guards.

This February 19, 2017, marked 75 years since Executive Order 9066 was issued, and as I reflect on what it means today, I can’t help thinking that Grandpa Charlie’s death wasn’t so much a case of cardiac arrest as it was the result of a broken heart, plain and simple.

According to my dad, Charlie came to America some time around 1920. My dad wasn’t sure why Charlie left his home in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, because he was the family’s only son and would have inherited their property.

But perhaps Charlie was stirred by the American dream. He first settled in Montana where he likely worked for the railroad. He later fished for a living; he made arrangements to be married and got a job working behind the counter at a fancy Jewish deli on Jackson Street in Seattle. When the deli closed down, Charlie opened his own business—Cherry Dye Works, a dry

Debbie Nomaguchi’s grandfather, Charlie, worked at a deli (pictured above) before opening Cherry Dye Works; he was forced to sell the family business following Executive Order 9066. • Photo courtesy of Debbie Nomaguchi

cleaning operation. The future was starting to look good, and this was Charlie’s American dream. He and my dad would make the rounds in the car every afternoon, delivering the laundered and pressed clothes wrapped in crisp tissue to their customers, who greeted them like old friends.

But the war in Europe and Japan’s aggression in the east were troubling. Then Japan did the unthinkable—it attacked Pearl Harbor. Suddenly anyone of Japanese ancestry living in Seattle looked like the enemy. Fear clutched the city, even though its Japanese residents had no loyalty to Japan. No evidence of espionage committed by Japanese Americans was ever found. Yet suspicion, prejudice, fear, and rumors spread like an infection. Charlie read the newspapers, heard the calls by war-panicked politicians for mass evacuation of Japanese living on the U.S. west coast.

The one … the only thing that buoyed Charlie’s hopes was the U.S. Constitution.

It said that all citizens had equal protections

under the law. And this, he profoundly believed. Even if he and his wife, both registered aliens, could be incarcerated, his children, who were naturalized citizens, would remain free. Free to live in their community, free to keep the family business running, free to live their lives. So he made preparations. Each night at dinner time, he schooled my dad and older sister, who were now in their late teens and early 20s, on how to run Cherry Dye Works on their own.

I used to try and imagine the disbelief, anger, and despair Charlie must have felt when he saw the flyers for Executive Order 9066. Both aliens and “non-aliens” (in other words, citizens) of Japanese ancestry were directed to gather whatever they could carry and report for evacuation. Nobody could explain why his children were not protected by the Constitution. Amidst the hysteria and racism, who would speak up and protest this denial of rights?

With little time to prepare, the house, the car, the business, were sold at a loss. But I

think the biggest thing Charlie lost was buried deep inside — his faith in justice for all, the land of the free, home of the brave. He must have felt numb, packing his life into the single suitcase allowed, boarding the bus and heading toward an uncertain future at the assembly area in Puyallup.

One morning after arriving at “Camp Harmony,” Charlie arose and realized he wasn’t feeling right. He returned to the family stall to lie down, but the cot was no comfort. He suffered a massive heart attack.

My dad was the first to discover him. He ran to get help but it was too late.

Everything I know about Grandpa Charlie is based on what my dad told me. And I believe grandpa loved America. He loved what it stood for. Maybe he was naive, but I think it broke his heart to witness such disregard for the rights guaranteed to all Americans. When I think about what happened to 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry here in the United States, it doesn’t feel so much like history as a stealthy thread that has woven its way forward into current events, with mosque burnings, talk of an immigrant registry, and the president’s ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. But the difference today is that people are speaking up, taking part in protests, and reaching out to support vulnerable populations. Judges, lawyers, elected officials, yes. But most important, regular people. People like me, who understand that when the rights of “all” get twisted into the rights of “some,” we tangle up our footing on a slippery slope.

Every American has a stake in the Constitution, and defending its principles is the foundation of our country. If grandpa Charlie had lived, I think he might have told me to recognize that fear, intolerance, and cloaked political agendas undermine everything that is good about America, land of the free, home of the brave.

Tadaichi’s grandchildren also include Lynne Croft and Rich Murakami.

The need for vigilance has never been more important David Takami Guest Columnist I can think of no one more thoroughly American than my late mother, Alyce Sato Takami, who was raised in Honolulu and lived for 30 years in New York.

Alyce loved the jitterbug, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. She was fond of Jimmy Stewart movies and MGM musicals. She learned gourmet cooking from Julia Child (and learned it well!) but still craved McDonald’s cheeseburgers. She was a devotee of the Art Linkletter Show and Walter Cronkite. During the 1960s she described herself politically, and proudly, as a “Rockefeller Republican.”

I think of her today, on the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin

her residence—the home of a family friend in Los Angeles, where she was studying fashion design. She was taken away to a temporary “assembly center” and from there to Manzanar, a concentration camp in a desert area of central California. Incarcerees were allowed to take only what they could carry. Thousands of families lost their homes, businesses, and communities.

the U.S. Army, many of them giving their lives for the country that was imprisoning their families back home.

Others bravely resisted the draft and the incarceration.

My mother surely made the best of the rest of her life after the war but she was clearly scarred by her experience.

She was never willing to talk about it except to say, choking back deep It’s important to note that none of emotions, “Dave, you have no idea these prisoners was accused of a crime. what I went through. No idea.”

There was no due process of law. Many In the wake of another Executive Japanese Americans, including those Order, No. 13,769, which restricts in Washington state, were ordered to refugees and potential immigrants When Alyce Sato Takami was 19, she was taken away from her residence in Californai to a temporary give up their weapons (and their 2nd from Muslim countries, I think of “assembly center” and from there to Manzanar, a amendment rights). For the duration of what happened to my mother and concentration camp in a desert area of central California.

• Image on the left courtesy of David Takami. Photo the war and afterwards, no Japanese Japanese Americans on the basis of credit for image on right: Dorothea Lange. or Japanese American who had been their race. Although federal courts incarcerated was ever convicted of have blocked implementation of order D. Roosevelt that set into motion the espionage or treason. In fact, more for now, another executive action is incarceration of 120,000 Japanese than 30,000 Japanese Americans imminent. The need for vigilance has Seventy-five years ago, when she was volunteered or were conscripted into never been more important.

19 years old, Alyce was evicted from

4 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE NEWS

Densho Day of Remembrance discussion drew over 1,500

By Ester Kim IE Contributor

A section of the booklet passed out at the event said, “Seventy-five years after EO 9066—amid unprecedented levels of immigrant detention and heightened restrictions on Muslim and Arab Americans—this history of racial profiling and discrimination is an important lesson in what happens when fear trumps civil liberties.”

Passion broke through as Troy Osaki’s voice cracked at a climax in his spoken word piece. This passed-down story of Japanese American incarceration was personal to him and many others as was made clear by tears, a rise in solidarity and a roar of applause.

Osaki, a Japanese-Filipino American poet and community organizer whose grandmother was incarcerated during World War II, shared his spoken word piece at the event “Never Again: Japanese American WWII history and American Muslim rights today” on February 19.

Densho partnered with the Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), the Seattle Public Library Foundation, and ACLU Washington to host a discussion and panel on the Day of Remembrance. The discussion responded to President Donald Trump’s executive order barring refugees and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

This year marked the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of over a hundred-thousand people of Japanese ancestry, about twothirds of them U.S. citizens, during World War II. “Never Again” captured the attention of thousands as parallels were drawn between what happened to Japanese Americans in 1942 and what is happening to Muslims in the United States today.

“We have to acknowledge our shared humanity, care for each other and take a stand for each other. So today as we take time to remember those things which must never be forgotten so that those tragedies will not be repeated,” said Michele Storms, deputy director of ACLU Washington and moderator of the panel.

Though measures such as incarceration or travel bans might be warranted on individual bases, blanket statements that affect entire groups of people based on traits such as race and religion are an overreach, Ikeda said.

Densho’s February 19 “Never Again” event was moved to the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion from the Seattle Public Library in order to accommodate the overwhelming response and attendance. • Photo by Ester Kim

The event was held at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion instead of the original location at Seattle Public Library in order to accommodate the overwhelming response and attendance.

Three years ago, this same event likely would not have gained as much momentum, said Tom Ikeda, founding executive director of Densho. Over 13,000 people clicked “interested” on the event page on Facebook, and an estimate of more than 1,500 people took their seats and stood on the sides on the day of the event. More have streamed the event through Densho’s website.

“There was actually quite a few tears shed up front amongst the elders and me when we saw how many people were coming ... to have a room this large filled is meaningful not so much to just remember what happened during World War II but because we really want to support the Muslim community because we know what happened,” said Ikeda.

Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans were discriminated against because of their ancestry in 1942. Now American Muslims, which including those born in the United States, are being discriminated against based on their religion and appearance, said Arsalan Bukhari, executive director of CAIR-WA. Even those who are mistakenly perceived as Muslim have become targets.

As Executive Order 9066 cited national security, Executive Order 13769 was similarly titled, “Protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States.” The seven countries temporarily barred from immigration to the United States are predominantly Muslim, sending the message that Muslims are a threat to the United States more so than other religious groups. Neither of the executive orders ever mention Japanese Americans or American Muslims, when these are the groups that were consequently affected, said Ikeda.

According to Bukhari of CAIR-WA, the danger lies in people being bombarded by inaccurate portrayals of Muslims and then unintentionally imagining such portrayals in those they see. Communities of people are stereotyped and a disparity wedges in between perception and reality.

