September 2019 Volume 14 | Issue 9
FINDING PIECES OF ASIA IN
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BEST IDEAS FOR A MODERN ASIAN WEDDING
LONDON
Travelers make their way across the pond
LEE SOON SHAW Celebrate
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL at Far East Center
joins Korean Martial Arts Hall of Fame
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SEPTEMBER 2019
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in this issue EVENTS
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10
Event calendar In celebration of the Shofu-en Japanese Gardens’ 40th year, the Denver Botanic Gardens hosts several events this fall The Mid-Autumn Festival welcomes children and adults to enjoy a fun-filled Friday night at Far East Center
SPOTLIGHT
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The journey of Lee Soon Shaw through post-war life in Korea to living in the U.S. and Germany has led to her induction into the Korean Martial Arts Hall of Fame Clarence Low, former President of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, joins the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
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London’s Westminster Abbey is a popular tourist site. There are also many Asian-influenced sights to see and foods to eat in the European city.
COVER STORY
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Traveling to Europe has become more accessible in recent years. That is why Americans are making their way across the pond to explore London and everything the city has to offer
INSIDE STORY
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Aim High Chiropractic shares why going to a chiropractor can be more beneficial than a primary care doctor after a car accident
DAAPIC COLUMN
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East Meets Dress provides the ‘Best Ideas for a Modern Asian Wedding’ Books to read this fall by Japanese authors or related to Japanese topics
BOOK RELEASE
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September 2019 | Table of Contents
ON SCENE
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Gil Asakawa reflects on Woodstock 50 29 years later
FEATURE
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Chapter book Brandon goes to Beijing by Eugenia Chu releases this month
Samosas and Sikhs event provides education about the Sikh community Nan Desu Kan celebrates 23 years of its annual anime convention Polynesian Eats with No Ke Aloha event sells out at Comrade Brewing
ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
Find us @AsianAveMag #AsianAveMag
Dear Asian Avenue readers, We are excited to share the new logo for Asian Avenue magazine. With the help of the readers who took our 13th anniversary survey, we heard from you that a good icon to represent the magazine would be a leaf or tree, symbolizing how the magazine grows the community. So, drum roll please...
We would like to thank our intern, Chang Liu, a strategic communications student at the University of Denver for leading the charge on the reader survey and new design of the logo. You may have also noticed more activity and information shared on our social media outlets, also thanks to Chang. Last month, we hosted Polynesian Eats, a sold out event at Comrade Brewing. The night was catered by the food truck No Ke Aloha and featured a discussion about the impacts of climate change led by Allyson Goto. These monthly events are a great way to try various Asian cuisines and learn about topics affecting the Asian American community. We hope you get the most out of this issue featuring our London travel cover story, tips on how to plan a modern Asian wedding and Japanese-related books to read this fall. Enjoy! Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 | info@asianavemag.com
www.asianavemag.com
Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO
Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
President ANNIE GUO VANDAN
Marketing Manager JOIE HA
Senior Designer C.G. YAO
Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO
Staff Writer AMY NG
Web Designer JASON ZHANG
Intern CHANG LIU
on the cover
advertising
Many travelers are going abroad these days and one of their favorite spots is London! Here, you will find many Asian-influenced places to see and eat.
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contributing writers Cindy Ambs, Gil Asakawa, Jiamei Chen, Jessalyn Herreria Langevin, Priscilla Rahn Shaw, Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu
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President’s Note | asian avenue magazine
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Event Calendar Miss Saigon Musical Sept 10-22 Buell Theater 1350 Curtis Street, Denver denvercenter.org/ tickets-events/miss-saigon
Experience the acclaimed new production of the legendary musical Miss Saigon, from the creators of Les Misérables. This is the story of a young Vietnamese woman who falls in love with an American G.I. named Chris, but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris. Featuring stunning spectacle and a sensational cast of 42, this is a theatrical event you will never forget. 6th Annual Japanese Kite Flying Festival Sept. 14 | 1pm to 3:30pm Sept. 15 | 10am to 3pm Cottonwood Gallery Park in Denver Stapleton Cost: Free and open to public jascolorado.org
Join for a picnic in the park to fly kites! On Sept. 14, Japanese kite master Mikio Toki will lead a workshop about the history of Japanese kites. On Sept. 15, he will be flying his own masterpieces and you are welcome to bring your own kite of any style to fly. Free kite-making for young kids will also be available.
