VOL 36 NO 1 | DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 201 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 36 NO 1 DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017 FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Year of the Rooster stamp to make its debut in Seattle

The astounding gap between rich and poor Asian Americans

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The United States Postal Service (USPS) will release its Year of the Rooster stamp on Jan. 5, 2017, in a ceremony open to the public at the Wing Luke Museum. The stamp, part of the USPS’ Celebrating Lunar New Year Series, will also be available for purchase nationwide starting on that date. “The new stamp’s image of a red envelope with the rooster is a meaningful recognition of Asian American cultural heritage,” said Beth Takekawa, executive director of the Wing Luke Museum. The Year of the Rooster stamp is the 10th stamp in USPS’ Celebrating Lunar New Year series by artist Kam Mak — a Hong Kong-born artist who grew up in New York City’s Chinatown. The U.S. Postal Service has issued Chinese Lunar New Year stamps since 1992. The first series included all 12 traditional animal signs. The current, second series, “Celebrating Lunar New Year,” emphasizes

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY holiday traditions and will continue through 2019 with stamps for the years of the dog and boar.

History of the Lunar New Year postage stamp

The inspiration to create a Lunar New Year stamp

TOP 10

see STAMP on 12

MIFUNE: THE LAST SAMURAI

A new report from the think tank Center for American Progress (CAP) suggests that for Asian Americans, wealth inequality is more pronounced than whites — and the report highlights the problem with lumping Asian see RICH ASIAN on 13

A new film that explores the accidental movie career of Toshiro Mifune. » see 8

TOP 10 READS OF 2016 The favorite picks of our book reviewer. » see 9

BEACON HILL Publisher Ng looks at the good, the bad, and the ugly of this Seattle neighborhood that’s home to many Asian American leaders.» see 10

ASIAN AMERICAN ATHLETES OF 2016

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

2016 was another great year in sports. We count down the top 10 Asian American athletes of this year. Although not making this list, this year, we saw Manny Pacquiao win his retirement fight in April … and then come out of retirement to win a welterweight title. He also became a senator in the Philippines this year. Pacquiao’s popularity has waned since he made comments related to same sex marriages. As a result, he lost his longtime sponsorship with Nike and many of his fans turned on him. The Seattle Mariners signed Korean star Dae-Ho Lee and he became an instant cult hero for fans, as they chanted his name every time he came up

to bat at Safeco Field. Unfortunately, Lee’s time with the team lasted just one season, as the Mariners decided not to re-sign him. The Mariners drafted high school catcher Lyle Lin in this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He was the first Taiwanese-born player to be picked in the MLB draft. The Mariners picked him in the 16th round. However, Lin chose to attend Arizona State University to play baseball and will not be with the Mariners organization. Inbee Park of South Korea won a gold medal in golf at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. It was the first gold medal awarded since the sport was re-introduced from 1900. New Zealand-born Korean Lydia Ko won the silver medal. And here’s the top 10 list of Asian American athletes.

COMMUNITY » 2 CALENDAR » 6 SUDOKU » 6 ASTROLOGY » 15

ADDISON RUSSELL NATHAN ADRIAN

The 28-year-old Adrian earned four medals at the Rio Olympics in August. He earned two gold medals in relay events and two bronze medals in individual events. The Bremerton native, who is part Chinese, returned home after the Olympics were over to celebrate his victory. Adrian’s success in the pool has landed him notoriety and fame. He was featured in the annual ESPN “Body Issue.”

■

The Chicago Cubs finally made it to the World Series with big thanks to its shortstop. Addison Russell, who is part Filipino, became only the third Filipino to win a World Series ring. The 22-yearold Florida native had a grand slam home run in Game 5. The Cubs won the World Series in 7 games. Russell was chosen as an All-Star this year and should help the Cubs be a favorite to repeat as champions. see SPORTS on 5

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35 YEARS

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Tony Award-winning costume designer Willa Kim died on Dec. 23 on Vashon Island, where she had been staying with a niece, according to the New York Times. She was 99 and had Willa Kim been in poor health. Born Wullah Mei Ok Kim in 1917 to Korean immigrants, Kim attended the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Institute of the Arts) on a scholarship. She began her design work in film, under the auspices of Raoul Pene du Bois, who is known for the costume and set design of the circus dream-musical sequences in the movie Lady in the Dark, starring Ginger Rogers. Kim won a Tony Award for her design of The Will Rogers Follies in 1991, 10 years after her first win for Sophisticated Ladies. 

President of Athena University

Chow Lee has been named the CEO of Athena University in Seattle. Athena University is a subsidiary of MingDao University of Taiwan. Lee is responsible for the operations of the Seattle campus and its overseas locations in China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Chow Lee He earned his MBA from the University of Alberta and a BA in Engineering (with Honors) at the University of Singapore. 

Holiday caroling

catching up with members and friends. As the mochi cooled, everyone enjoyed a potluck lunch. 

Japanese community thanks Congressman Jim McDermott

New VP at The Seattle Times

Sharon Pian Chan has been named vice president of innovation, product, and development for The Seattle Times, effective January 2017. She first joined The Seattle Times as an intern and spent many years as a reporter. Chan is currently director of journalism initiatives and deputy Sharon Pian Chan managing editor for audience development. In her new role, Chan will continue to lead content funding and development, as well as maintain funder relationships. Chan holds a bachelor’s degree in literature from Pomona College. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has served as national president of the nonprofit Asian American Journalists Association and as a board member of UNITY: Journalists for Diversity. 

From left: Vicki Yotsuuye Marsten. Alice Uyeda, Sharon Sobie Seymour, Grace Kanda, and Sara Ichinaga.

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Broadway costume designer Willa Kim dies

Photo by Sheldon Arakaki

Photo provided by Sheldon Arakaki

asianweekly

Holiday caroling

The Seattle chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) and MulvannyG2 Architecture entertained seniors on Dec. 22. The caroling event was held at Keiro Northwest Nursing Home and Kin On Health Care Center for its residents. After caroling, gifts were handed out and attendees enjoyed light refreshments. 

Annual mochitsuki

The Puyallup Valley Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) hosted its annual mochitsuki (pounding rice to make mochi/rice cakes) on Dec. 3. The public got to observe and participate in making this traditional Japanese treat. Fifty pounds of rice and five rice cookers provided a morning of mochi making, conversation, and

Consul General Masahiro Omura (left), Congressman Jim McDermott (5th from left), and the Seattle Puyallup Valley JACL members.

The Seattle JACL and the Consul General of Japan gathered on Nov. 10 to celebrate retiring Congressman Jim McDermott’s 28 years of service, and his support and advocacy for the local Japanese community. Consul General Masahiro Omura read a letter of appreciation from Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, community representatives shared their appreciation and stories, and McDermott recounted how he first learned about and was inspired by the Japanese American experience. The program concluded with a sake toast led by Tomio Moriguchi and Congressman Adam Smith. 

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ COMMUNITY NEWS UW staff member helps international students adapt to America By Angela Shen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Although thousands of international students come to the United States to seek a better education every year, only a few fully understand the point of studying abroad. Most students are either confused about American culture or not prepared for the culture shock, so they rarely know how to take advantage of all the resources the University of Washington offers. In order to make international students’ journey in America more meaningful, educator Wei Zuo devotes herself to creating the bridge to help international students adapt. “I was in their shoes, so I know exactly what they are facing and having trouble with — I know they’d want someone to guide them through these obstacles,” said Zuo. Zuo was an undergraduate from FuDan University, one of the top universities in China, majoring in journalism. After graduation, she joined New Oriental — one of the biggest English educational institutions in China, and worked as an English teacher for two years. In 2010, Zuo entered the University of Washington as

Wei Zuo

an international student, with a goal toward master’s degree in education. She had a lot of challenges when she first arrived. “Everything was different, I was a straight A student and when I came here, it was like a drop from the clouds to earth,” said Zuo. “I didn’t have a scholarship and didn’t

know anybody, and I had to learn everything from scratch.” Zuo finally overcame these difficulties and impressively finished with three master’s degrees and one PhD degree in five years. Zuo said, “After I finished, I felt that it was important to share my story and help students who are still on

Filing fees increase for immigration forms The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) increased application fees on Dec. 23, to apply for citizenship, renew a green card, or have a family member immigrate to the United States. The fee increase is the first in six years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the only agency within the DHS that is not funded by taxpayer dollars, said the increases were necessary to keeping the agency afloat and cover the costs of refugees who cannot afford to pay the fees. “We are mindful of the effect fee increases have on many of the customers we serve,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “That’s why we decided

against raising fees as recommended after the fiscal year 2012 and 2014 fee reviews. However, as an agency dependent upon users’ fees to operate, these changes are now necessary to ensure we can continue to serve our customers effectively.” The I-130 form, which is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who want to bring their family members into the country, increased from $420 to $535. Green card renewals increased from $365 to $455.  To see the full new fee schedule, go to uscis.gov/forms/our-fees.