This misinformation causes prejudice, but education to the masses is the answer, Bukhari said.

Ikeda said we need to take preventative action and ensure persecution of groups of people singled out by race, religion, or national origin does not happen again.

In their final comments, panelists Jayapal, Ikeda, and Bukhari echoed one another in empowering the crowd to action. “Never Again” called people to stand in solidarity, to work through difficulty, and to educate ourselves and others similarly.

“When you are wondering if it matters, just know that if you do not stand up then nobody else can stand up to form that collective voice,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who sat on the panel.

“We need every single one of us in the struggle ... to continue to engage and fight for the values of this democracy.”

Daniel Ramirez Medina and the changing situation of DACA

By Cliff Cawthon IE Contributor On February 10, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Seattle detained Daniel Ramirez Medina, a young “DREAMer” in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Nationally Medina’s detention has become a symbol of the Trump administration’s policies and stances on immigration, and particularly, the DACA program put in place by former President Barack Obama.

Obama announced the DACA program in August 2012 after advocacy and civil disobedience from undocumented youth.

This program is for young undocumented immigrants under 31 years of age who were brought to the United States by their parents as children (under 16), have resided in the United States since 2007, and are currently in school. The

program is a discretionary status by the Department of Homeland Security that allows DACA status recipients to apply for jobs and remain in the United States. The program is not a pathway to citizenship or permanent residency status, however, but for 750,000 undocumented youth it is a major respite from the threat of deportation or removal.

In response to the arrest of Ramirez Medina, activists from a new coalition Resistencia Collectiva (“Resistance Collective” in Spanish) led an action at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma on February 11 to demand Ramirez Medina’s release. Rolando Avila, a longtime immigrant justice activist, sees the Trump administration is “[reinvigorating] In order to receive a DACA order, one advocacy among many.” has to go through a thorough a criminal For Avila, he says that what happened to and character background check. The Ramirez Medina has hit home with him. background check covers everything “We’re not just numbers or statistics being in an applicant’s background for their rounded up,” Avila said. “It’s your family, entire life in the United States and before it’s your friends, it’s people working residing in the country. Ramirez Medina in professional settings ... all kinds of went through checks twice. occupations.”

The recent detention of Ramirez Medina has caused grave concern among many in immigrant communities who are either green card holders, undocumented, or DACA recipients, like Ramirez Medina.

“The more outspoken and present, the more people in the community know who you are and they would be available to fight ... to stop a deportation or detainment,” Avila said. “For me, I’m not going to retreat back into the shadows ... so they can’t just take me in the middle of the night [and people say] ‘What happened to Rolando?’ The more vocal and outspoken you are, the more people notice your absence.”

Mozart Guerrier, executive director for 21 Progress, said with regards to the Ramirez Medina case that he was concerned but he also sees it as an “organizing moment” that can, as Avila said earlier, “invigorate” people. 21 While going further into the subject, Progress is an organization that helps Avila said being open about his status has young immigrants in pursuing careers in empowered him. He told the Examiner politics, education, and leadership. why he openly identifies himself as Guerrier says that this is the moment undocumented and how it has empowered to push back against the normalization him: DACA: Continued on page 5 . . .

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 5

IE NEWS . . . DACA: Continued from page 4

of deportations and mass detention of immigrants. Last week, Trump issued a new executive order that gave the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency more tools to detain and deport people, and enforce immigration laws domestically. A move that many, including Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, denounced in a statement where he reaffirmed that “no City of Seattle official will ever ask about your immigration status. And the Seattle Police Department will not help ICE detain and deport immigrants who are doing nothing Protesters shut down SeaTac Airport on January 29 in response to President Donald Trump’s “muslim ban.” • more than raising their families and File Photo contributing to the vibrant culture and and title of “sanctuary campus,” with “A concern that we’ve seen time and time successful economy of our city.” labor unions pushing for the university to again ... among marginalized students is that universities in this climate haven’t put According to Guerrier, many do so.

DACA recipients he works with are For DACA students, the UW becoming forward concrete strategies of how they will in educational institutions, from high a “sanctuary campus” would mean address these issues and concerns,” Guerrier schools to university. 21 Progress is “matching [the] public statement with [an] said, “both on and outside of campus.” currently pushing for local universities implementation strategy,” according to Yurianna Garcia, a DACA student and and other institutions of higher learning Guerrier. The implementation strategy for a Leadership Without Borders staffer who to adopt the policy of not asking about him means providing support for cultural recently graduated from the University of immigration status. Currently, University organizations to do outreach and setting Washington, said that her biggest concern of Washington is in the middle of a up accountability systems that can allow in our current political environment is “the conversation about adopting the policy universities to address discrimination and reality of how much [DACA] gives you anti-immigrant bigotry.

. . . NAVIGATION: Continued from page 1

move to stable housing, said Chow, a planning and development specialist. The center is modeled after the San Francisco Navigation Center that opened in 2015.

Low-barrier means the center will have minimal requirements.

in the I-5 East Duwamish Greenbelt and surrounding area, Chow said.

After months of lease negotiations, the City came to an agreement to begin using the building on February 1. The City is renting the building and plans to make basic enhancements to it, such as fire safety updates and expanded shower facilities.

“The goal is that it’s a one-stop shelter,” Construction could happen in sections.

Chow said. “People don’t just come in and get a bed and continually have to go out to Transparent engagement needed get support. The support is largely onsite Community members criticized the for them.”

City’s lack of engagement with the The shelter, to be operated by the neighborhood prior to the announcement Downtown Emergency Services Center, and asked why the City only came to them will serve 75 adult clients who are referred after the decision had been made. Many by a navigation team. The dormitory- spoke up about the community feeling style living facility will have showers, shut out from past decisions, such as the restrooms, laundry, lockers and meals. First Hill Streetcar and the Nickelsville On-site staff will include police, service encampment on South Dearborn Street. providers, case management, janitors and Tam Nguyen questioned whether the behavioral and mental health specialists.

City has considered the perspectives of “The City is interested in bringing Little Saigon businesses, employees, and people indoors that have been outdoors for customers. a very long time,” Chow said. “People will “This is a commercial area,” Nguyen have mental health and substance abuse said after the meeting. “There are a ton of disorders.” small shops. The consumers, the people During their 30-day stay, individuals who come to work in this area, have [City will store belongings at the center and can officials] thought about those points of move in with a partner or pet. view?”

“This is a big opportunity for the city Pham said the engagement issue goes to continue to communicate the barriers beyond the Navigation Center. that people are facing, and get creative and “Outreach has never been inclusive,” innovative about what shelter looks like for Pham said. “Things don’t get translated. people in this situation,” Chow said.

Things just tend to happen without The Pearl Warren building is currently conscious thought about who is actually used by Compass Housing Alliance for 75- here and who is impacted.” bed men’s shelter Operation Nightwatch, Engagement might look like translating which the City would relocate. Before information and going door-to-door. choosing the Pearl Warren building, the City considered locations in industrial “You need to take an extra step to reach areas like SODO. Reasons for the decision out and get people to understand and know included the building’s available space, what’s happening,” Pham said. “It’s not as lack of environmental pollution and simple as sending out a flier.”

Murray’s plan to address homelessness

immunity, ... for DACA students we have some layer of protection.” However, that protection isn’t ironclad and “ICE doesn’t play the rules ... we’re still at danger of being detained,” she said.

“I don’t foresee things getting better, I foresee them getting worse and that we continue to resist,” Garcia said.

In order to support DACA students and other immigrants, Garcia suggests that people continue to resist and continue to do education on immigrants’ rights with available resources. In Garcia’s point of view, community organizing gave her and her community power.

At the time of the publication of this article, Daniel Ramirez Medina is still in ICE custody and his immigration hearing will begin on March 8. The U.S. Department of Justice said that the federal judge in Seattle does not have jurisdiction in these matters, but that will be discussed at the hearing as well as whether or not Ramirez Medina’s constitutional rights have been violated, according to Ramirez Medina’s lawyers. The decision is expected to either strengthen DACA protections or change immigration law enforcement.

Community impact concerns

Moving forward

Attendees at the public safety meeting asked whether the City has explored other sites, has available permanent housing for the center’s clients, and how it plans to address unintended effects, such as increased public safety issues. Some asked how rules would be enforced at the center and whether weapons could be accessed.

Han, city liaison with the Chinatown International District Public Safety Task Force, said he hopes to start conversations about the City’s outreach and engagement with the neighborhood.

Nguyen said current public safety issues in the area—such as car break-ins, robberies, and prostitution—affect the nonprofit, which offers English Language, computer, and citizenship classes for the Vietnamese community.

being planned: the process of referring people to the center and evaluating the center’s success and community impact.

“There have been a lot of systemic issues that the City still hasn’t addressed yet,” Han said. “We have funds for capacityMinh Duc Nguyen, executive director of building and improving communication.”

Helping Link, said she was worried about Chow said the City hopes to engage the center’s impact on the community. the Little Saigon community in two areas

“We don’t have all the answers right away, but all those questions—there’s so much history with this neighborhood, they are so deep, the questions and the hurt and the people being dismissed and the power imbalances,” Chow said after the meeting. “It’s our duty to take in all of these questions and also stand in the gap and fill the space with our presence.”

“We have people from all over Seattle and King County coming for social service, language and technology needs,” Nguyen said. “Now we can’t guarantee their safety.

I have clients that sit in ESL class that ask, ‘What’s happening?’ We have people shouting outside, screaming and yelling.