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September 2019 | Event Calendar
Mid-Autumn Festival Fri. Sept. 13 | 5pm to 10pm Far East Center 333 S. Federal Blvd, Denver Cost: Free and open to public walkdenver.org Enjoy a taste of an Asian night market with street food from all over the world and a variety of vendors and entertainment. Kids can play with light up lanterns and get their faces painted. Highlights include a pho eating contest, moon cake eating contest for kids, lion dance performance, Vietnamese singers and a kids fashion show (dress your kids in traditional Asian attire).
Nathan Yip Foundation’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Sat. Sept. 14 | Begins at 11am Savory Vietnam Pho and Grill 2200 W. Alameda Ave, Denver Cost: $35 per ticket nathanyipfoundation.org/ take-action/events/midautumn-moon-festival The luncheon will welcome guests with a mini marketplace with fun Chinese gift items and clothing. Bringing kids? Entertain them in our crafts area, sponsored by Little Red Hen Creative Studio. Dine on Asian cuisine family-style at banquet tables.
OCA Moon Festival Banquet Sun. Sept. 15 | 4:30pm to 8pm Salon Real Event Center 2200 W. Alameda Ave, Denver Cost: $30 per ticket www.ocacolorado.org
From 4:30pm to 6pm, participate in the OCA Cultural Fair’s caricatures, photo booth, Chinese arts, tea arts, carnival games and prizes, and a night market. At 6pm, the banquet will begin with a 10-course meal including lobster and peking duck. The evening’s entertainment includes a Shaolin kung fu demonstration, jasmine flower dance, Chinese songs, a magic show and a drum dance. OCA Colorado will present $100,000 to Metropolitan State University. Asian Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Wed. Sept. 18 | 6pm to 7:30pm Ichiban Japanese Buffet 9271 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree Cost: $30 for all you can eat buffet (does not include alcohol or tip) acccolorado.org
Join the Asian Chamber of Commerce for the September Business After Hours at Ichiban Japanese Buffet. The restaurant, featuring sushi and seafood, recently celebrated its grand opening in August.
Confucius Institute Day Sat. Sept. 28 | 3pm to 7pm King Center - Auraria Campus 855 Lawrence Way, Denver Cost: Free and open to public ccd.edu/event/confuciusinstitute-day Celebrate the 15th anniversary of Confucius Institute at Community College of Denver! Experience an awesome program of Chinese performers from kung fu to singing and dancing. Enjoy fun cultural activities for adults and children, and a delicious Chinese dinner! There will also be arts and calligraphy, crafts and games, language lessons and more!
The PokeBar: Denver Sun. Sept. 29 11am to 8:30pm Tracks Denver 3500 Walnut Street, Denver Cost: $45 per ticket Find on EventBrite This Pop-Up is the first of its kind with Pokemon inspired burgers, games and cocktails. There will be prizes for best dressed and pokemon trivia played in teams. Tickets include a Pokemon burger and drink (cocktail, beer, wine or non-alcoholic drink).
Send community events to info@asianavemag.com.
EVENTS AT DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS IN CELEBRATION OF SHOFU - EN JAPANESE GARDEN’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY HAIKU TREE
On view through late October Included with Gardens admission Visitors are invited to write a haiku and attach it to the haiku tree in the Japanese Garden, across the path from the pond deck. In Japanese, a haiku poem is usually divided into three groups/lines of syllables, the first and last with five syllables, the second with seven. The “tree” is made to look like a udon noodle drying.
THEN AND NOW PHOTOS
On view through December 31, 2019 Visitors can look for enlarged historical photographs in the Japanese Garden that show how each location looked in 1979 through the early 1980s.
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY Sept. 7, 8, 21, 22 | 10am to 12:15pm $35 general, $30 member For centuries, the tea ceremony has been considered the epitome of Japanese life, based on harmony, respect, purity, tranquility and elegant simplicity. Experience a traditional ceremony inside the Gardens’ tea house.
FOREST BATHING GUIDED WALK
Sept. 9 | 9am to 11:30am $30 general, $25 member Experience the relaxing Japanese practice of forest bathing: shinrin-yoku. Studies suggest that a regular practice of forest bathing may be associated with a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones. During this walk, the guide invites ways to engage the senses for closer connection with the surrounding nature.