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01114C16, Road Services Division Work Order Contract for Electrical Construction Services; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on January 10, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted. Brief Scope Perform various maintenance, repair, and minor improvement work on the automatic Fire Sprinkler System at King County facilities on a work order basis. Estimated contract price: $500,000 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

their journey.” In 2015, Zuo created a blog called “Doctor Zuo’s Study in the U.S.” and she started to write about her experiences and anecdotes that international students could benefit from, such as how to make friends in America, how to apply for a scholarship, how to decide on the right major, etc. “There are a lot of things people don’t know. For instance, when I first came to America, I didn’t know about community colleges. I think people could use community college as a stepping stone to their dream universities if they have access to that information,” Zuo said. In addition to her blog, Zuo created an online streaming video where she invites guests to talk about issues and answer questions that viewers comment on simultaneously. “It’s an app called ‘Renren Jiang,’ which means ‘everybody talks’ in Chinese, and you download on your phone. Everyone has access to it, and they can watch and make comments,” said Zuo. “The main audiences are students who are going to study abroad and their parents, and people who are curious about living in America.”

Doctor Zuo and her team has uploaded 27 episodes so far. She is planning to continue doing this because this not only combines her interests and skills in journalism, communication, and education, but it helps international students adjust to life in a different country. “I have met a lot of great people, my mentors, my classmates, my colleagues, and my friends, who made me become the person I am today,” Zuo said. “It’s a way for me to pay it forward.” Zuo recently published her first book titled “Study in the U.S.: A practical guide.” The book is a compilation of all the articles she wrote over the years and some of the episodes she made. It’s easy to decide to study abroad as an international student, but it’s hard to find the right balance in life. “My belief is to study hard, play hard. Not only to get a high GPA, but also make friends, keep fit, and enjoy life.” Zuo said.  Zuo can be reached at weizuo@uw.edu. Angela can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

35 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha surrendered his gun and badge on Dec. 20 and went on paid leave from the department after receiving notification that he is the target of a federal investigation. The investigation began more than a year ago. A federal grand jury is looking into allegations of Police Chief Louis Kealoha civil rights abuses and corruption. Stepping down was Kealoha’s decision, acting police commission Chairman Max Sword said. Four other officers also received letters saying they are targets of the investigation. They are on restricted duty. Deputy Chief Cary Okimoto is acting chief. “In this particular situation being that he’s the chief of police ... if he was to be reassigned and walks around the station or is at a desk, people still see him as the chief,’’

Okimoto said. Earlier on Dec. 20, Kealoha said in a statement that he voluntarily restricted his police authority, but he didn’t mention the decision to go on leave. “There is no economic advantage to my staying on as chief, but if I leave the department now, I give credence to the baseless attacks,’’ Kealoha’s statement, which was distributed by the department, said. The paid leave is for 30 days while the commission figures out what to do, Sword said. The commissioners will meet on Jan. 4. Kealoha earns $190,408 annually. Attorney Myles Breiner said Kealoha has done nothing wrong and that the letter he received about the investigation was intended to intimidate his client. Retired Officer Niall Silva pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to falsifying documents and altering evidence. He had testified at a 2014 trial against Gerard Puana, the uncle of Kealoha’s wife, Katherine Kealoha. Puana had been accused of stealing the Kealohas’ home mailbox, but the case ended in a mistrial after Louis Kealoha made inappropriate comments about Puana’s criminal past. The charge was later dismissed. see KEALOHA on 14

Richard Marx says he’s no ‘big hero’ after incident on Korean Air flight LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Marx says he wasn’t a hero for apparently intervening after an unruly passenger disrupted a Korean Air flight and had to be restrained. Marx and his wife, Daisy Fuentes, documented the incident on Facebook and Instagram on Dec. 20. The “Right Here Waiting’’singer and Fuentes, a Richard Marx former MTV VJ, were married last year. Fuentes wrote that her husband was the first to help subdue the man, and Marx criticized the flight crew for failing to properly restrain the man. A Korean Air spokesman confirmed the incident aboard the flight from Hanoi to Seoul and that photos on

Marx’s Facebook page were shot during the flight. Cho Hyun Mook said the matter was under investigation and that it appears that crew members responded in accordance with airline policies. Marx posted a later update saying he and Fuentes were home safe and saying he wasn’t a “big ‘hero’’’ but “just did what I would hope anyone would do in the same situation.’’ Citing Incheon police, the Yonhap News Agency reported that the passenger was a 34-year-old South Korean man who became drunk after having two and a half glasses of hard liquor on the flight. Incheon police officials could not be reached for comment. 

Washington State seeks to increase foreign students By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS ASSOCIATED PRESS SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington State University wants to increase the number of students from foreign countries who enroll at the Pullman-based school. Last week, the university signed an agreement with a company that recruits international students. “Enhancing international diversity on campus is critically important,” school President Kirk Schulz said. The effort is part of the school’s goal to become one of the nation’s top 25 public research universities by 2030. Washington State has about 30,000 students, twothirds of them at its main campus in rural Pullman and the rest at branches in Spokane, Vancouver, the TriCities, and Everett. The university currently has about 2,100 students from 100 foreign countries, about 7 percent of the student population, said Craig Lawson, spokesman for International Programs. The three biggest sources are China, India, and Oman, he said. There is no specific goal yet for the desired number of foreign students, he said. “Suffice it to say we want to see that percentage go

up, at least into double digits,” Lawson said. The school will not deny enrollment to any in-state students in favor of international students, Lawson said. “We are looking at overall growth in enrollment,” Lawson said. To help achieve its goal, Washington State has signed with INTO University Partnerships, a private company with its U.S. headquarters in San Diego. INTO works with more than 20 universities around the world to expand international student enrollment. The collaboration will create INTO Washington State University, which will develop academic pathway programs for international students to improve their English language skills while preparing to become degree-seeking students at WSU. Washington State is the ninth university in the United States to team with INTO, which to date has helped U.S. universities recruit more than 15,000 students. “INTO’s commitment to student success really got our attention,” said Asif Chaudhry, vice president for international programs at WSU and former U.S. ambassador to Moldova. The most important consideration in the initiative is the cultural gains that additional international students will bring to the university, Chaudhry said. 

‘Super Mario Run’: Price, connectivity missteps for Nintendo

Photo by Han Bui/NWAW

Honolulu police chief on paid leave amid federal probe

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP TECHNOLOGY WRITER NEW YORK (AP) — Super Mario might be running, but a hefty price tag for a mobile game just won’t fly with the masses. The world so far is underwhelmed by “Super Mario Run,” which Nintendo released for the iPhone two weeks ago. This is no “Pokemon Go,” which captivated millions of players in their quest to collect digital monsters at real-world locations. Nintendo’s stock price has fallen 7 percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since the game’s Dec. 15 launch, and the game is rated just 2.5 stars out of 5 on the iPhone app store. The problem, it seems, is not with the quality or design of “Super Mario Run.” Both

are top notch, with enough elements of classic Mario to satisfy old-school Nintendo fans, alongside mobilefriendly features such as the ability to play with one hand. Rather, Nintendo’s overly optimistic $10 price tag, as well as an inexplicable requirement for players to be constantly connected to the internet while playing, could be enough to turn off all but the most hardcore fans. As of Dec. 19, “Mario Run” was the top free app on iTunes. This, of course, is misleading, as the app isn’t free if you want to play beyond a few minutes.