More public meetings with further [Clients] can’t focus on learning English.” information will occur in the spring.

Nguyen spoke about her frustration with Tam Nguyen said it was necessary for getting more public safety in the area. the City and Little Saigon to work together

“This is like the last straw that breaks the to come to the best solution. “If we want camel’s back,” she said. to move the Little Saigon district forward Pham is concerned about the center’s to be comparative with the mainstream, to indirect community impacts, particularly make everything feel safe and the district after an uptick in safety issues when vibrant, we want to work with the City,” Nguyen said.

Nickelsville was established.

“We didn’t get as much police response with the increase of sanitation and general safety issues,” Pham said. “I think the City will have to do a lot of work in talking about how [the center] will benefit the community.”

According to Chow, the City is working to ensure that there is no additional impact on the area.

“I think they do hear us loud and clear and will be more proactive in reaching out to different groups,” Pham said. “We’ll continue to work closely with [the City] in terms of impacts on the neighborhood with the Navigation Center, but also broader conversations on engagement.”

6 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE NEWS/ARTS

Cantwell: Republican Medicaid plan to impact low income people program as they saw fit. But others say that would mean less funding for the program—eventually translating into greater challenges in getting care for low-income people.

By Heidi Park IE Contributor On Thursday, February 23, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) held a roundtable discussion with Seattle health care providers and Medicaid patients on the importance of the Medicaid program at International Community Health Services (ICHS) Chinatown International District clinic.

Cantwell discussed the importance of the Medicaid program, which is the federal-state insurance plan that covers lowincome people. Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The expansion of Medicaid included people with annual incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level: $33,465 for a family of four or $16,243 for an individual.

Cantwell also discussed the impacts of the Republican plan to block grant Medicaid, which could prevent low-income individuals and families from receiving healthcare in Washington state. Block granting essentially means that states would get fixed federal grants, which

Currently, Medicaid covers nearly 75 million adults and children nationwide.

In Washington state, more than 600,000 people gained access to health care through the expansion of Medicaid, including 147,250 people in King County and 122,000 people in Seattle.

ICHS Director of Health Services and Community Partnerships, Michael McKee said: “Medicaid is extremely important to ICHS and our patients.

In 2016, we provided high quality, cost effective health care to 28,660 people and nearly 17,000, or 59 percent of them, are on Medicaid.”

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell leads a roundtable discussion about healthcare at the ICHS clinic in the International District on February 23. • Courtesy Photo

would be based on the state and federal Medicaid spending in any state. The grant would grow slightly each year to account for inflation. But many experts have stated that the inflation adjustments are expected to be less than the medical inflation rate.

Many opponents of the ACA, like House Speaker Paul Ryan and the Trump administration, argue that Medicaid would be more efficient if states got a lump sum from the federal government and then managed the

“Any cuts to Medicaid funding could mean fewer people with insurance or with fewer benefits,” McKee said.

“We strongly oppose any reform to Medicaid that could jeopardize access to health care for our patients as well as our ability to provide comprehensive services to improve their health.”

Filled With Grace opens with vibrant symposium

By Tamiko Nimura IE Contributor At the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, Filled With Grace: Japanese Americans in the South Sound opened on February 4 with a vibrant symposium open to the public. There were Japanese cultural celebrations such as a tea ceremony

by Masaye Okano Nakagawa and a taiko performance by the Okinawa Kenjinkai Chijinshuu, sponsored by Tacoma’s Asia Pacific Cultural Center. The afternoon also highlighted Japanese American voices and artistic expressions—included in the price of museum admission that day were two plays, Nihonjin Face (by Densho education outreach manager Janet Hayakawa and playwright Tere Martínez) as well as Within the Silence, a one-woman play by Seattle author Ken Mochizuki. Both performances were well-attended and included talk-backs with the authors and actors.

Concluding the day, I moderated a panel entitled “Readings and Reflections,” which was the highlight of my afternoon. It was a privilege to share the stage with all of the participants. Elsie Leilani Taniguchi spoke briefly about her family’s experiences and encouraged the audience members to come to an event on September 2, commemorating the original “Camp Harmony” at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

Mary Woodward Pratt, daughter of Walt and Milly Woodward, spoke for some time about her parents’ legacy of promoting free speech and supporting their Japanese American neighbors on Bainbridge Island.

Fife artist Mizu Sugimura reflected on her experience as a Sansei whose family was in-

Barrack replica of Camp Harmony at the Washington State History Museum as part of Filled With Grace.

carcerated during World War II—and kept largely silent about their collective history and trauma. Authors Lori Tsugawa Whaley and Ken Mochizuki read from their works, and Tacoma resident Greg Tanbara concluded the panel by reading Tacoma’s Japanese language school song and explaining the “memories of memories” that he experiences as a Japanese American descendant of such rich history. It was a successful multigenerational event.

“Imagine no wifi!” groaned an elementary school kid, flopping onto a cot. “Hey, show some respect!” admonished his classmate. The two of them were in a barrack— or rather, a replica barrack—of Camp Harmony.

The opening symposium was so filled, in fact, that I had to revisit the museum a few weeks later to see the Filled with Grace exhibit itself. While the exhibit shows a great deal of respect for its subject matter, it doesn’t quite fulfill the descriptions advertised in the title, and it relies heavily on the viewer’s willingness to read a great deal of supplementary text.

The Museum advertises the exhibit with a few compelling composite photos—photos that combine images of today’s Puyallup Fairgrounds with photos of Camp Harmony during World War II—so I was surprised not to see these reappear at the exhibit itself.

I would have welcomed the opportunity to study them in more detail. I was also confused to see that despite the exhibit’s title focusing on the South Sound, two out of the three historic photos on the museum’s website feature Japanese Americans from Seattle.

There are a few objects in Filled with Grace which are especially important to see. Visitors can study a copy of Kazuo Ito’s map of Tacoma’s Nihonmachi, which shows the large volume and variety of businesses that used to exist in downtown Tacoma. A steamer trunk brought by the Japanese immigrant Toshifusa Oiye to Tacoma was particularly moving. And it was chilling to see a copy of the area’s original Civilian Exclusion Order, instructing Japanese to “register” at a gymnasium in Auburn, Washington. The wooden sign that was tacked up over Tacoma’s Japanese Language School during World War II, marking it “property of the U.S. Government,” is tucked away above other objects, but it’s worth a visit.

Nevertheless, I would have welcomed the opportunity to see more objects relevant to Japanese American history before World War II in the exhibit itself, as the exhibit’s title and descriptions had advertised. About half of the exhibit’s considerable textual content is devoted to life before World War II, and the other half of the exhibit (including the barrack exhibit) is devoted to the history of incarceration and redress. Some connections to the present-day state of Ta-

coma’s (non-existent) Japantown and the low numbers of Japanese who “resettled” there would have been important, as would the numbers of Japanese-owned farms in the White River Valley, or connections to current descendants of these immigrants.

Because the exhibit devotes so much space to the (understandably important) reality of camp, I am not sure that the exhibit conveys the impact of what was lost due to that same history. The “before” and the “after” of camp are conveyed largely through textual descriptions.

The very absence of more photos and objects speaks volumes; the majority of the photos and objects appear to be from the Museum’s own collection. However, I am thinking about the permanent Issei farmhouse and the strawberry farm exhibits at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, which show (through a great deal of time, funding, and effort) the vibrant life of the Issei in the South Sound. A replica of one of the Japanese American farm stands, produce stalls or grocery stores, for example, or a diorama of Tacoma’s Japantown (rather than a diorama of the 10 main concentration camps), might have conveyed more about life before the war more than sepia copies of historic photos. Overall, though I appreciate the efforts of museum staff, I had hoped that an exhibit which was several years in the making would have been able to demonstrate the impact of what the Issei had lost because of their wartime incarceration.

‘Filled With Grace: Japanese Americans in the South Sound’ will be at the Washington State History Museum through May 21, 2017.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 7

IE ARTS

STG presents Sessue Hayakawa in The Dragon Painter

By Mayumi Tsutakawa IE Contributor The Dragon Painter, a 1919 film that will be presented by Seattle Theatre Group (STG) on March 6, stars Sessue Hayakawa as Tatsu, a wild young painter who lives in the mountains of Japan searching for his fiancé, whom he believes is a princess who has been taken by the gods and turned into a dragon.

Tatsu’s talent comes to the attention of an esteemed elderly artist, desperate for an heir who, with the help of his daughter (Tsuru Aoki), convinces Tatsu he can reunite him with his beloved. The film was shot on location in Yosemite National Park. Long thought to be lost, a copy of the film was found in France, restored in 1988 and placed on the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for significant works in 2014.

The International Examiner talked to Bill Blauvelt, co-composer and artistic director of Aono Jikken Ensemble, recently.

International Examiner: What is Aono Jikken Ensemble?

Bill Blauvelt: We have backgrounds in music, sound art, writing, film, dance and theatre and use that to explore experimental music and performancebased art. We use traditional Asian, Western and world instruments, found objects, children’s toys, and specially created sound devices along with vocals and spoken word. We’ve specialized in scoring classic and contemporary silent films since 1997.

IE: How did you get your start in all of this?

BB: I was working in film and music for several years in the 1980s, which included joining Kingstreet Media, codirecting the film Beacon Hill Boys, and co-founding the Seattle Asian American Film Festival and Seattle Kokon Taiko. In 1994 I started working as a solo and collaborative musician on a variety of projects.

IE: So when did Aono Jikken come along?