PIKACHU AND HELLO KITTY MEET AND GREET
Japanese pop culture characters Pikachu and Hello Kitty hang out in the Japanese Garden for photos with visitors. During inclement weather, the characters will be in the Boettcher Memorial Center lobby.
JAPANESE CHABAKO IN THE GARDENS
Sept. 8 | 9 to 9:40am, 10 to 10:40 am, 11 to 11:40am $14 general, $12 member The tea ceremony has been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries, prized for its inclusion of many of Japan’s traditional arts. This tea ceremony takes place not in the traditional teahouse but out in the Gardens. This immersive demonstration of the Chabako practice (boxed tea), is specifically designed to be enjoyed outdoors, where tea and a sweet will be served along with a discussion on tea and the seasonal motifs within the Gardens.
DENVER TAIKO DRUM PERFORMANCE & MINI-LECTURE
Sept. 17 | 6:30pm to 7:30pm Included with Gardens admission Visitors can enjoy two 15-minute performances by Denver Taiko and a brief lecture about the history of Taiko drumming. Denver Taiko was founded in 1976, a nonprofit community organization that honors their cultural heritage through the exhilarating performance art of Japanese drumming. This event is made possible by Sakura Foundation.
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Sept. 13, 27; Oct. 4, 18 11:30am to 12:30pm Included with Gardens admission
Learn more: botanicgardens.org/40th-anniversary-shofu-en-japanese-garden
“See us today and see better tomorrow.” 8400 E Prentice Ave #1200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Tel: 303-793-3000
Community Events | asian avenue magazine
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Denver Event
The Mid-Autumn Festival comes to Denver’s Far East Center with twice as many vendors and performances than the first Little Saigon Night Market By Cindy Ambs of WalkDenver
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The first ever Little Saigon Night Market took place this past June. The event focused on celebrating the local multicultural flair of South Federal Blvd. and brought hundreds of Denver residents out into the streets of Asia Center despite the rain. WalkDenver repurposed the Asia Center parking lot at South Federal Blvd. and Mississippi Ave., transforming it into a public plaza. By setting up an artistic pedestrian walkway, trees and plants, lighting and public seating, WalkDenver demonstrated the types of improvements communi-
ty members have shared they would like to see on Federal Blvd. to make it a safer, more inviting place to walk. WalkDenver also hired local resident and artist Ratha Sok to paint a mural on the sidewalk to welcome people to the corridor. An overwhelming 97% of attendees surveyed at the first event asked for more community events like the night market. Business owners on the stretch also reached out to WalkDenver, who put on the event, for an encore. In response to the positive feedback,
WalkDenver is organizing a Mid-Autumn Festival co-hosted by The Far East Center at Federal Blvd. and Alameda Ave. on Friday, September 13. The event will feature a mural by artist Chad Bolsinger. The Denver based artist is a painter, muralists, street artist and illustrator who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Fort Lewis College. His recognizable style often brings a realistic approach to surrealistic settings. His characters are highly detailed, and the shading makes them look life-like until he strikes them with neon and dreamy
China Jade will offer dim sum such as shrimp dumplings
Moon cakes will be sold by Celestial Bakery, Vinh Xuong Bakery, and Truong An Gifts.
Chicken wings and other dishes will be available from Saigon Bowl
September 2019 | Denver Event
colors bringing his out worldly imagination to reality. Recently, he took part in the Visionary Art Show with world renown artist Alfredo Zageceta. Bolsinger was chosen to be a headliner at Crush Walls—look for his mural in September. The vendor list is growing with food from around the world. Vietnamese, Thai and Indian food will be showcased. Local favorites like bubble tea, mochi and che to satisfy your sweet tooth. Besides the ever popular pho eating contest, one pound moon cakes will be offered to contestants willing to take the challenge. The free family event will have games for kids as well as live music! Kids ages 5-13 can enter in the lantern contest by bringing a homemade lantern to the festival. Winners will receive a big prize. The event will feature
Learn more at: walkdenver.org/littlesaigon
Chad Bolsinger is a Denver street artist who will paint a mural during the MidAutumn Festival event.
stage performances by Vietnamese singers, hip hop battle, kpop dancers, fan dance and a kids fashion show with cultural attire. Mid-Autumn Festival will take place at the Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd on Friday, September 13 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with limited parking. Follow the Facebook event for up-to-date announcements and details. The Mid-Autumn Festival is part of the “Friends of Little Saigon� initiative, led by WalkDenver, the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative, and the Vietnamese American community of Colorado, which is focused on community beautification and stewardship of the pedestrian environment along Federal Blvd. between Alameda and Denver Mayor Hancock (left) attended the first night market Mississippi in Southwest Denver. event.