AUDACIOUS PRICE TAG

Ten dollars is too much for a latte and too much for a mobile game, even if it comes see MARIO on 12

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

asianweekly northwest

Typhoon kills 6, spoils Christmas festivities in Philippines

By BULLIT MARQUEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS BATANGAS, Philippines (AP) — A powerful typhoon blew out of the northern Philippines on Dec. 26 after killing at least six people and spoiling Christmas in several provinces, where more than 380,000 people abandoned celebrations at home to reach emergency shelters and other safer grounds. Typhoon Nock-Ten cut power to five entire provinces due to toppled electric posts and trees, dimming Christmas revelries in Asia’s largest Catholic nation. More than 300 flights were delayed or re-scheduled and ferries were barred from sailing, stranding more than 12,000 holiday travelers. Six people died from drowning or by being pinned by fallen trees, poles, and a collapsed concrete wall in the provinces of Quezon and Albay, southeast of Manila, after the typhoon made landfall in Catanduanes province the night of Dec. 25, officials said. Many military camps and outposts in Catanduanes and outlying provinces were damaged and some troops were injured, the military said. Nock-Ten, locally known as Nina, then blew westward across mountainous and island provinces, damaging homes, uprooting trees, and knocking down communications. After weakening on landfall, the typhoon had sustained winds of up to 74 miles per hour and gusts of 111 mph when it blew into the South China Sea after battering the congested provinces of Batangas and Cavite, south of Manila, government forecasters said.

SPORTS from 1

3. ALEXANDER MASSIALAS.

The San Francisco fencer earned a silver medal at the Summer Olympics. Massialas, whose mother is Taiwanese and father is Greek, attends Stanford, where he studies mechanical engineering. He was the first U.S. male to win an individual medal in fencing since 1932. He also is the number 1 ranked fencer in the United States and the world. His father was a former Olympian in fencing for the United States and his younger sister is currently a top-level fencer.

Damages after typhoon

A cargo ship with about two dozen crewmen radioed for help as their vessel started to list off Batangas. It later ran aground and turned on its sided in Mabini town, the coast guard said. The storm was one of the strongest to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over 5 million in 2014. But officials in some provinces found it difficult to convince people to abandon their Christmas celebrations and head for the shelters before the storm hit. Some officials said they had to impose forced evacuations. “Some residents just refused to leave their homes even when I warned them that you can face what amounts to

after graduating from high school. However, she continued with her martial arts career, which led her to mixed martial arts. Her life as a female fighter and mom was featured in a recent documentary, about her life and struggle to balance her career and being a parent. She has also appeared on American Ninja Warrior and a reality TV show based on women training to be Muay Thai fighters. After her win this month against VanZant, Waterson’s MMA career is on the rise.

6. SARAH RHEE.

The University of Washington (UW) women’s golf team won its first NCAA title with help from one of its freshmen. The former Ingraham High School golfer made an improbable shot from a bunker, in a match play playoff, to propel the UW to the finals. Rhee was a standout at Ingraham and when she committed to play for the Huskies.

4. LIA NEAL.

The Stanford University swimmer won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of the 4x100 freestyle relay. Neal is African American and Chinese. It was the New York native’s second Olympic Games, as she won a bronze medal as part of another 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2012 games in London.

5. MICHELLE WATERSON.

Known as “The Karate Hottie,” Waterson is a mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Waterson was a world champion in the 105-pound women’s division before being signed by the UFC. Despite being 105 pounds, she fought in the UFC at 115 pounds. Waterson, who is of Thai descent, made her return to the Octagon after a prolonged layoff against Paige VanZant in December. VanZant is known by many for her stint on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Waterson upset VanZant with a first round submission. She received a $50,000 bonus for her stoppage of VanZant. Waterson took up martial arts at the age of 10 when she began taking karate lessons. She earned a black belt in karate and has begun to practice other martial arts. The 30-year-old trains in New Mexico at one of the best gyms for MMA fighters. Born and raised in Aurora, Colo., Waterson began modeling

DOUG BALDWIN.

Although the Seattle Seahawks fell short of another Super Bowl appearance, Baldwin had a stellar year which culminated in a contract extension. He signed a four-year contract extension worth $46 million. This season, his touchdowns are down, but he is still a key part of the Seahawks’ offense. He already has more catches than he did last year (with two more games to go at the time of writing this column). In addition to his on-field contributions, Baldwin has been vocal off the field. He was a team leader when controversy over kneeling during the national anthem occurred at the beginning of the season. He coordinated all of the Seahawks to stand and lock arms as a sign of unity. In response to recent police shootings, Baldwin spoke with local officials, including the Seattle Police Department, to discuss ways that law enforcement handle situations. Baldwin’s father is a police officer.

8. ASHIMA SHIRAISHI.

At just 15 years old, this Japanese American is one of the best young climbers in the world. In 2016, she won the International Federation of Sports Climbing youth championships in

a death penalty,” Cedric Daep, a top disaster-response official in Albay, said by phone. Shopping malls and stores were ordered to close early on Christmas Day to encourage people to remain indoors, “but at the height of the typhoon, many cars were still being driven around and people were out walking,” Daep said. “We warned them enough, but we just can’t control their mind.” Officials in Albay, where more than 150,000 villagers were displaced by the typhoon, declared a “state of calamity” to allow faster disbursement of emergency funds. About 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year. In the past 65 years, seven typhoons have struck the country on Christmas Day, according to the government’s weather agency. Tens of thousands of villagers, forced to spend Christmas in crowded and powerless emergency shelters, started to return home on Dec. 26 to deal with the damage. “They have left the evacuation centers and we’re seeing the sun again,” Ann Ongjoco, mayor of the town of Guinobatan in Albay, one of five provinces that lost electricity, said by phone. But she said her town, where more than 17,600 villagers fled to shelters in schools, will not be able to resume the holiday celebrations because of the post-typhoon mess. “Many houses made of light materials were destroyed,” she said. 

two disciplines in climbing. She also won the USA Youth Bouldering Nationals Championship. Born and raised in New York, she was first introduced to climbing at the age of 6 when she was with her parents in Central Park. Her passion for climbing continued inside and outdoors. She has traveled the world climbing boulders. Her ability to climb at a high level at a young age has garnered her a sponsorship with the North Face sportswear company. At just 5 feet tall and weighing under 100 pounds, she is still able to navigate the challenges of climbing boulders. With climbing becoming a sport in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Shiraishi will likely make it a point to represent the United States in the country where her parents were born.

9. JORDAN CLARKSON.

Although overshadowed last year by the retiring Kobe Bryant, Clarkson is one of the young talents for the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s averaging almost 15 points a game as a guard for the team. Clarkson, whose mother is Filipino, is in his third year in the NBA. He has embraced the many Filipino fans that follow him and he’s visited the Philippines since joining the NBA. In fact, he had requested to play for the Philippines in an Olympic qualifying tournament this summer. Although that did not work out, he is one of the more popular NBA players in the Philippines.

10. JEREMY LIN.

Lin returned to New York this season as a member of the Brooklyn Nets after a bounce back season last year in Charlotte. Unfortunately, Lin has been missing in action most of the season with a hamstring injury. Still, Lin is making his presence known. He is active in eSports and has invested in a team. He’s also spoken out on social issues including perceptions of him as an Asian American basketball player. 

Jason nwasianweekly.com.

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DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

35 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN

Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 1–1:30 p.m.

POLYNESIAN DANCE TROUPE HURAITI MANA OFFERS FREE TAHITIAN/ HULA DANCE LESSON 1225 S. Weller St., Seattle Free every Wednesday 5:30–6:30 p.m. for youth (5-12) 6:30–7:30 p.m. for young adult (13+) huraitimana.com/danceclasses

MOCHI TSUKI IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Ave. N.E., Bainbridge Island 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

FIUTS: FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STUDENTS UW, HUB Room 206, Seattle 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 206-543-0735

CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER WITH THE TENTH STAMP IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR STAMP SERIES, “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE DEDICATION CEREMONY” Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 11:30 a.m. RSVP at usps.com/lunarnewyear FREE MUSEUM DAY SAM, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle

6 FREE BAM DAY 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue 11 a.m.–8 p.m. bellevuearts.org

7 SHI SHI MAI BLESSING

12 RED LINEAGE: ART, CITIZENSHIP, AND ACTION UW Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity, 4109 N.E. Stevens Way, Room 129, Seattle 5–7 p.m. CITY OF SEATTLE PRESENTS MLK UNITY DAY Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle 7–8:30 p.m. townhallseattle.org

13 THE 10TH ANNUAL KOREANAMERICAN DAY CELEBRATION Auburn Performing Arts Center, 702 4th St. N.E., Auburn 5:30–9 p.m. RSVP to Shari Song at sharisong@ hotmail.com, 206-790-9044 wakoreanamericanday@gmail.com TAP-SEA PRESENTS: HAPPY HOUR MIXER Amber Lounge, 2214 1st Ave., Seattle 6–9 p.m.