BB: In 1997, after I had worked with innovative artists like Michael Shannon, Suzie Kozawa, Esther Sugai, and Yoko Murao, I decided I wanted to work collaboratively with them. I decided to name the new group Aono Jikken, a pun on my last name which translates from Dutch as “blue field” into the Japanese word Aono. Jikken is Japanese for “experiment” with a nod to Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. He was once part of a collective of avant garde artists called Jikken Kobo. The group became interested in the idea of scoring Japanese silent films and our first one was A Page of Madness by Teinosuke Kinugasa.

IE: How many films has Aono Jikken worked on?

BB: Sixteen, including many classic Japanese silents by masters like Ozu, Mizoguchi, Naruse, and Shimizu and a silent Chinese martial arts epic.

We’ve also scored contemporary Japanese films and work by Canadian

Sessue Hayakawa (right) in The Dragon Painter.

director Guy Maddin which we toured to festivals in the United States, Canada, France, Brazil, Poland, and Peru. For the Maddin films we got to work with different orchestras, an allstar ensemble of Icelandic musicians, and actors like Isabella Rossellini and Geraldine Chaplin who performed as narrators.

IE: Any other kinds of projects?

BB: We’ve also created multidisciplinary performance works for the stage that combine live music and sound with dance, theatre and film. Projects like Komori-uta (Lullaby) about Japanese “war brides” in America and Kaiki Shoku (Eclipse) about executed feminist writer and political agitator Suga Kanno, interwoven with tales of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

IE: And what is a benshi?

BB: A benshi is a live performer in Japan who provides narration, commentary, and character voices for silent film screenings of both Japanese and foreign films. They were once very numerous and some were so popular they became stars in their own right.

After the decline of silent films the benshi mostly faded—except for a handful of hardy disciples who keep the art form alive. Aono Jikken’s benshi is Naho Shioya, an actor and performance artist who does a modern version of the style and performs bilingually in Japanese and English.

IE: What is it about Sessue Hayakawa that interests you?

BB: Sessue Hayakawa had an incredible career and an amazing life.

He came to America to study economics at the University of Chicago where he quarterbacked the football team. After graduation, he fell in with a theater company in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo where he was discovered. He was a Japanese immigrant to America in a

time of anti-Japanese and anti-Asian sentiment but managed to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood of the 1910s and 1920s.

He’s credited with becoming the first matinee idol for scores of American women with his performance in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1915 melodrama The Cheat. He parlayed that success into a career as an actor, producer, writer, director, and owner of an independent film company that produced 23 films including The Dragon Painter. He was lauded for bringing a more naturalistic acting style to American films. When things went bad in Hollywood he went to Europe and found success there in film and on stage. When the Nazis invaded France during World War II Hayakawa was trapped there but used the time to paint and aid the French Resistance by sheltering downed Allied pilots.

When the war ended he was called back to Hollywood by Humphrey Bogart’s production company and began a late career surge playing what were intended to be just Japanese military villains in post war films. As he had done before, Hayakawa took stereotyped roles and gave them depth and complexity which culminated in an Academy Award nomination for The Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957. In the 1960s Hayakawa returned to Japan after the death of his wife Tsuru Aoki, retired from acting, and became a noted martial artist and Zen master.

IE: What’s your ideal future?

BB: I’d love to do music and write and direct full time, instead of having a day job to pay the bills. I’d rather spend more time actually making art instead spending so much time writing grants and looking for support for Aono Jikken’s projects! It would be so great for our group to get more commissions and access to resources.

Sessue Hayakawa

The Dragon Painter, a 1919 film starring Sessue Hayakawa, will be presented by Seattle Theatre Group (STG) as part of its silent film series at the Paramount Theatre at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 6.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Hayakawa was the first Asian American movie star to become popular in both the United States and Europe.

Live music and benshi narration will be performed as part of a new commissioned score by the Seattlebased Aono Jikken Ensemble. The film will be followed by a postscreening discussion with AJE’s artistic director William Satake Blauvelt. Tickets to the event are $10 general, $7 students and seniors, and can be purchased at www.stgpresents.org.

The Aono Jikken Ensemble includes: • William Satake Blauvelt (taiko, percussion, toys, lu sheng, prepared string instruments) • Michael Shannon (acoustic guitar, erhu, dulcimer) • Naho Shioya (benshi, vocals) • Marcia Takamura (koto, shamisen) And guest artists: • Stan Shikuma (taiko, percussion) • Jay Hamilton (cello, acoustic bass, flute) They can be reached at www. facebook.com/aonojikken.

8 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 . . . MARCH: Continued from page 1

relying on those usual customers, such as Viet Wah, I could understand why it would really make a difference to their business,” she said.

Kobo, a shop next to Momo, had a marginally slower business day, according to owner John Bisbee—but he said the negative impact was less than that of a football game.

It wasn’t just the impacts on business that upset some in the neighborhood, but the way the impacts were communicated—or not communicated.

The only contact Lam’s Seafood Market had with the march organizers, according to Tran, was when one of them came by the day before, and promised business would not be disrupted, and that the road would not be closed—neither of which turned out to be true.

Viet Wah’s Leeching Tran remembers two march organizers speaking at one of the monthly CID public safety meetings before the march, but she didn’t find it particularly helpful.

“It was more just them reporting information to us and not really listening to any of our concerns,” she said. “And at that point it was so close to the march that they were not going to change the route anyway.”

Timmer of the CIDBIA, which advocates for neighborhood businesses, said she only learned about the route four days before the march happened.

“The event organizers had not reached out prior to that point to ask if this would impact the neighborhood,” she wrote in an email to the International Examiner.

“There were no materials for businesses or residents in the area, in language, until Thursday. Per the City of Seattle, the event organizers are supposed to do the outreach to the affected areas.”

Timmer added that while news of the march was shared widely on social media, it did not necessarily reach CID small business owners.

“Many of our small business owners are not online and don’t follow the social media channels on which the March was promoted. And again, a specific route was not mentioned, so businesses would not have been able to know if they would be affected or not. It is unfortunate, as I believe many of the business owners in this neighborhood fully supported the march,” said Timmer.

According to Quynh Pham, board chair of Friends of Little Saigon, several businesses in the Little Saigon neighborhood had similar experiences with organizers of the march, who they said only notified them a few days in advance, and promised there would be no impacts on King Street since the march would be going along Jackson Street.

Palmira Figueroa, one of the organizers of the march, said organizers were indeed unaware that the march would coincide with preparations for the Lunar New Year festival—that is, until some of them attended the neighborhood public safety meeting on Friday a week before the march.

She said the organizers didn’t choose the route themselves, but were helped by the City Special Events Office. According to Figueroa, organizers didn’t have much time to conduct outreach to the neighborhood because the city took so long to choose the route, only confirming it on January 12 (a week and two days before the march). Once the route was set, around 20 volunteers talked to businesses and handed out fliers in

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER the Central District and International District. “That’s the outreach that we could organize by having a week to do it,” she said.

Joe Mirabella, communications director for the Seattle Office of Economic Development, confirms that the City Special Events Committee, which has representatives from multiple city departments, “chose the safest route” to accommodate a crowd of 50,000 people.

Around 50,000 signed up on to attend the march on Eventbrite and Facebook, so the organizers were expecting around 20,000 to show up, Figueroa said. They never imagined the number would be between five and 10 times that.

“There was just no way to anticipate that for us—or for the city even,” she said. As a result, the march disrupted the neighborhood for a few more hours than they anticipated.

This is one of several things Figueroa said she regrets about how the march went, even though organizers couldn’t have known attendance would be so high.

“They were difficult decisions to make,” Figueroa said. “We definitely knew we were going to impact some businesses ... and we were feeling very responsible for that, and did as much as we could with outreach to minimize the impact.”

When asked how the City could have encouraged a different outcome, Mirabella wrote in an email to the International Examiner that while organizers of special events are required to do outreach, some are more experienced at this than others.

“Every event is a learning opportunity.

This was a significant and historic free speech event which we are studying closely for future planning.”

CIDBIA’s Timmer and Jamie Lee, IDEA Space manager for the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Development Authority (SCIDpda), are calling for a moratorium on large events in the neighborhood around traditional holidays unless they’re events organized by the neighborhood.

“Other business districts that are more western-oriented have similar moratoriums during the Christmas season,” Lee wrote in a statement. “We are asking for the same consideration during our major holiday season.”

A moratorium, however, might not be possible, Mirabella said. Because free speech events are protected by the First Amendment, the City has no power to control when they happen. “It is not the role of the City of Seattle to choose when people exercise their constitutional rights,” he wrote. “It is the City’s job to ensure their rights are protected and their safety is maintained.”

March organizer Figueroa said she wishes the organizers had pressured the City to choose the route earlier than it did.

“I felt we didn’t have enough time to really hear the community and I feel bad about that,” Figueroa said. “We could have had more community meetings trying to hear their voices and ask them what they needed for us to not impact them so much. … I will do that different next time.”

Several business owners and advocates in the CID emphasized that they’re not at odds with the march organizers, and supported the message of the march.

“The City has a large part in that in trying to connect our communities and neighborhoods when these types of things happen,” Pham said, “but I think a lot of it, we have to be able to reach out to one another.”

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March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 9

10 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE ARTS

A No-No Boy for the 21st Century

By Frank Abe Special to the IE When journalist Ryusuke Kawai first proposed the idea two years ago of writing a completely new translation of John Okada’s landmark novel of postwar Seattle, I was surprised at the notion that one was needed.