Mid-Autumn Festival | asian avenue magazine
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Spotlight
The incredible journey of LEE SOON SHAW:
Inductee to the Korean Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Lee Soon Shaw’s family celebrate her induction into the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame. On July 27, 2019, Lee Soon Shaw became one of the newest inductees into the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame. Not too bad for an 81-year-old and mother of six children; one of whom is Priscilla Shaw Rahn, teacher and chairperson of the Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council. Lee Soon was inducted alongside Ji Han Jae who is best known as the founder of Sin Moo Hapkido and for his role in the fight scene in Bruce Lee’s “Game of Death.” Lee Soon was born on January 18, 1938 in Seoul, South Korea. Her mother Hwang Ok Dan owned a grocery store in Seoul and her father Yeo Pok Yup was a businessman who sold school supplies all over the world. Lee Soon had two siblings who have passed, an older sister, Yeo Lee Suk and a younger brother, Yeo Lee Jun. Lee Soon comes from royal heritage. Her grandmother, Kim Il Ja, was a cousin of the emperor. She and her siblings often visited their grandmother and family in the palace in Pyongyang. Lee Soon was 12 years old when the Korean War started in June 1950. She remembers a unified Korea, but she also vividly remembers the trauma of the war.
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September 2019 | Spotlight
When the Hangang Bridge was destroyed, her family remained locked in their home for days. This was significant because the bridge was the only way in and out of Seoul. In December 1950, a North Korean attack ascended on Seoul, so Lee Soon and her family decided to flee. They walked for days from Seoul to Osan. Many of the South Korean men were taken so only the women and children remained together. During the 30-mile pilgrimage, Lee Soon walked in the freezing cold; sometimes over dead bodies. Several refugee families from Seoul eventually found rest in a big house. One night, a bomb was dropped on a corner of the house. Many families died, but Lee Soon’s family was spared. Early the following morning, Lee Soon’s mother told her and her older sister to go further south to escape. This meant leaving their mother, younger brother and Lee Suk’s first son, Young Je, in Osan. Lee Soon’s older sister decided they could try to escape on a moving cargo train. Lee Soon had some athletic experience running in school, so her sister told her she could do it and to jump on first! So, Lee Soon ran as fast as she could
By Priscilla Shaw Rahn to jump on and then grabbed Lee Suk’s arm to pull her up onto the train as she carried her three month old baby on her back. The sisters had no idea where the train was heading, only that it was going further south. The train stopped in Taegu where the sisters found a refugee camp. Accommodations were meager and they were put on the third floor where they were given a small area to sleep and separated from other refugees by only a thin sheet.
During the 30-mile pilgrimage, Lee Soon walked in the freezing cold; sometimes over dead bodies. Lee Suk found a job as a maid while Lee Soon cared for her baby nephew. Lee Suk made arrangements for Lee Soon to be placed in an orphanage because it was the only way Lee Soon could have an opportunity to go to school, have a place to sleep, eat and be clothed. While at the orphanage, Lee Soon
learned to dance at a dancing school and was selected at an audition to dance for the USO Club. After two years in the orphanage, when Lee Soon turned 14, she was told it was safe to return to Seoul. Only students could go on the train, so she had to leave without her sister. All the children were put in school clothes, given a backpack, a pass and 5000 won. None of the children knew what was waiting for them back in Seoul and they were all left to try and find their families on their own. When Lee Soon arrived back in Seoul, she walked all the way from the train station to where she last remembered her home was. When she got there, her mother and brother were very sick in bed, there was no food, and her mom’s grocery store had been destroyed. Since Lee Soon had dancing experience, she looked for a place to audition to make money so she and her little brother could go to school. The 8th Army had an audition for dancers and singers and she was selected to become a dancer. She met her first husband, who was a soldier, when she was 16 years old. He helped Lee Soon’s family restart by buying a house and grocery store. In 1959, when Lee Soon was 19, she immigrated to the U.S.