TAP-SEA PRESENTS: LUNAR NEW YEAR BANQUET China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 7–10 p.m.

tap-seattle.org

LUNAR NEW YEAR Seattle Center, Seattle Free admission seattlecenter.com

16 2ND ANNUAL MLK CAREER DAY Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., Seattle 1–4:30 p.m. mlkseattle.org

20 SEATTLE UNITED FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle 12–7 p.m. Free parking at 300 Mercer St., Seattle citizenship@seattle.gov

AAJA SEATTLE LUNAR NEW YEAR BANQUET 2017 China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 6–9 p.m. aajalny2017.bpt.me

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, “YEAR OF THE ROOSTER” Seattle’s Chinatown-International District 11 a.m.–4 p.m. COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS PUBLIC BOARD MEETING General Administration Building, 210 11th Ave. S.W., Olympia 10 a.m.–2 p.m. WOMEN’S MARCH ON SEATTLE Downtown Seattle 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

21 & 22

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION & FAIR Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org

29 ROTARY’S BROKEN CEILING: CELEBRATING THOSE WHO BROKE IT, WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER DEAN ROHRS Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle 4:30 p.m.

FEB 2

LECTURE, “AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE,” BY DESIGNER/ARTIST MAYA LIN University of Washington, Kane Hall 130 7:30 p.m. $5 uwalum.com/lectures

2017 LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION The Bellevue Collection 11 a.m.–6 p.m. bellevue.com

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YOUR VOICE

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■ PICTORIAL Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) celebrated the holidays on Dec, 16 with festive entertainment and a game show. The highlight of the party was Gary Tang’s “More is More” fashion show, with 12 staff members hitting the runway in outrageous new outfits. Gary’s collection had three themes — recycling for a sustainable environment, safari adventure, and enchanted evening gowns. Intricate embellishment, bold design, and bright colors dazzled the audience.

Gary Tang’s “MORE IS MORE” fashion show

Upper-right corner pic: Designer Gary Tang and Bernadette Flores. 1 Angelina Lee projects a new Bond girl look. 2 Max Reikosky soars down the runway with ease. 3 Luke Jung works a twist on the Silk Road caravan merchant. 4 Alex Olin in an evening gown created from snack wrappers and duct tape. 5 Victor Loo rocks a kimono crafted from rice sacks. 6 Chris Delong in a vintage denim jacket with Walk For Rice buttons. 7 Louis Horn, an edgy rock star. PHOTOS BY TAM VO

NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY / SEATTLE CHINESE POST PRESENTS 8TH ANNUAL

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Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 11 AM — Registration • 1 PM — Line up • 1:30 PM — Parade begins • 2:15 PM — Parade winners announced • Start from Northwest Asian Weekly’s front door, march to main stage • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (2:15 PM). • Finalists will be lined up in numerical order. • The first 20 registered will get a gift. Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Sunday, January 29) beginning at 11 a.m. at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 30 minutes prior to parade. Rules/Guidelines: • Adults & children are welcome to participate • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • All contestants will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Contestants’ attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria. • Prizes will be awarded to First ($150), Second ($100), and Third ($50) Place Winners, Publisher Award ($100) (an organization which has the most participants), and 15 Honorable mentions will receive a gift bag. • All decisions made by competition judges are final.

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35 YEARS

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

■ AT THE MOVIES

“MIFUNE: THE LAST SAMURAI”

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Play offers new Vietnam perspective

up close and personal on cinema’s lone wolf

By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Have you heard of Vietgone? That’s what my friend asked me over Facebook messenger. I actually thought Vietgone was an auto-correct for Rogue One, the new Star Wars movie that just came out. My friend was looking for two tickets for himself and his wife, but all 34 shows had been sold out, except for one seat. As a FOMO (Fear of Missing out) myself, I quickly snatched it up at $62 and thanked my friend. I started my research to find out as much as I could about the play. On Oct. 4, Vietgone began performances at the

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY This documentary about Japan’s greatest film actor doesn’t start off with a flourish of praise and clips from the life and work of Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997), legendary for his portrayals of samurai and other madmen. He is known for his incredible collaborations with Akira Kurosawa (19101998). It first focuses on a small, old man directing swordfights. Swordfights which seem entirely of the samurai period — costumes, swords, facial hair, ferocity. Until a voice yells in English, “CUT!” and we’re reminded that we’re watching a movie. And for the moment at least, a movie showing the making of a movie. The old man takes a break and a screen title identifies him as Kanzo Uni, an actor, stunt coordinator, and swordfighter. He was killed by Mifune more than 100 times onscreen. Uni often works with real swords, and a bandage on one arm silently testifies to the risks of his profession. But he’s hearty, hale, and passionate about the past and present. He has plenty of Mifune stories to share, although most of them involved being slashed, mock-slashed, and/or dumped on the ground. The mighty Mifune’s been dead for almost 20 years now, and finding people who remember him is becoming harder. Director Steven Okazaki finds some of the crucial players, ranging from Mifune’s costars (Yoko Tsukasa, Yosuke Natsuki); to Westerners eager to sing Mifune’s praises (Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, who cast the Japanese star in his own farcical “1941”); Mifune’s own son, Shiro; and a few more colorful, lesser-known folks,

notably Haruo Nakajima, who appeared in two of the most important Japanese films of all time, in 1954 — one with Mifune, one without. The one without Mifune was the original “Godzilla,” for which he wore the dragon-lizard’s rubber suit. The one with Mifune was Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” where he appears as a villager. And for anyone out there who doesn’t already know the movies, I beg of you to go out and watch them. You’ll find your lives much enriched. “Seven Samurai” stands as the finest band-of-samurai film of all time, near-perfection, and constant exhilaration over more than three hours. “Yojimbo,” from 1961, finds two warring clans in a small town pitted against Mifune, the oneman army. This, then, was the epitome of the lone ronin — a masterless samurai with nothing but his sword, his mind, and his code. Samurai films, called chanbara, had existed since the dawn of Japanese film, and the documentary does its due diligence including film excerpts from the silent era. Kurosawa kept one foot in the past, but stepped boldly forward with the other one. He had the audacity to conceive of fresh approaches, and the talent to realize them. He drew ideas from the West, and in turn influenced the West. And he had Mifune — gruff, grunting, wild-eyed, and primal — to embody that concept. The documentary sadly spends little time with Mifune’s non-Kurosawa roles, although he amazed in some of those. It spends even less time on the non-samurai Kurosawa collaborations, although Mifune could burn up the screen as an executive caught up in a kidnapping (“High And Low”), an avariceloving yakuza (“Drunken Angel”), a see MIFUNE on 14

Manhattan Theater Club in New York. Vietgone, written by Qui Nguyen, is loosely based on his parent’s journey to America as Vietnamese refugees in 1975. After watching the play, it definitely reminded me of Miss Saigon. However, Qui not only made sure the characters weren’t stereotypes, he went in the extreme opposite direction. In an interview with the New York Times, Qui made sure to have “strong Asian American characters.” He said, “They’re cool, and they’re sexy, and they’re not exotic. They can be feminist, strong women, and they can be sexy men.” Characters spoke perfect English to see VIETGONE on 14

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YOUR VOICE

■ YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

asianweekly northwest

Top 10 reads of 2016 By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

er’s world and learn more about the characters. From the circumstances of Cinder’s arrival in New Beijing, to the beginning of Princess Winter, and palace guard Jacin Clay’s relationship, we gain a better understanding of what makes these characters tick and how they become who they are by the time they’ve joined the fight against Queen Levana.

Christmas may be over but the gift of books and reading (at least, in my opinion) is forever. To help get you started, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 books that I’ve read in 2016.