“The book was out of print in Japan, and when I asked the previous publisher, Shobunsha, if they had any plans for a reprint, they said they did not,” he now says.

“Their translation rights had expired. I came up with a new translation by myself because for Japanese readers to be able to discuss the book and the author, they have to be able to read it in nihongo.”

Kawai’s new translation took him 18 months and is now published in Japan by Junposha, in time for marketing around the 75th anniversary of the start of the Pacific War. He will speak in Seattle, mostly in Japanese, about his appreciation for the novel and his experience of translating it in a free appearance at the Nagomi Tea House, Saturday, March 11, at 1:00 pm.

Kawai, 60, is a freelance journalist and non-fiction writer from Kanagawa. A graduate of Keio University School of Law, he began his journalism career with the Mainichi Newspapers, then moved to the Daytona Beach News-Journal in Florida, covering the environment and social issues.

He’s written a longstanding column on music as well as more than 10 non-fiction books, most notably Yamato Colony: The Men who Left “Japan” in Florida.

Junposha is a small but established publishing house better known for books on social science than fiction. Kawai credits his long association with its president for getting a quick yes on the idea of reprinting a novel by a Japanese American. “I told

No-No Boy by John Okada: Translated into Japanese by Ryusuke Kawai. Junposha Press, 352 pages. Paper, ¥2,700.

Ryusuke Kawai. • Courtesy Photo

Mr. Kiuchi how interesting No-No Boy is for Japanese readers. It usually takes a long time for a big company to make a decision.

He understands the book’s charm and significance not only as a novel but as a way to let people know the history of Japanese Americans and World War II.” Kawai praises the work of the first translator, the late Yo Nakayama, a scholar of American and English literature who translated some of Bob Dylan’s lyrics into Japanese. “Mr. Nakayama is a pioneer who introduced No-No Boy to Japan in 1979, but there are sentences the modern Japanese reader cannot understand, making it difficult for them to enjoy the novel.”

The slang and some profanity in Okada’s book is central to his craft, and those were among the words Kawai felt needed an update. Take for example the moment where the protagonist Ichiro Yamada tells fellow draft resister Freddie Akiyama that he’d been spat upon by the belligerent Nisei veteran, Eto Minato, and Freddie dismisses Eto as a jerk. In the first edition, “that jerk” was translated as tokkan yaro, an archaic term Kawai says is no longer used; he uses aho instead. Other words are now considered too offensive to 21st century sensibilities. In the old edition, “madman” was translated as kichigai, and “blind” was rendered as mekura – both of which are now too harsh or derogatory.

Not surprisingly, Kawai found it hardest to unpack the multiple meanings and colloquialisms in the long, swirling internal monologues Okada composed for Ichiro, in passages like, “I can go someplace and tell people that I’ve got an inverted stomach and that I am an American, true and blue and Hail Columbia, but the army wouldn’t have me because of the stomach. That’s easy and I would do that, only I’ve got to convince myself first and that I cannot do.” One term remains unchanged: “No-no boy” is simply sounded out phonetically as noh-noh-bohee.

To properly frame the history of the Japanese in America, Kawai includes an afterword to explain the wartime exclusion and incarceration, and the distinction between the so-called “no-no boys” who refused to comply with the government’s loyalty oath, and resisters like Ichiro who refused induction into the Army until his rights were first restored.

If the book’s publicity, as loosely translated by Google, offers any clue to its appeal for the Japanese reader, it’s in “The crisis of identity torn by the war into two homelands called ‘Japan and the United States,’ and a sharp aversion to the world where war, discrimination, and prejudice do not go away.”

Kawai says interest in Okada’s novel is high because “Japanese can feel how Japanese Americans, too, had hardships during WWII, but we don’ t know much about their history. Secondly, the readers feel sympathy for Ichiro’s anguish as a kind of identity crisis.”

Thanks to this fresh translation, a new generation overseas can now enjoy what we here already know to be a classic of the Pacific Northwest, and arguably “The Great Nisei Novel.”

Local author Donna Miscolta’s writing reflects her mixed heritage

By Jessica Davis IE Contributor Seattle author Donna Miscolta’s writing, influenced by her multicultural family, brings a personal perspective on the immigrant experience in America.

It was in her late 30s, while living in Seattle, that writing became a habit for Miscolta, who has been living here since 1977.

“It’s a very vibrant community and I’ve found a lot of inspiration and support in it,” she said of Seattle’s literary community.

Inspired by author Kathleen Alcalá’s story collection, “Mrs. Vargas and the Dead Naturalist,” she enrolled in a series of writing classes in the University of Washington extension program in 1992.

“I knew something was missing from my life and I would go crazy if I didn’t address it,” said Miscolta, now 63. “I knew I couldn’t live without writing.”

Miscolta was inspired to write her first novel, When the de la Cruz family Danced, about a Filipino-American family, after the death of her father. An immigrant from the

Philippines who arrived as a steward in the U.S. Navy after World War II, Miscolta knew little about his past. This made her think about his journey as well as immigrants in general. The book was published in 2011.

Her second novel, Hola and Goodbye: Una FamilMiscolta ia in Stories, a collection of 15 short stories about three generations of a family whose roots are Mexican American, was inspired by the largely unknown family history of her Filipina and Mexican American mother, who was born and raised in San Diego. Selected by author Randall Kenan for the 2015 Doris Bakwin Prize for Writing by a Woman, this book was published by Carolina Wren Press in November of last year.

Both novels are a reflection of her mixed heritage. Growing up in a multicultural family, Miscolta’s parents only spoke English with her and her four siblings in the home, in an effort to make their children “American.” This created a language barrier with her exclusively Spanish speaking grandmother, who they

had dinner with every Sunday. As a result, Miscolta did not know much about what brought her grandmother to America.

Not knowing much of her family history prior to their arrival in the United States, Miscolta imagined their stories. She grew up in National City, California, near the U.S.-Mexico border, but it was not until she graduated from college that Miscolta went to Mexico to further explore her family roots.

“I just started thinking about what it was like to cross the border to start another life, just on the other side of the border,” said Miscolta.

This is how the journey begins in her often heartwarming and humorous book, Hola and Goodbye. In the 1920s, Lupita Camacho leaves Mexico and settles in Southern California, not far from the border, where she works at a fish cannery. The book also explores stories of Camacho’s American-born children and grandchildren, bound together by their search for a place in the world.

Also an influence in Hola and Goodbye is the large presence of women and girls in

Miscolta’s family, including three sisters (and one brother), as well as a number of female cousins.

“It helped me define who I was,” said Miscolta.

Just as the women outnumber the men in her own family, they also overwhelmingly populate the stories in the collection. The female characters in the book are strong and determined, despite the borders around them.

Miscolta is currently working on publishing her next novel, based on the short story, “Strong Girls” that appears in Hola and Goodbye, about heavy-set twin wrestlers Ofelia and Norma. The novel will be a continuation on their lives in adulthood.

Miscolta will read from her book, ‘Hola and Goodbye,’ as part of the WordsWest Literary Series with poet Shankar Narayan, on March 15 at 7:00 p.m., at C & P Coffee Co., located at 592 California Ave. S.W. in West Seattle. For more information about Donna Miscolta, visit her website at donnamiscolta.com.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 11

IE ARTS

Akio Takamori: Apology/Remorse and Memory

By Susan Kunimatsu IE Contributor Seattle lost a brilliant artist and a beloved teacher and friend with the death of Akio Takamori in January. An internationally renowned sculptor in ceramics, Takamori was best known for installations of large stoneware figures, eloquent witnesses to world events, art history, and the mysteries of childhood and old age.

His final body of work, Apology/Remorse, is currently on view at James Harris Gallery.

The sculptures and brush-and-ink paintings are drawn from media images of government and corporate officials admitting guilt and apologizing. “Willy B,” the central piece in the show is based on a 1970 news photo of German Chancellor Willy Brandt falling to his knees at the Holocaust memorial in Warsaw, Poland. Several figures have male heads on female bodies, a frighteningly appropriate fate for a misogynist. Three drawings depict men bowing deeply in a Japanese ritual gesture of apology. Others confront microphones in public confessions of culpability.

Takamori left us with a lesson on personal responsibility and redemption, a cautionary tale for our times. After ten years as his gallery representative and friend, James Harris is still discovering layers of meaning in the artist’s work.

“I knew it connected his Japanese heritage to Western ideas regarding sculpture.

But I began to see how the conceptual underpinnings of his work investigated broader cultural issues. We all know the exquisite glazing and sensual volume of his forms but under this beauty there is so much more Akio is trying to show us.”

Takamori grew up on the island of Kyushu in post-World War II Japan. Although small and rural, his hometown of Nobeoka afforded him an expansive view of the world. The son of a doctor, his household included patients, medical staff, and stu-

“Each time you move somewhere completely new, you have an anxiety, you have to adjust yourself. But that is a really good opportunity to renew something, to reinvent yourself,” he reflected in a 2006 interview. “I guess that, when I came to the States, I chose that. I wanted to get out of one place and come to a new place. ...

That’s what gives me a sense of energy to get going, to reinvent something. [There is] an old saying in Japanese, that if you really care for your child, you must send them away.”

His thoughtful, nuanced observations of both cultures took shape in his work.