In 1959, Lee Soon arrived in California. She sent for her nephew, Young Je, in 1961. While Young Je was in Korea, he studied Judo, so Lee Soon found him a dojo to enroll in in Sacramento. Each week, she took him to the dojo, and eventually Lee Soon decided to start taking Kung Fu classes. That was the start of her martial arts journey. Lee Soon then moved to Texas and started taking Taekwondo classes. Soon after, she won 1st place in the Women’s Texas Championships. She eventually remarried to her current husband, Freddie, and they moved to Germany. There was no school there, so Lee Soon opened a karate school in Baumholder, Germany. At the time, she was a red belt. Within three years, Lee Soon met Sonsei Kou Song Chi and she eventually earned her first and second degree black belts in Taekwondo. In 1970, she moved to New York and began working as a private security agent and investigator at a department store. She looked for a dojo and quickly learned about the reputation of Ronald Duncan. He was a very popular instructor and for a time, Lee Soon was the only female in the dojo. O’sensei Duncan took Lee Soon
under his wing and began teaching her and giving her opportunities to do exhibitions, films, and radio appearances in places like the Nassau Colosseum, Aaron Banks Oriental World of Self Defense at Madison Square Garden and Panama City, Panama (Channel 4) where she was bestowed an honorary citizenship. O-sensei Duncan was very professional and had excellent form. He could catch a flying arrow and taught Lee Soon how to as well. Whatever O-sensei Duncan did, Lee Soon learned it too! Under O-sensei Ronald Duncan, Lee Soon earned her 3rd and 4th degree black belts issued by the American Bushido Martial Arts Federation. Over the next several years, Lee Soon taught and judged martial arts and continued to work on her levels. In 1986, Lee Soon moved to Killeen, Texas. Eventually, she learned that Grand Master Jimm McMurray was teaching close by. They discovered that they both learned under the same instructor several years earlier and that’s when Lee Soon joined his dojo. In 2016, Lee Soon earned her Grand Master level in Taekwondo. Today, Lee Soon is a Grand Master in Hapkido with eight stripes. She continues to practice martial arts and Korean dancing.
Lee Soon Shaw trained under O-sensei Ronald Duncan who taught her how to catch a flying arrow and helped her earn her 3rd and 4th degree black belts from the American Bushido Martial Arts Federation. Lee Soon Shaw | asian avenue magazine
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Clarence Low steps down from Asian Chamber of Commerce Low joins Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers After serving as president and CEO of the Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) since February 2014, Clarence Low has departed and accepted the role as the director of operational relationships of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). He will remain engaged with the ACC as an advisor. In his new role with SASE, he will serve to develop and nurture relationships with corporations that value a diverse workplace and connect them with high-achieving Asian scientists and engineers. “As one of the largest API organizations in the US, we will need Clarence’s leadership and relationship building skills to continue on our exciting and impactful growth. I have known Clarence for a few years and his skill sets are exactly what SASE needs,” said Khanh Vu, CEO & Executive Director of SASE. Low, a member of the ACC since 2007, also serves as President/CEO at Archipelago Web, a full service web design agency.
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can Red Cross Diversity and Inclusion Committee. You will frequently find him attending community events like the Nikkeijin Kai community picnic, CO Dragon Boat Festival and Lunar New Year festivals. Partnerships and Collaboration Under Low’s leadership, the ACC’s efforts and connections within the community has expanded considerably over the recent years – reaching deep into the multi-ethnic Asian community as well as through partnerships with local and multinational companies seeking to increase their diversity and inclusion efforts. ACC enjoys partnerships with the City and County of Denver, the Colorado Governor’s office, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and regional Consular Offices.
Colorado He has been an active member in Colorado’s Asian-American community since he moved to Colorado from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003. Always connected with the minority business community, Low has served on numerous boards and commissions in Denver, including the COEDIT Minority Business Advisory Board, Red Rocks Community Foundation Board and the Ameri-
Passionate about Youth Low is passionate about creating opportunities for AAPI students - both educationally and with career development. He helped start two Scholarship Funds at CU Denver and Red Rocks Community College, and leads an annual trip for local undergraduate students to Washington, D.C. Low received the University of Colorado, Denver Rosa Parks Diversity Award in 2015, and was recognized by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) as an Asian American Hero of Colorado in 2013.