“The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra”

“Raining Men and Corpses: A Chinese Cozy Mystery”

By Vaseem Khan Redhook, 2015 “Inheritance” introduces readers to the newly retired Inspector Ashwin Chopra of the Mumbai police, who has inherited two things on his last day on the force — a case of a boy drowned under suspicious circumstances and a baby elephant. This is the first in a promising series starring an unlikely duo as they work to find their footing together as partners and solve crimes. Khan balances the seriousness of the crime with the lighter moments that come with raising a baby elephant in a small apartment building, in the middle of a crowded city that will have readers laughing out loud.

By Anne R. Tan Amazon Digital Services LLC, 2014 Things are not going well for Raina Sun. From financial to familial issues, the last thing she needs is to be named a suspect in a murder investigation. But that’s exactly what happens and now the 27-yearold graduate student has to work to clear her name. I love a good cozy mystery and “Raining Men” does not disappoint. Tan includes all the staples, from the amateur sleuth, to the good-looking cop investigating the aforementioned sleuth, to the elder who doesn’t even hesitate to meddle in the investigation. What makes this story stand out is the fact that many of the main characters are Asian American and their heritage has very little to do with the plot, a rarity in stories featuring characters of color.

“The Family Law”

By Benjamin Law Black Inc., 2015 Benjamin Law loves his family. But it’s also clear in “The Family Law” that there are times that they get on his nerves. In his memoir, Law shares the ups and downs of his Chinese Australian family — from his parents’ divorce, to the everyday needling and pestering “Stars Above” that comes with having siblings. By Marissa Meyer In addition to the dysfunctions of Feiwel & Friends, 2016 family life, we also get a glimpse This collection of short stories of what it is like to grow up in an immigrant family in Australia, whether that’s surviving the school system or celebrating Christmas in 100-plus degree weather.

“Realm of the Goddess”

By Sabina Khan Sabina Khan, 2014 Shortly after she turns 17, Callie Hansen learns she is an avatar for the Hindu Goddess Kali and the nightmares she’s been having off and on since she was 7 are actually visions from her past life. If that wasn’t bad enough, she also learns that she must fight and defeat Mahisha, the King of Demons, who has captured her parents. “Realm” is an interesting take on the fantasy adventure story, as Khan expertly weaves the present-day world with the myths and legends surrounding the gods and goddesses of Hinduism. She also strikes a good balance between Callie’s Indian and American heritage, showing the teen’s pride in both sides of her family.

“For Today I am a Boy”

brings us back to Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles universe for more adventures of Cinder and her ragtag gang of Lunars, Earthlings, and

By Kim Fu Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 While his Chinese name, Juan nonhumans. The stories all work Chaun, may mean “powerful as standalone tales, but for long- king,” Peter Huang knows there is time fans of the series, it’s also a chance to delve deeper into Meysee SHELF on 12

asianweekly northwest

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

35 YEARS

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

OPINION

THE WORST & BEST OF BEACON HILL Home to many Asian American leaders

El Centro de la Raza headquarters (middle) flanked by Plaza Roberto Maestas low-income units.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Lately, the worst and best has struck Beacon Hill. What is interesting is the increasing crimes on Beacon Hill (with a population of close to 10,000) doesn’t deter buyers from buying real estate there. Some owners have received great offers, even though their homes are old and should be torn down. Beacon Hill’s housing prices are generally lower, even homes with views, compared to the other parts of the city. Suddenly, those who didn’t have any intention of selling their properties are now re-thinking that. One reason for the hot real estate market is the presence of the light rail. The Beacon Hill station is a part of Sound Transit’s Central Link line, which runs from SeaTac Airport through the Rainier Valley and downtown Seattle to the University of Washington. With Seattle traffic

ranked among the worst in the United States, the station is a vital asset. Since the rail’s opening in 2009, Beacon Hill’s property values have risen. With many high-tech companies relocating to Seattle, such as Amazon, the growth spurs housing demand for employees, which requires more transportation options and a central location. It took me only four minutes to drive from our Chinatown office on South Jackson Street to the top of Beacon Hill on 15th Avenue South. Suddenly, Beacon Hill is being viewed as one of the most desirable neighborhoods with views of downtown, Elliott Bay, First Hill, Rainier Valley, and depending on the cloud cover, the Olympic mountains and Mt. Rainier. Beacon Hill was also recognized for having the largest Olmsted-planned green space in Seattle, known as Jefferson Park and the nearby Food Forest project. Bettie Luke, a long-time resident, said the open reservoir next to Jefferson Park has walking trails, a children’s play

area, a zip line, picnic benches, and a skate park. The expansion of El Centro de la Raza next to the light rail station, with a plaza, affordable housing, and cultural center, is a blessing, said Luke. The Beacon Hill Library is another plus.

Asians being the largest ethnic group

What draws residents to Beacon Hill is its diversity. It has “raised” a generation of diverse and trailblazing Asian American leaders, including former governor Gary Locke, current San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Ron Chew, Bettie Luke, Dale Hom, Al Sugiyama, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Herb Tsuchiya, and Faye Hong, just to mention a few. Beacon Hill has the highest number of Asian American residents, 57 percent compared to only 30 percent in the see BEACON HILL on 15

Washington State Convention Center Addition Project Notice of informational meeting for bid packages 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4C

Clark/Lewis, a Joint Venture (“Clark/Lewis”) is conducting an informational meeting for subcontractors for the following bid packages on the Washington State Convention Center Addition Project: • • • •

3A – Sheeting and Shoring 4A – Fire Protection/Fire Sprinklers 4B – Elevators and Escalators 4C – Curtainwall and Skylights

The Washington State Convention Center Addition Project (the “Project”) is proposed to be a 14-story convention center totaling approximately 1,400,000 gross square feet, with associated plaza and sitework, parking garage, and off-site improvements. This meeting will be held to provide all interested parties with more information about the subject project. You are strongly encouraged to attend. Informational Meeting Date: January 9th, 2017 Informational Meeting Time: 9:00am Informational Meeting Location: Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St, Room 2A, Seattle, WA 98101 Clark/Lewis is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minority, small, veteran, disadvantaged and women owned businesses to attend the informational meeting. Space is limited, so please RSVP at yousif.alshaba@clarkconstruction.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

asianweekly northwest

OPINION

Anti-establishment Trump During the campaign, Donald Trump said he wanted to dismantle the establishment, and make “a new government controlled by you, the American people.” So far, he has appointed six billionaires, including four at the Cabinet level — their total net worth is more than onethird of U.S. households combined. Once again, Trump is forgoing the political playbook and moving forward without a blueprint — relying on instincts and personal relationships over any grand design scheme or ideology. His cabinet consists of mostly men, who are mostly white and do not have much government experience. Donald Trump is building a cabinet in his own image. Barbara Boxer, a Democratic senator from California, whose terms ends on Jan. 3 2017, wrote in an op-ed last week: [Trump’s] nominee to run the Environmental Protection Agency is a climate change skeptic who has led lawsuits against the very agency he hopes to lead. His nominee for Energy secretary couldn’t even remember the name of the agency he hopes to run — and when he did, he said he wanted to eliminate it. His nominee for Education secretary wants to drain funding away from our public schools, which 95 percent of our children attend, and she and her family have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups that oppose lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. His nominee for Labor secretary, a fast food chain CEO, has been accused of labor violations by the very department he has been tapped to lead. ... His nominee for Housing and Urban Development secretary opposes the Fair Housing Act.

His nominee for Treasury secretary, who recommends economic policy, profited from the financial crisis by repossessing tens of thousands of homes in an operation that was dubbed a “ foreclosure machine.” ...

His picks for his White House staff are also alarming, starting with a chief strategist who is associated with white supremacist hate groups. His national security adviser is someone who has shown vitriol toward Muslims and a military investigation found that he “inappropriately shared” classified information with foreign military officers.

A bright spot?