“When I came here, I was interested in learning Western culture, in an American education,” he recalled in 2006. “Then I realized that, as Japanese, the American people had an expectation for me to show them my culture in my artwork. At that time, I resisted; why do I have to make traditional Japanese artwork? But then you have [an] opportunity to look at your own culture and history. It started grabbing me. When you’re in Japan, you grow up looking at the West.

In the United States, Takamori escaped Now I’m living in the West and looking at the traditional dictates of Japanese pottery. the East.”

After pushing the vessel form to its narraIn recent years, Takamori confronted tive limits, he made the transition to figura- mortality and the passage of time through tive work during a residency in the Nether- his work. Babies and children represented lands in 1996. In the words of Garth Clark, the innocence and innate wisdom that we ceramics historian and Takamori’s longtime bring into the world. His colorful figures Akio Takamori in his studio in 2015. • Photo by Susan gallery representative: “He had left for the of children had an adult worldliness, their Kunimatsu Netherlands a potter and returned a sculp- faces watchful and knowing. He spoke of tor.” That first group of figures was a mem- the Japanese belief that infancy and old dents, and welcomed traveling puppeteers, oir of archetypal characters from his childage, birth and death are marked by the same painters, and poets. The library was full hood village. state of divine innocence. At the time of his of science and art books, both Eastern and In subsequent series, he continued to 2006 retrospective, Takamori looked forWestern, and the countryside teemed with explore themes from his past: historical ward. folk tales and legends. figures from World War II, iconic images “I have two goals. One is I would like Attracted to three-dimensional art at from Western art, and mythical beings to be able to keep on creating until I die. I an early age, Takamori studied industrial from Japanese folk tales. He hand-built don’t want to stop. I would like to be creceramics in college, then apprenticed in these large figures in stoneware, applying ative. And then the second is, I’d like my a traditional Mingei-style pottery studio. their features in transparent glazes reminiswork to keep on progressing. ... I’d like to There, he was recruited by a visiting Ameri- cent of Japanese sumi painting. Over time, get better and I’d like to keep on going with can artist, Ken Ferguson. Takamori came to Takamori simplified his ceramic technique a strong motivation.” Takamori got his wish. the United States in 1974, taking a B.F.A. in order to emphasize storytelling. Many of Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014, under Ferguson at the Kansas City Art these works were brought together in a 2006 he continued to work, creating an installaInstitute and an M.F.A. at Alfred Univer- exhibition at the Tacoma Art Museum, “Betion for the Portland Art Museum where sity in New York. He spent the next decade tween Clouds of Memory,” a retrospective he received a Contemporary Northwest moving through a series of residencies and honoring the artist’s distinguished career.

Art Award in 2015; and annual solo shows university teaching positions in the United “He always challenged what ceram- for the gallery. On the last day of his life, States, Japan, and Canada including stints ics could do, the boundaries, the context,” with the help of his son, he loaded new work at the prestigious Archie Bray Foundation in recalls friend, former student, and fellow into the kiln to fire.

Montana and the studio of Japanese ceramceramicist Yuki Nakamura. “When I feel ‘Akio Takamori: Apology/Remorse’ ics star Jun Kaneko. In 1988, he moved to challenged, I think ‘What would Akio do?’” is on view at James Harris Gallery in Sethe Seattle area to teach at the University of Takamori was a truly bicultural indi- attle through April 1. For more information, Washington. He joined the faculty full time in 1993 and later chaired the Ceramics De- vidual. He viewed his native and adopted call (206) 903-6220 or visit www.Jamescountries with objectivity and affection. HarrisGallery.com. partment, retiring in 2014.

D.K. Pan teams up with Yirim Seck in Genre Bender

By Roxanne Ray IE Contributor For the seventh year in a row, City Arts presents Genre Bender, a showcase in which ten different artists are paired together and commissioned to create five new multi-disciplinary works. This year’s festival will take place at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, with a Sunday matinee added due to popular demand.

As part of this year’s lineup, filmmaker and conceptual artist D.K. Pan will team up with rapper and storyteller Yirim Seck. “I hadn’t worked with Yirim previously and was introduced to him and his music through this project,” Pan said.

Pan, who is currently serving as a two-year artist-in-residence at Yesler Terrace, is no stranger to the Genre Bender format. “I had actually participated in an earlier Genre Bender in 2012 with Susan Robb, back when it was in an empty storefront instead of a theater,”

he said. “I really appreciate the showcase and pairings and performances which ensue.”

Pan reports that his collaboration with Seck is proceeding well. “As we’ve gotten to know one another, we’ve realized our communities overlap in many ways,” he said, “as well as our shared interest in social equality and justice and the immigrant experience of crosscultural concerns.”

Their creative work appears to dovetail nicely, as well. “For the last several years, utilizing video as a tool for investigating place and memory has been a primary interest,” Pan said. “When I was asked by Jennifer Zyl to take part in Genre Bender, and subsequently paired up with Yirim Seck, a powerful rapper from Senegal, it seemed naturally apparent that I would provide the visuals to the songs which Yirim will perform onstage.”

Pan and Seck developed a creative process of sharing and responding. “I was fortunate because instead of starting at zero, Yirim had been working on tracks already which

he wanted to include in the show,” Pan said, “and so it became a process of listening and imagining, to translate the lyrics, emotions, rhythms, and themes into a visual format.”

Pan already had a collection from which to draw. “Since the turmoils of the election, I had been filming various protests and marches I’d attended and will use some of that footage for the aggregate video,” he said.

This preparation has helped in the short lead time ahead of the March performances.

“One of the challenges of this project is the accelerated time-frame in getting to know someone, and conceive and present a cohesive work,” Pan said. “I usually engage in openended frameworks which may take 2 or more years to be realized.”

Pan has found benefits to the time crunch, though. “The immediacy of this endeavor is exhilarating,” he said, “and also allows us to respond to and comment on the contemporary issues facing us now.”

This pacing echoes a common artistic impulse to allow form to follow function. “Both Yirim and I have talked about using this platform as way to let the work and art dictate the outcome,” Pan said, “using the tools and resources at our disposal, and allowing the theme of ‘Presence’ to properly resonate.”

Beyond this project, Pan is working on other key Pacific Northwest projects, including an installation for Sound Transit in the U-District, and planning for the next iteration of coastal documentation using NOAA Tide Stations.

But first, as part of Genre Bender, Pan credits City Arts staffers Jennifer Zyl and Leah Bathus for curating a varied program that allows expression of his motto: “All power to the people.”

Genre Bender runs from March 3 to 5 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Avenue South, Seattle. For more information, visit www.cityartsonline.com/ genre-bender.

12 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

IE ARTS

Joby Shimomura’s next chapter: A return to making art

By Tamiko Nimura IE Contributor

seemed a bit daunting to a staunch liberal, Shimomura was comforted after a phone call with her mother. “[Miller’s] a good guy,” Kiyohara advised. Shimomura enjoyed her work with Miller’s office for a few years, crediting Miller’s bipartisan efforts and staff as a force in keeping her interest in politics alive.

Stained glass means church windows or landscapes, right? But Joby Shimomura’s recent work is filled with abstract swatches of color, and patterns of swirls and dots float around glass panels.

“I don’t like rules,” says Shimomura. “I’m not a rules person.”

At first glance, the rules don’t seem to apply to Shimomura’s recent career change from political staffer to visual artist. In late 2016, she left a decades-long career in politics, including a stint as Governor Jay Inslee’s chief of staff. If you’re in Olympia, then you might know her from that chapter of her life. Or you might know her as one of the daughters of two Seattle-based artists: painter Roger Shimomura and Bea Kiyohara, artistic director of the Northwest Asian American Theater. Talking to Joby Shimomura now, though, it’s easy to see that both politics and art have played a role in her life for decades. It’s equally clear that both forces will probably continue to play roles in her life, if in unexpected ways.

Joby Shimomura. • Photo by Tamiko Nimura

and as a high school senior she applied to Georgetown University, largely to be in Washington D.C. Shimomura didn’t get in. A light bulb went on, however, when she talked to her father Roger around graduation. “You don’t have to go to school in an exciting town to live there,” he suggested. And so she decided to move to D.C., flying out the day the ground war in Iraq began. She applied for political staff positions in the highly competitive D.C. environment, and now talks ruefully of the day she saw a congressional staff member recycle the resume of a qualified applicant without even reviewing it.

As a young girl growing up in Seattle’s Beacon Hill, Shimomura remembers creating often: drawing, painting, inventing, sewing. “I feel like I’ve always been a creative person,” she says. But she was also heavily involved in civics as a young girl.

As early as 12 years old, she was involved in a youth advisory committee to help the Seattle mayor and the City Council. She got to know Norm Rice and worked for his Eventually, she landed a job with mayoral campaign and office. These were Washington Congressman John Miller. “fun, interesting, exciting” forms of work, Though Miller’s conservative politics

In 1993, Shimomura’s relationship with politics only deepened after meeting Jay Inslee and his wife Trudi. “These are people I could do anything for,” she marvels, remembering her impression after meeting them for the first time. She praises the Inslees for their motivations, for their beliefs, for being the embodiment of Washingtonian values. Inslee hired Shimomura at the age of 23 to manage his gubernatorial campaign in 1996. Though this initial campaign was unsuccessful, Shimomura continued her work as political director of the Washington State Democratic party. Inslee’s congressional campaign in 1998 was successful.

Shimomura eventually became his chief of staff with the understanding that she would be there to establish the foundation, to hire staff, and manage reelection, but not to stay. “I know this about myself,” she says. “I’m a good startup person, not a maintainer.”

setting up meetings with people for another project, a civics academy for middle and high school students. And yet, she says, an internal voice kept asking her: “Are you sure this is what you wanted? What would make you happy? What would make you excited?”