Before Colorado For nine years, Low worked as a chemical oceanographer and staff research assistant for University of California, Santa Cruz. Through his scientific career, he has visited the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and even Antarctica. During his Antarctic trips, he would spend eight weeks at a time traversing the seas. His job included mapping ocean circulation, collecting water samples and analyzing those samples in a laboratory. During the dot-com years, he worked for NASA-Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. That experience opened doors into various start-up companies in San Jose, CA. In 2001, he started a web design agency with his brother, Terry. Low, who is of Chinese descent, earned his B.A. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Marine Sciences from UC Santa Cruz. He enjoys a good game of table tennis, xiao long bao, high-grade sushi, and most anything with yuzu in it!
Scholars at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C.
2013 CACEN Asian American Heroes award recipients
Low with Taiwan Trade Center Vice Chairman Dr. Suohang Chuang
September 2019 | Spotlight
Cover Story
Finding Pieces of Asia in
LONDON
See why everyone is going across the pond!
Photo Credit: Trang Luong
By Jessalyn Herreria Langevin
Not long ago, the British Empire encompassed the globe. From east to west, north to south, the saying goes, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Nowadays, most British colonies have become independent nations. However, the far and wide reach of the British Empire has led London to become one of the most diverse cities in the world. With the current exchange rate hovering around £1 to $1.25 (the lowest exchange rate since the 1980’s), now is an ideal time to visit London. And with over a million Asian tourists a year visiting London, why not visit? Below are some ideas of things to do, places to visit, and restaurants to dine at: MUSEUMS London is home to a slew of museums and galleries making the city a must see for anyone interested in history. From the British Museum to the National Gallery,
there’s something for everyone. The best part of the museums: many of these great attractions are free. However, for just a little extra, special exhibits and tours can provide extra insight and guidance on how to get the most out of a museum. Lovers of ancient history and civilizations would enjoy the British Museum with its Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek antiquities. As a museum that focuses on the world as a whole, the British Museum is packed to the brim with Chinese ceramics, Egyptian mummies, and other treasures from around the globe. For those interested in Japanese artwork, the British Museum featured the Citi exhibition Manga マンガ, the largest exhibition of manga outside of Japan. Manga, Japanese comic books or graphic novels, have existed since the 19th century but the business has exploded into a global phenomenon, encompassing video games and Japanese anime. The
Princess Jellyfish, a popular shojo, or girls’ manga was featured in the Citi Exhibition Manga at the British Museum.
summer exhibit highlighted the process of manga production, the history of manga from the 19th century to today, and of course, the artwork. Prominent manga artists in attendance included: Tezuka Osamu from Astro Boy, Toriyama Akira from Dragon Ball, and Oda Eiichirō from ONE PIECE. On top of the famed Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, the museum houses objects from around the world including Korean artifacts, Japanese treasures, and the largest collection of Chinese ceramics When in London | asian avenue magazine
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outside of China. Admission is free but donations to help maintain the museum are always welcome. THEATER Alongside Broadway in New York City, West End in London showcases the highest level of commercial theater. Spending a night enjoying a West End show is a definite must do. For those unfamiliar with theater, Wicked is one of the more approachable shows to watch on the West End. In the midst of the retold Wizard of Oz story, you find relatable characters, satire and irony, and messages that resonate in today’s political climate. Tourists traveling by the London Underground, or the Tube, should easily find the Apollo Victoria Theatre as Victoria Station is only a three minute walk away. For those traveling by bus, the Victoria Coach Station is within eyesight of the theatre. Show tickets can be purchased from as little as $30 via phone, internet, or in person. DAY TRIPS A trip to England would be incomplete without spending time in the English countryside. How else would you see the rolling hills, greenery, and the castles? Leaving London proper allows tourists to see other facets of English life and provides a break from the bustle of the city. Built in 1270, Hever Castle is known for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Their marriage caused significant political and religious uproar and started the English Reformation, but all that’s history. The castle itself is an amazing sight and each room is filled with history of the various owners. The vine covered castle walls and expansive grounds are gorgeous and romantic. Yet there is something for everyone to spend their time enjoying. Children, young and old, can spend hours
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September 2019 | Cover Story
The Japanese Tea House at Hever Castle attracts visitors to the gardens as it is an easy walk less than thirty minutes away.