While Trump’s selections have predominantly been white males, the President-elect has selected three women of color to serve in top positions in his administration. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is one of them — she was a sharp critic of Trump during the 2016 Republican primary campaign over his harsh rhetoric about illegal immigration and for not speaking forcefully enough against white supremacists. The 44-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants is Trump’s pick for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She has very little foreign policy experience. Haley represents what some Republicans hope could be the new face of their party — a younger, more diverse generation of leaders. Haley said she had accepted Trump’s offer and would remain governor pending her confirmation to the Cabinetlevel post by the U.S. Senate. “When the president believes you have a major contribution to make to the welfare of our

nation, and to our nation’s standing in the world, that is a calling that is important to heed,” she said in a statement. Another daughter of Indian immigrants, Seema Verma is Trump’s pick as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Verma is the president and founder of SVC, Inc. — a health policy consulting firm. She is an Indiana resident with close ties to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, after she designed her home state’s Obamacare Medicaid expansion model. Elaine Chao, Trump’s choice for transportation secretary, is the only pick with cabinet experience. A Chinese immigrant, Chao arrived in the United States at age 8. She was labor secretary under President George W. Bush — an appointment that made her the first Asian American woman ever appointed to a Cabinet position, and deputy transportation secretary during President George H.W. Bush’s administration. Chao also happens to be married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trump’s post-election actions appear at odds with his “drain the swamp” campaign rhetoric. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich said on NPR last week, “I’m told he (Trump) now just disclaims that (drain the swamp). He now says it was cute, but he doesn’t want to use it anymore.” But the next day, Trump took to his favorite medium to set the record straight, tweeting that “Someone incorrectly stated that the phrase ‘DRAIN THE SWAMP’ was no longer being used by me. Actually, we will always be trying to DTS.” We shall see. 

■ GUEST EDITORIAL

What part of “never again” does Mr. Trump not understand? By John LaForge Asked last year whether he would require American Muslims to register in a database, Donald Trump said he “would certainly implement that — absolutely.” During a Nov. 16 appearance on Megyn Kelly’s Fox News show, former Trump spokesman Carl Higbie said a registry John LaForge of Muslims would be “legal” and that “we did it during World War II with the Japanese.” “You’re not suggesting that we go back to Japanese internment camps are you?” Kelly asked. “I’m not proposing that at all,” Higbie said. “But I’m just saying there is precedent for it.” To this, Kelly declared, “You can’t be citing Japanese internment camps as precedent for anything the president-elect is going to do.” But of course he could, because Mr. Trump appears to win support by boastfully saying and doing anything that produces a roar from the mob — crowing about sexual assault, torture, shooting people in the face, bombing civilians, deporting millions — no matter how unlawful, bigoted, sexist, hateful, or dishonest it sounds. The so-called “precedent” includes the bitter irony that many imprisoned Japanese Americans had sons in the military fighting against fascism in Germany and Italy. Muslim Americans likewise have thousands of children in the U.S. armed forces. Yet Khizr and Ghazala Kahn, the parents of Humayun Khan — an Army Captain who died in a car bombing in Iraq in 2004 — were viciously belittled by Trump, using the same bigotry with which he attacked Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, absurdly calling him “Mexican.” News coverage of Higbie’s Muslim registry “precedent”

balloon neglected to mention that arresting 3 to 11 million undocumented immigrants (Trump calls this whole class “Mexicans”) would also require a mass police-state internment program like the WWII crimes visited upon Japanese Americans. The media also ignored the fact that the U.S. government has officially memorialized an apology for the WWII mass arrests and detentions, and has erected a monumental promise never to do any such a thing again. “The lessons learned must remain as a grave reminder of what we must not allow to happen again to any group.” The National Japanese American Memorial, in Washington, D.C., pledges never to repeat this overtly racist chapter of American history. The national media’s ignorance or omission of this national monument is partly understandable. It’s not noted on any of the D.C. tour maps I consulted. The memorial is a permanent reminder of the shameful arrest and imprisonment-without-cause of more than 120,000 Japanese American civilians. What’s more, for a city like Washington, which is crowded with mostly self-congratulatory monuments, the internment memorial is a vanishingly rare, direct, and unambiguous admission of wrongdoing by the government. Inscribed in the memorial’s elegant marble pedestals are President Reagan’s words, “Here We Admit A Wrong. Here We Affirm Our Commitment As A Nation To Equal Justice Under The Law.” Also carved in stone is this pledge from the late Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, “The Lessons Learned Must Remain As A Grave Reminder Of What We Must Not Allow To Happen Again To Any Group.” In 1988, Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which apologizes on behalf of the government and declares that the mass arrests were based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” This sounds familiar. In “The Underside of American History,” historian Roger

Daniels writes about early 1942, “Racist feelings were intensified by wild rumors of sabotage and espionage, and a variety of groups demanded the expulsion of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.” The US Army and the War Relocation Authority forces then used house raids to detain and ship 120,313 Japanese Americans to hastilybuilt, barbed wire-circled prison camps — many built in the desert. Today’s advocates of Trump’s “database of Muslim residents” should consult the 1983 federal commission on the mass detentions of World War II. It found there was “no military necessity for the mass imprisonment of the Japanese Americans and that a grave injustice had been done.” The United States started down this road immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, when more than 2,000 people in the country were arrested in secret. The Justice Department refused then to issue a list of names or the number of those incarcerated, arguing that “national security interest” outweighed the public’s right to know. During these secret arrests, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., visited the Krome detention center near Miami and found it astonishing that “the Immigration and Naturalization Service is fixated on detaining and rounding up countless Arab Americans without any justification.” But Trump would rather we forget U.S. history, ignore Reagan’s apology, and break Senator Inouye’s promise. Today’s wartime hysteria, fueled by Trump’s baseless accusations against immigrants, helps some ignore our history, especially if it is ugly, and consider repeating it even if we’ve promised “never again.” John LaForge, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is co-director of Nukewatch, a peace and environmental justice group. 

asianweekly northwest

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

MARIO from 4 with truffle shavings in the case of the latte and the world’s best known video game character in the case of “Super Mario Run.” Players can download the game for free and play three of the 24 available “worlds.” This takes only a few minutes and leaves one extremely dissatisfied. It’s like dining at a pricey restaurant knowing you can afford only the appetizer. THE FIX: Nintendo should slash the price in half and offer more content for free, says Jordan Edelson, CEO of Appetizer Mobile, a mobile app development agency in New York. Oh, and once the price is cut, it would be a good idea to make the game available on Android, too. After all, most people in the world have Android phones. Android users tend to be less willing than iPhone users to pay for apps, so a price cut is essential.

STAYING CONNECTED

The game requires a constant internet connection. It’s understandable with “Pokemon Go,” which uses your physical location as part of game play. There is no obvious reason need for it with “Mario,” and that just leads to frustrations. Why can’t one play on the subway? Or in airplane mode on the airplane? What if someone is away from Wi-Fi and has a limited cellular data plan? Sorry! In a statement, Nintendo said connectivity “allows us to offer a variety of features and services that enhance the play experience. ‘Super Mario Run’ is not a static experience, but rather one that players can continue to return to again and again to enjoy something new and unexpected.” The features Nintendo cites include the ability to play across multiple devices, limited-time rewards, and access to player data and scores for challenges with other

SHELF from 9 no hope for him living up to his father’s dreams of Western masculinity. This is because Peter knows he is really a girl. Growing up, and even once he’s an adult, he struggles with his gender identity, not knowing what’s “wrong” with him. And in the midst of all this are Peter’s sisters, who are there for him and accept him for who he is — no matter how their relationship may be or how far apart they may live. Fu gives readers a glimpse of how it could be for a transgender person and captures some of the issues they might face while trying to figure out their identity.

“Quackers”

Written and illustrated by Liz Wong Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016 Quackers is a duck. Don’t let the paws and whiskers fool you. Quackers lives in a duck pond with all the other ducks. So that makes him a duck. Then he meets Mittens, another duck that looks like him. But Mittens calls himself a cat and introduces Quackers to other cats, who also look like him. Written and illustrated by Liz Wong, “Quackers” is a fun and adorable story about accepting yourself and embracing who you are, no matter what others think. It’s also about accepting others and overlooking any differences there may be between you.

“China Rich Girlfriend”

By Kevin Kwan Knopf Doubleday, 2015 Rachel Chu and Nick Young’s wedding is just around the corner. As happy as she may be about it, Rachel can’t help but feel a little disappointed that her birth father won’t be there to witness it. A chance car accident changes all of this and reveals his identity, throwing the couple into the world of Shanghai splendor. If you thought Nick’s family in Singapore was rich (see “Crazy Rich Asians”), you haven’t met this side of Rachel’s family. They’re China

35 YEARS

players. None of these sound essential to an enjoyable playing experience. THE FIX: Drop the connectivity requirement. “If you are trying to position it as a casual game (that can be played) with one hand, you want people to be able to play it wherever they are,” Edelson said.