Stained glass was the answer. In 2011, during [Inslee’s campaign], she was looking at an interior design magazine. She had “a gnawing feeling,” a “vision,” she says, “that this is the world [she needed] to be in.” She hopes to do more work with architects, real estate design, interior design, but she is most excited about “being [her] own person.”

“I feel like I’m the person that I’m supposed to be,” Shimomura says now, relaxing in her airy and vibrant downtown Olympia studio, named “Joby Glass.” In stained glass, she enjoys the exploration, the invention, the control and the detail, the ability to “color outside the lines” in more ways than one. Olympia’s community has known her for a long time, but the arts community has also welcomed her warmly, she says.

Shimomura’s parents, too, seem pleased for their daughter’s next chapter. Her mother Bea seems happy, if “a bit nervous,” that her daughter’s chosen to return to her passion Meanwhile, Shimomura’s urges to create for visual arts. And has her father Roger nudged her into enrolling in a stained glass seen her studio? “Not yet,” she says. “He’s course in Everett. She loved the fun, the coming to visit tomorrow.” freedom, and experimentation that she For more information on Joby found in the process of crafting with stained Shimomura, visit her studio’s Facebook glass. She set up a loft in Seattle’s Pioneer Square and began to do some commissioned page at www.facebook.com/jobyglass, artwork. Yet politics were beginning to call which is updated with photos about projects Shimomura again, and she spent months as well as alerts about pop-up sales.

Portraits from Prewar Japan: Through History’s Lens

By Susan Kunimatsu IE Contributor While browsing in the flea market outside the Toji temple in Kyoto in the spring of 2005, photographer Ron Reeder came across a trove of early 20th century negatives on glass plates. He had lived in Japan as a boy and was drawn to the images of ordinary people from a past that felt distant but familiar. He turned away, daunted by the challenge of transporting the heavy, fragile glass plates, but almost immediately regretted that decision. Back in Seattle, Reeder turned his regrets into action, enlisting friends who imported Asian antiques to seek out vintage negatives that he scanned, restored, and printed using contemporary digital techniques. A select group of these historic images alongside Reeder’s own photos, shot in Japan when he was a teen, are on view at Stacya Silverman Gallery in Queen Anne.

Reeder’s collection now numbers some 200 glass negatives of varying size, quality, and condition. He concedes that “a lot of them are pretty dull”: stiffly posed wedding, family, and school portraits, their subjects staring fixedly at the camera. But they capture the celebrations, sports, and customs of a culture that was drastically changed by World War II. The smaller negatives, amateur snapshots of everyday family life, are the pictures that most appeal to Reeder.

“Technically these smaller plates vary from good to terrible,” he says. “But they contain some of the liveliest images. ... The subject matter is strikingly similar to photos taken from my own family album—fat babies, studio portraits, pets, holiday outings, weddings.”

One of the larger prints titled, “Village Children,” depicts a group of youngsters in cotton kimono and straw sandals, lined up on the stoop of a house. One child has lost a sandal in his hurry to get into the picture. Others couldn’t stand still for the one or two seconds it took to expose the glass plate; their hands or faces are slightly blurred by motion. The image is from rural Japan of the 1920s or 1930s, but the children’s posture and expressions are universal. They are echoed in “Rat Pack,” a group of kids photographed by Reeder in 1955, when he was only a decade older that his subjects. One of the found images, “Man with Teacup,” is a posed but candid portrait of a young man seated at home or office. Dressed in a western-style suit, shirt, and bow tie with close-cropped haircut, he holds a cup and saucer. The east-meets-west elements imply a question; is he drinking coffee or tea?

Reeder learned photography from his father, a missionary stationed in Japan after World War II. They mail-ordered film in bulk and hand-rolled it onto smaller spools.

“Nikon and Canon were making the best cameras in the world,” he recalls. “We were in camera heaven.” High quality Ger-

“Man with Teacup” vintage negative restored and printed by Ron Reeder.

man equipment was available in Singapore, where his father regularly traveled on business. They owned several cameras including a Rolleiflex kit, still in pristine condition, on display in the gallery.

After returning to the United States, Reeder pursued a career in molecular biology, but remained an “ardent hobbyist photographer.” In the 1990’s, he acquired a 4x5 view camera, the

tool of a serious artist. His work as a scientist reinforced his interest in the chemical and optical processes of photography.

“I enjoy trying out esoteric 19th century photo processes, mixing and spreading my own photo-emulsions and generally mucking around in the darkroom,” Reeder says.

“Today’s digital cameras are marvelous, and I could never go back to film, but I still kind of miss the joy of calmly composing upside down and backwards on the ground glass.”

One advantage that glass negatives retain over digital photography is their infinite resolution; there are no pixels, just one continuous surface. The negatives used to produce the prints in this show range from small (3-1/4 x 4-1/4 inch) amateur snapshots to larger (4 x 5 and 5 x 7 inch) plates by professional photographers. When scanned at high resolution, even the small plates yield image files that can be enlarged to 16 x 20 inches or more, producing inkjet prints as crisp and clear to the eye as vintage darkroom prints. The glass plates showed their age, so Reeder used Photoshop to fix major cracks and blemishes, but retained the irregularities around the edges as marks left by the passage of time, both on the art of photography and the people of Japan.

‘Portraits from Prewar Japan’ is on view at Stacya Silverman Gallery, 614 West McGraw Street, Seattle, through April 15. For more information, call (206) 270-9645 or visit www. stacyasilverman.com/gallery.

INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 13

IE ARTS

Films: Karyn Kusama invokes Rosemary’s Baby, Happy Hour a marathon viewing

By Yayoi L Winfrey IE Film Columnist

Hapa Japanese filmmaker Karyn Kusama is known for her criticallyacclaimed 2000 film, Girlfight, starring Michelle Rodriguez. Just 32 at the time, Kusama reportedly spent two years prior searching for financing because she refused to waiver from casting a Latina in the starring role. Fortunately, Kusama’s good friend and mentor, indie filmmaker John Sayles (The Brother from Another Planet, Amigo), came to her rescue with the necessary funds.

Since then, Kusama has directed television shows while turning out thrillers like Aeon Flux and Jennifer’s Body. In her latest effort, XX, Kusama is one of four female directors offering their version of horror in a vignette. Kusama’s piece, Her Only Living Son, appears last in the line-up but is, nonetheless, the most captivating.

Admittedly using Rosemary’s Baby as a template, Kusama flips the script so that the mother actually escapes the devil worshippers in Roman Polanski’s film. In her version, Kusama opens with a woman named Cora giving birth in Manhattan.

Urgently speaking to her doctor (both with shiny bubbles in their eyes), the new mother tells him that she’s running away with her child; that she’ll change their names and locations as often as necessary to avoid the boy’s father who she claims is a narcissistic actor with a cult following.

Fast forward to 18 years later and Cora is lovingly baking a birthday cake for her only son, Andy. But the ungrateful teen sneers at her efforts and continues to wreak havoc at his school—by pulling out the fingernails of a classmate.

Kusama is a master at creating suspense.

Even if you’ve already seen Rosemary’s Baby and have a pretty good sense of the terror to come, you’ll still get sucked in by her method of casually springing on you the most sinister scenes in an unguarded moment. Perhaps her ability to dig deeply comes from her parents (Japanese father Haruo and white mother Susan) both being psychiatrists. *** Another psychological drama, minus the blood and guts, is a Japanese feature narrative called Happy Hour which, truthfully, should be titled Happy Hours with a plural. At five hours long, it’s a marathon viewing and will be screened in two parts at Northwest Film Forum.

Examining the lives of several modernday, middle-class Japanese living in Kobe by-the-sea, the film’s approach is an unglamorous one. None of the women wear much make-up and their hairstyles are unexciting. Both males and females also tend to dress in drab shades of beige, gray, and brown.

The story unfolds with four women— all 37 years old—on a picnic at a park and planning an upcoming trip to a hot springs resort. Jun (Kawamura Rira)

Karyn Kasuma

is the perky one, perpetually wearing a spirited smile, so it’s shocking to learn just how unhappy she really is. Although she’s married to biologist Kohei (Zahana Yoshitaka), Jun’s taken a young lover and is in the process of divorcing. Selfishly, Kohei fights her, refusing to give in no matter how miserable he makes her. Jun is also generous, sharing her friends by introducing them to each other and organizing outings for the group.

Sakurako (Kikuchi Hazuki) is doeeyed with a melancholy face. She’s also the friend that Jun’s known longest.

Sakurako’s husband, Yoshihiko (Shin Yoshio), is a government employee who’s so busy the two barely speak in their loveless marriage. They also have a teenage son, Daiki, who’s starting to become problematic in spite of his live-in grandmother’s watchful eye.

Of course, Sakurako’s mother-in-law is only staying with them because she’s mad at her daughter. A typical housewife, Sakurako prepares infinite meals and endlessly hangs laundry while Yoshihiko unfairly blames her for Daiki’s waywardness; accusing her of spending too much time with her friends.

Meanwhile, Fumi (Mihara Maiko) a cool, cultured arts administrator manages a performance gallery and is married to Takuya (Hiroyuki Miura), an editor, publisher and promoter. Fumi becomes upset that her shaggy-haired husband mixes their careers with their private lives and because she feels taken advantage of by doing work for him. Further, at the hot springs, she observes his overt interest in a young writer client, Kozue (Shiihashi Reina), whose latest work of fiction is a

Happy Hour

series of romantic short stories taking place at hot springs all over Japan.