WHAT NINTENDO GOT RIGHT

If “Super Mario Run” gets over these two big hurdles, there is still a chance the game could be a success. After all, Nintendo fans have been waiting for a mobile Mario for nearly a decade, pretty much ever since mobile games have existed, so they are likely to give the Japanese gaming giant a second chance. With this much waiting, expectations have understandably been high. Critics, who judge the game based on what it’s like to play it, have given it an average of 78 out of 100 on the game reviews aggregator

rich. And just as in Kwan’s debut novel, we see once again how more money just means more problems, and often on a much larger scale.

“Heroine Complex”

By Sarah Kuhn DAW Books Inc., 2016 When it comes to her job as the personal assistant to her best friend and diva superheroine Aveda Jupiter, Evie Tanaka is a rockstar. But when it comes to the rest of her life, she’s a hot mess — struggling to stand up for herself and raise her teenaged sister. This all changes when Aveda is sidelined and Evie has to take her place. “Heroine” is the story of a sidekick who becomes, as the title implies, the heroine of her own story. In addition to Evie, Kuhn has created strong Asian American female characters, from Aveda, who has no problem going after what she wants, to Bea, Evie’s 16-year-old sister who is strong and wise beyond her years.

“Something in Between”

By Melissa de la Cruz Harlequin Teen, 2016 Jasmine de los Santos has worked hard to get good grades, with the hopes of getting scholarships to help pay for college. And while it works and she receives a prestigious government scholarship that would pay for all four years at the school of her choice, she learns that her Filipino immigrant family is actually undocumented and they could soon be facing deportation. “Something” tells just one story of what it means to be American and how the American Dream is not always possible. De la Cruz also shows the importance of community support and what it can mean to people in Jasmine’s family’s position to have people standing behind them and rooting for them.  Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

湖景墓園

STAMP from 1 series originated with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), known currently as OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. It began urging the USPS in the late 1980s to issue the first U.S. stamp to honor the contributions of Chinese Americans. According to the OCA, Jean Chen, a Georgia chapter member, was inspired by an old photograph that showed only Caucasian workers in a book about the history of building the Transcontinental Railroad. “This obvious slight of the numerous Chinese laborers involved … incensed Chen, who felt that the Asian contributions to the U.S. had been ignored for too long,” the OCA wrote. After drumming up support from other OCA chapters around the country, the USPS issued its first Lunar New Year stamp celebrating the Year of the Rooster in 1992, and Clarence Lee of Hawaii was commissioned to design it. He also designed the U.S. stamp for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Lee died in 2015.

Part two

After the first Lunar New Year stamp series ended in 2004, the OCA lobbied to renew the series. In 2008, the USPS unveiled the first stamp in the second Lunar New Year series designed by Kam Mak. According to the USPS, Mak’s stamps combine elements from the first series to create continuity. The 2017 stamp features an original painting by Mak of a rooster on a red envelope (hongbao). Art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler incorporated elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps — Clarence Lee’s intricate cut-paper design of a rooster and the Chinese character for “rooster,” drawn in grass-style calligraphy by Lau Bun.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING THIS NEWSPAPER!

Lake View Cemetery ☆西雅圖首創墓園☆ 自1872年起服務西北岸社區非營利獨立協會

傳統式紀念碑

Metacritic. This counts as “generally favorable.” And they are right. Nintendo has done a good job translating Mario’s classic, side-scrolling world to a mobile screen. Mario runs without players needing to do anything, so they can focus on collecting coins and knocking out bigger enemies (usually by jumping on them). The music is music to the ears of any 1980s and 1990s Nintendo fan, and yes, you can play with one hand. Users, though, have rated it 5.6 out of 10 on Metacritic. Many are angry about the price and the inability to play while commuting. And since it’s users and not critics who will go out and buy the game — or not — Nintendo may have a problem on its hands. 

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YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

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Predictions and advice for the week of December 31, 2016–January 6, 2017 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — In times of plenty or scarcity, you are able to maintain a certain level of comfort due in large part to your resourcefulness.

Dragon — A firm grasp of the nuances of the deal can allow you to take the upper hand, provided that you act on it soon.

Monkey — Showing that you can complete a simple assignment perfectly is a good start, before you move on to a more complicated endeavor.

Ox — Are you feeling a bit out of sorts after a period of excitement? Don’t expect things to go back to normal immediately.

Snake — Avoid setting your expectations so high that it reaches the point of being unrealistic. It is better to treat it as a multistep process instead.

Rooster — Even if you don’t land your first choice, there is much to be gained from the alternatives that are available to choose from.

Tiger — If you look too closely, you may miss out on the bigger picture. Take a few steps back to give yourself a better perspective.

Horse — Learning something new has whetted your appetite to dive deeper. This could lead to a discovery you had not anticipated.

Dog — Do you find yourself pulling back, but aren’t sure why? Part of you knows that you would rather be elsewhere.

Rabbit — A shortcut isn’t always worth it, especially if it is significantly riskier than just plodding along the long way.

Goat — Your margin of victory isn’t as wide as you had hoped. There are a few adjustments that can be made for the next round.

Pig — On the cusp of a momentous change, you are a bit hesitant. You have much behind you that will allow you to move forward.

What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

RICH ASIAN from 1 Americans together. Census figures show that Indian American households, for example, earn nearly twice the national average, while Bangladeshi and Cambodian Americans have lower-thanaverage household incomes. Asian Americans earn more than whites on average, but they also have higher rates of poverty.

Wealth inequality has widened

There are many ways to measure inequality — in this case, economists Christian Weller and Jeffrey Thompson compared different wealth thresholds. According to the data, white families in the top 10 percent each had more than $1.26 million in 2010-2013, while white families in the bottom 20 percent each had less than $10,468. In other words, a typical rich white family was about 120 times wealthier than a typical poor white family. Among Asian Americans, the cutoff to make it into the top 10 percent was actually higher — about $1.44 million. And the families at the bottom end seemed to be worse off — the poorest 20 percent of families were each worth less than $9,319. So a rich Asian household was about 168 times richer than a poor Asian household. “The problem is that ‘Asian American’ doesn’t hold together as a category,” said Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland. “The group is too diverse. It doesn’t really make sense to compare recent Chinese, Korean, or Pakistani immigrants who are working in tech and engineering jobs to people who came as refugees in the 1980s and their working-class descendants.”

The chance of having installment debt was 37.7 percent among Asian Americans in the bottom half of the income distribution in 2010–2013 — up from 34.3 percent in 1992– 1998. Put differently, lower-income Asian Americans are getting deeper into costly debt.

Retirement savings

Bigger mortgages

While Asian American homeownership rate (about 60 percent) is lower than the white homeownership rate (about 74 percent), Asian Americans tend to live in high-priced housing markets on the East Coast and West Coast. In the early 2000s, the Asian Americans who were fortunate enough to own homes had their net worth skyrocket, increasing wealth inequality between Asian American homeowners and Asian American renters, as well as helping Asian Americans catch up to white Americans. Being deeper in mortgage debt can increase the chance of foreclosure. It is therefore not surprising that some Asian American groups, specifically Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans in Orlando and Phoenix — areas where the financial crisis hit especially hard — had foreclosure rates in 2010 that were much higher than those of non-Latino whites.

Student and car loans

Although far smaller than mortgage debt, the share of installment loans — mainly student debt and car loans —

In 2010–2013, 58.1 percent of Asian Americans had a retirement savings account with a median balance of $67,025. Asian American households in the lower half of the income distribution are less likely to be homeowners, to have a pension, and to have money in retirement savings accounts. Moreover, Asian American households are heavily concentrated in urban areas with larger renting populations, a factor which also likely contributes to their lower homeownership rates. 

among Asian Americans deserves attention. Such loans tend to be more expensive than mortgages, disproportionately To see the full report, go to americanprogress.org/issues/ burdening those with such debt. The median amounts that Asian Americans owe on their race/reports/2016/12/20/295359/wealth-inequality-amonginstallment loans were comparable with those that whites asian-americans-greater-than-among-whites. owed — $15,258 for Asian Americans compared to $15,021 Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. for whites — in 2010–2013. And median installment debt levels are also roughly similar for low-income Asian Americans and whites. SPIRITUAL LIFE COUNSELING BY DR LEE AND SISTER SEU Although the debt owed on Available Readings: Palm / Tarot cards Psychic Readings installment loans is largely Past Life Regression / CHAKRA BALANCING comparable among white and Advice & Help on all Matters of Life Asian American populations, Fortune teller the data shows that installment FIND OUT WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU IN THE NEW YEAR! loans have risen substantially • Open 9am-9pm / 7 days a week • 40 years of experience faster among Asian Americans • Available for house calls and parties • GURU: Specializing in reuniting LOVED ONES. • All Reading Private Ask for Dr Lee than among whites.