The only single woman among the friends is Akari (Tanaka Sachie), a nononsense nurse. Aggressive and strong, she demands absolute truth and becomes angry when she learns Jun is going through a divorce without having told her. Akari’s also impatiently mentoring a new nurse who constantly apologizes for apologizing. Denying her need for romance, Akari ironically seeks it with a variety of men—and a woman.

Fumi’s performance gallery is cleverly used twice—once in the first major scene when Ukai (Shibata Shuhei), an artivist

(artist/activist) delivers his new age seminar leading participants in a touchyfeely group gathering that Fumi’s husband marketed. Ukai encourages bonding by having the group listen to each other’s stomachs rumble and having them attempt to stand together while sitting with their backs to each other. But in spite of his teachings of togetherness, Ukai remains alone.

Director Hamaguchi Ryusuke guides his mostly first-time actors to perform as naturally as possible so that film seems like real-life. There are long dinners, long court room scenes, long declarations and long gazes. In each case, there are long conversations where everyone airs their feelings but they don’t always understand each other.

In what appears to be an effort to show off their hipster ways, the characters use a lot of katakana words—English words pronounced with a Japanese accent—in lieu of Japanese words that already exist.

For instance, the word “communication” is bandied about a lot, even though most of the characters fail at actually doing it.

‘XX’ screens at Northwest Film Forum from March 3 to 5. ‘Happy Hour’ screns at Northwest Film Forum on March 8 (Part 1) and March 10 (Part II). For more information, visit http://www. nwfilmforum.org.

14 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

Arts & Culture Asia Pacific Cultural Center 4851 So. Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409 Ph: 253-383-3900 Fx: 253-292-1551 faalua@comcast.net www.asiapacificculturalcenter.org Bridging communities and generations through arts, culture, education and business.

Friends of Asian Art Association (FA3) P.O. Box 15404 Seattle, WA 98115 206-522-5438 friendsofasianart2@gmail.com www.friendsofasianart.org To advance understanding, appreciation and support for Asian arts and cultures, the Friends of Asian Art Association provides and supports programs, activities and materials that reflect the arts and cultures of countries that make up the broad and diverse spectrum of Asia.

Civil Rights & Advocacy Organization of Chinese Americans Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Seattle Chapter P.O. Box 14141 Seattle, WA 98114

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INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER

Homeownership Services

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HomeSight 5117 Rainier Ave S Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-723-4355 fx: 206-760-4210 www.homesightwa.org NMLS#49289 HomeSight creates homeownership opportunities through first mortgage lending, down payment assistance, real estate development, homebuyer education, and counseling.

Housing Services

Executive Development Institute 310 – 120th Ave NE. Suite A102 Bellevue, WA Ph: 425-467-9365 edi@ediorg.org • www.ediorg.org EDI offers culturally relevant leadership development programs.

WE MAKE LEADERS InterIm Community Development Association 310 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 Ph: 206-624-1802 Services: 601 S King St, Ph: 206-623-5132 Interimicda.org Multilingual community building: housing & parking, housing/asset counseling, projects, teen leadership and gardening programs.

Kawabe Memorial House 221 18th Ave S Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-322-4550 connie.devaney@gmail.com We provide affordable, safe, culturally sensitive housing and support services to people aged 62 and older.

Fostering future leaders through education, networking and community NAAAP Seattle services for Asian American Queen Anne Station professionals and entreP.O. Box 19888 preneurs.

Seattle, WA 98109 Facebook: NAAAP-Seattle info@naaapseattle.org Twitter: twitter.com/naaapwww.naaapseattle.org seattle

Senior Services

www.ocaseattle.org

OCA—Greater Seattle Chapter was formed in 1995 and since that time it has been serving the Greater Seattle Chinese and Asian Pacific American community as well as other communities in the Pacific Northwest.

It is recognized in the local community for its advocacy of civil and voting rights as well as its sponsorship of community activities and events.

Education Denise Louie Education Center 206-767-8223 info@deniselouie.org www.deniselouie.org

Offering home visiting services for children birth to 3 and full & part-day multicultural preschool education for ages 3 to 5 in the International District, Beacon Hill and Rainier Beach.

Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authority ph: 206-624-8929 fx: 206-467-6376 info@scidpda.org Housing, property management and community development.

The Kin On Team is ready to serve YOU! www.kinon.org

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Homelessness Services YouthCare 2500 NE 54th Street Seattle, WA 98105 206-694-4500 info@youthcare.org www.youthcare.org

Working to prevent and end youth homelessness with services including meals, shelter, housing, job training, education, and more.

Southeast Seattle Senior Center 4655 S. Holly St., Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-722-0317 fax: 206-722-2768 kateh@seniorservices.org www.sessc.org Daytime activities center providing activities social services, trips, and community for seniors and South Seattle neighbors. We have weaving, Tai Chi, indoor beach-ball, yoga, dance, senior-oriented computer classes, trips to the casino, and serve scratch cooked lunch. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30-4. Our thrift store next door is open Mon-Fri 10-2, Sat 10-4. This sweet center has services and fun for the health and well-being of boomers and beyond. Check us out on Facebook or our website.

Social & Health Services Asian Counseling & Referral Service 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Seattle, WA 98144 ph: 206-695-7600 fx: 206-695-7606 events@acrs.org www.acrs.org ACRS offers multilingual, behavioral health and social services to Asian Pacific Americans and other low-income people in King County.

APICAT 601 S King St. Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-682-1668 www.apicat.org Addressing tobacco, marijuana prevention and control and other health disparities in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs GA Bldg., 210 11th Ave SW, Suite 301A Olympia, WA 98504 ph: (360) 725-5667 www.facebook.com/wacapaa capaa@capaa.wa.gov www.capaa.wa.gov Statewide liaison between government and APA communities. Monitors and informs the public about legislative issues.

Fearless Asians for Immigration Reforms (FAIR!) 206-578-1255 Info@ItShouldBeFair.com www.ItShouldBeFair.com

Free and confidential support for undocumented Asians and Pacific Islanders. Workshops, financial assistance, legal help, scholarships, DACA renewals, and consultations for service providers. Benefits include: community support, and opportunities for work permits, $$ for school, and protection from deportation.

Grammar Captive 409B Maynard Ave. South Seattle, WA 98104 206-291-8468 tutor@grammarcaptive.com www.grammarcaptive.com Speak better. Write better. Live better. Improve your English language skills with a professional language consultant at a price you can afford. Learn to write effective business and government correspondence.

Improve your reading, conversation, academic writing, and IT skills.

Senior Services

Cathay Post #186 of The American Legion Supporting veterans for over 70 years Accepting new members—contact us today to learn more! (206) 355-4422 P.O. Box 3281 Seattle, WA 98144-3281 cathaypost@hotmail.com

Washington New Americans Program OneAmerica 1225 S. Weller St., Suite 430 Seattle, WA 98144 Are you a lawful permanent resident? The Washington New Americans program can help you complete your application for U.S. citizenship. Low-cost and free services available – please call our hotline or visit www.wanewamericans.org.

Phone: 1-877-926-3924 Email: wna@weareoneamerica.org Website: www.wanewamericans.org

Keiro Northwest 1601 E Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122 ph: 206-323-7100 www.keironorthwest.org rehabilitation care | skilled nursing | assisted living | home care | senior day care | meal delivery | transportation | continuing education | catering services

Legacy House 803 South Lane Street Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-292-5184 fx: 206-838-3057 info@legacyhouse.org www.scidpda.org/programs/legacyhouse. aspx Services offered: Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, meal programs for low-income seniors.

Chinese Information & Service Center 611 S Lane St, Seattle, WA 98104 ph: 206-624-5633 fax: 206-624-5634 info@cisc-seattle.org www.cisc-seattle.org Creating opportunities for Asian immigrants and their families to succeed by helping them make the transition to a new life while keeping later generations in touch with their rich heritage.

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COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Social & Health Services

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Since 1935

Tai Tung Restaurant International District Medical & Dental Clinic 720 8th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98114 ph: 206-788-3700 email: info@ichs.com website: www.ichs.com

Banquet Facilities - Catering - Delivery

Bellevue Medical & Dental Clinic 1050 140th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98005 ph: 425-373-3000 Shoreline Medical & Dental Clinic 16549 Aurora Avenue N, Shoreline, WA 98133 ph: 206-533-2600 Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic 3815 S Othello St, Seattle, WA 98118 ph: 206-788-3500 ICHS is a non-profit medical and dental center that provides health care to low income Asian, Pacific Islanders, immigrants and refugees in Washington State.

7301 Beacon Ave S Seattle, WA 98108 ph: 206-587-3735 fax: 206-748-0282 www.idicseniorcenter.org info@idicseniorcenter.org IDIC is a nonprofit human services organization that offers wellness and social service programs to Filipinos and API communities.

Parking & Transportation Services 206-624-3426 transia@aol.com Merchants Parking provides convenient and affordable community parking. Transia provides community transportation: para-transportation services, shuttle services, and field trips in and out of Chinatown/International District, and King County.

Come Enjoy the Oldest Chinese Restaurant in Town!

655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 622-7372 Mon-Thurs 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sun 11am-10pm

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Answers to this puzzle are on Wednesday, March 15.

March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017 — 15

16 — March 1, 2017 – March 14, 2017

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