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DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

VIETGONE from 8 represent spoken Vietnamese and gibberish English to represent spoken English. The two main protagonists, Quang and Tong were indeed sexy and extremely vulgar. To illustrate this, they performed raps filled with multiple profanities. I felt some of it was excessive. One scene in particular that stuck out to me was when Tong is having

MIFUNE from 8 detective chasing down his stolen weapon (“Stray Dog”), or even in “Record of a Living Being,” a man consumed with fear and anxiety. A powerless, terror-stricken soul, the very opposite of the Mifune stereotype. But the man displayed many facets. Family, friends, and co-workers all agree that Mifune could be generous and warm, but he drank heavily, found solace in driving cars very fast, and generally kept a part of himself hidden. He once said that no one would understand the true Mifune.

35 YEARS

a nightmare about the horrors of the Vietnam War. I don’t want to ruin it, but this scene will quickly grab your attention if you’re dozing off. There was random comic relief thrown in, like a kung fu battle with ninjas. The final scene does a great job addressing the unpopularity of the Vietnamese War and juxtaposing it with Vietnamese refugees. Qui’s parents have no plans to see their son’s play.

Because whatever he said, no one would listen. And we’re not even sure what he meant by that. He was the ronin, in his own head. A lone wolf. One can appreciate, even admire, the wolf. But we may never know the wolf.  “Mifune: The Last Samurai” opens Friday, Jan. 6, at the Grand Illusion Cinema, 1403 N.E. 50th Street, Seattle. For prices and showtimes, visitgrandillusioncinema.org. Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Understandably, this is not an experience many Vietnamese refugees want to relive. I feel blessed I was able to get the last ticket and experience this masterpiece. Qui currently works as a screenwriter for Marvel Studios. Vietgone is playing until Jan. 1, 2017, but is completely sold out.  John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly.com.

KEALOHA from 4

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

Federal public defender Alexander Silvert, who represented Puana, said the Kealohas framed his client in an attempt to discredit him in a lawsuit Puana filed accusing Katherine Kealoha, a Honolulu prosecutor, of mishandling his mother’s assets. A jury later sided with Katherine Kealoha. Now, Puana is suing five police officers and the Kealohas, who filed a lawsuit against the city’s Ethics Commission and two of its former employees over investigations the couple called illegal. “I will continue to stand up for my police officers even if it means continued criticism from those who either do not care to understand, or who are pursuing their own political agenda,’’ Louis Kealoha’s statement said. 

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DECEMBER 31, 2016 – JANUARY 6, 2017

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

BEACON HILL from 10 Rainier Valley, according to the 2010 Census data. The longstanding presence of Asian Americans (on Beacon Hill) is a product of discrimination in Seattle history, said Dale Hom, a long-time resident and author of “Walk Don’t Run: Growing Up Asian in Seattle.” Beacon Hill was the first available space for Chinese and other Asian families to move out of Chinatown, according to Doug and Art Chin’s book “Uphill: The Settlement & Diffusion of the Chinese in Seattle.” According to the Seattle Department of Neighborhood’s Seattle Historical Site Search, Beacon Hill “did not have restrictive covenants found in more exclusive neighborhoods like Mount Baker, which precluded Asians and other minorities from purchasing homes in the area.” First came the Chinese, who were originally recruited to work on railroad construction and in logging camps and canneries starting in the 1860s. They were followed by other Asian families who were interested in living in residential neighborhoods. Beacon Hill was considered a step above the immigrant-concentrated, low-income Chinatown and Yesler Terrace housing project.

Beacon Hill challenges

“I’m concerned about the character of the community changing, said Hom. “Single-family dwellings are disappearing, more multi-family housing units are under construction, real estate prices and increased taxes may displace longtime residents.” Realtor Ginny Kwok said that even rundown Beacon Hill houses can fetch as much as, or exceed, $400,000 because of the land’s value. Tearing down a house on a 4,000-square-foot lot, and then building four nice townhouses, with each selling at over half a million dollars, Kwok said — that’s over $1 million profit. Many new townhouses are all over 15th Avenue South and nearby streets. One solution to preserve the neighborhood is “stop selling your homes,” said Norma, an Asian American who has lived on Beacon Hill for 70 years, and requested that her last name not be revealed. It’s not just residential, retail has been affected, too. Retail rents have soared for small businesses, such as Inay’s Kitchen near the light rail station. What would happen if some developers bought out the property where the Red Apple grocery store is located, to build

PURPOSE OF THE BEACON HILL SURVEY (IN JULY 2016)

Townhouses under construction across from Beacon Hill International School.

apartment buildings, as some fear? Where will people go to shop for food? Despite the availability of Asian grocery stores on Beacon Hill, the mainstream grocery stores are just as vital in the community. Luke said the increase in crime, including shootings and intimidation of walkers and at bus stops, and house break-ins are a cause for concern. According to areavibes.com, Beacon Hill has a higher property crime rate than Seattle in general. Beacon Hill ranks No. 1 in burglaries, according to the Seattle Times. The neighborhood has had 25 times the number of forced-entry residential burglaries compared to downtown. The average resident household income combined on Beacon Hill is still low compared to other city neighborhoods, according to the Beacon Hill Council survey last July (see sidebar), funded by the City. To be safe and not attract attention, Norma said she doesn’t carry any purse or bags with her. She also keeps all her money in her pocket. Beacon Hill is at a crossroads. Is the city aware of it? “The city needs to preserve the uniqueness of communities, while gentrification happens in an evolving Seattle,” said Hom. The question is how. Is Mayor Ed Murray’s proposal of urban villages part of the answer? Will the villages reduce crime? Will they preserve the heritage and history of Beacon Hill? Perhaps, Beacon Hill requires more than just urban villages.  Assunta can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

In late fall of 2015, the Mayor’s Office of Planning and Community Development presented the proposed expansion of the urban village to the Beacon Hill Council (BHC). The City wanted to know if there was support from the community for the expansion of the urban village. The BHC applied for a Department of Neighborhoods grant to fund mailing a survey (in Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese) to all Beacon Hill households. The BHC conducted the survey with 1,117 residents. 70 percent of the respondents said that they were “not familiar with the proposal to expand the Beacon Hill Urban Village.” 51 percent said they would support it. WHAT ACTION WILL THE CITY TAKE FROM THE SURVEY? The BHC is taking input from the affected communities, and will have an environmental impact statement process, so affected folks can give input. The BHC is working on a more specific input on what it wants for Beacon Hill in the mayor’s proposed 2035 Seattle Comprehensive Plan. BEACON HILL COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Maria Batayola, Chair Mira Latoszek, Vice Chair Lee Nathan, Secretary Amy Kaminishi, Treasurer DIRECTORS

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Linda Jensen, Director Dove John, Director Roseanne Lorenzana, Director Miguel Maestas, Director Kathryn Rathke, Director Erik Stanford, Director Susan Lee Woo, Director

Beacon Hill light rail station

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35 YEARS

Thank you! TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF 2016 FOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY EVENTS

WOMEN OF COLOR EMPOWERED, “WOMEN AS BRIDGE BUILDERS” February 4, 2016 at China Harbor estaurant LUNAR NEW YEAR FASHION SHOW CONTEST, “CELEBRATE WITH STYLE” February 6, 2016 at House of Hong Restaurant KIDS’ PARADE CONTEST February 13, 2016 in Chinatown-International District SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM July 14, 2016 at Hong Kong Bistro FASHION DESIGN CONTEST, “TRASHION FASHION” July 16, 2016 in Chinatown-International District WOMEN OF COLOR EMPOWERED, “LEGACY CELEBRATION: THE FINAL CHAPTER” September 16, 2016 at China Harbor Restaurant VISIONARY AWARD GALA, “ASIAN AMERICANS: TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION” October 7, 2016 at China Harbor Restaurant TOP CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY December 2, 2016 at House of Hong Restaurant

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