playing in the nearly thirty-foot castle known as Tudor Towers. Tricksters can challenge themselves to find the center of the Water Maze or discover the way out of the Yew Maze. Or there’s always the casual walk through the impressive gardens and grounds. JAPANESE TEA HOUSE IN HEVER CASTLE Those taking the Lake Walk or renting a boat should look for the Japanese Tea House. Perched on the edge of Hever Lake, the tea house was built and designed to embody the intent behind the original Edwardian Tea House that was knocked down during World War II. Regardless, the Tea House serves to enhance calm atmosphere around Hever Castle and Grounds. WALKING TOURS Walking tours are one of the best ways to experience any city as you learn the history, see multiple sights, and get a general feel for the city. Take Walks offers tours in major cities throughout Europe and the U.S. All tour guides share in-depth knowledge of the sites. Without a guide, it’s easy to get lost and never truly understand the significance of the landmarks. Highly recommended would be the “Complete Tower” Tour as you get exclu-
sive access to the opening ceremony of the Tower of London and early access to the Crown Jewels. This is a particular treat as lines to see the Crown Jewels have been reported taking as long as two to three hours. As an observer to the opening ceremony, guests bear witness to a ceremony that has been held daily for the past 700 years. From there, tourists are guided to see the Crown Jewels and through the rest of the Tower of London. The Tower of London itself is an amazing historical site as it has been the monument to several different aspects of government. Inside the White Tower, the original Tower of London, there are relics from the Tower’s days as an armory and mint. Not big into history or jewelry? Take Walks has a multitude of other tours including a one-hour walk through SoHo and a full day out to see Stonehenge and other sites part of England’s mysterious past. Book tours well in advance as they fill up quickly. EAT AROUND LONDON Since 2013, Eating London, has treated tourists to the various food and sites of London. British tour guides come equipped with a variety of backgrounds consisting of any mixture of acting and comedy, history and guiding, and real
“A bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else.” - Anonymous
Photo Credit: Trang Luong foodies and chefs. Each guide, who has the neighborhood. In particular, this tour lived in London for several years, goes highlights some of Soho’s hidden gems, through a training course with the com- restaurants and places the average tourist pany before setting off to guide tours. would miss if left to their own devices. With tours lasting three to four hours, Of the restaurants featured in the TwiEating London has something for every- light Soho Food Tour, Opium stands as a one; traditional English fare to interna- fan favorite. Tucked behind an otherwise tional cuisine that is prominent in the city with sides of history, pop culture, and music. Each restaurant on the tours is selected for its history, its relationship to the neighborhood, the importance of the building, and the promise of delicious cuisine. The Twilight Soho Food Tours features Soho restaurants versed in Mexican, British, Spanish, Chinese, and French cuisines making the foods on tour approachable but giving any tourist something new and different to try. Walking from restaurant to restaurant, tour guides provide insights about the area. Its history, the movers and With Gerrard Street at the center, shakers who have called Soho home, and finding Chinatown in London is easy the various scandals and darker aspects of just look for the Chinese gates.
unassuming door in Chinatown, this two-story restaurant features three different themed bars with corresponding cocktail and food menus. The dim lighting and rich silks that decorate the restaurant are reminiscent of the opium dens that once existed in London and China. The name itself is a nod to the dark history between the two world powers. RESTAURANTS Wherever we go in the world, there’s bound to be good Asian food. With London being such a cosmopolitan city, finding amazing food is not a problem, especially Indian foods and curries. Chicken tikka masala is considered a British national dish. The dish is especially noteworthy because it wasn’t brought over from India, but created for the British as a way for them to enjoy the more traditional chicken tikka, with the added masala sauce similar to gravy that Brits love to pour on everything. When in London | asian avenue magazine
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Cantonese cuisine prospered in London in the 1970s, driven by a sharp increase in the number of immigrants arriving from Hong Kong. best possible. They are also prompt with their recommendations and are quick to notice if your order will be heavy in certain flavors or proteins thus helping you alter your order if needed or confirming your choices. Eating at Baozilnn is an absolute delight and a highly recommended experience. Reservations can be made via phone or online via OpenTable.
A feast for both your eyes and stomach, this dim sum meal prepared by Baozilnn was scrumptious.
Baozilnn Nestled in SoHo in a converted townhouse, Baoziln has created dim sum and Chinese food for more than ten years. Their extensive menu is filled with recommendations. Overall, the food is phenomenal and avoids the common pitfalls of modern cuisine by staying away from fat, heavy sauces and utilizing vinegar to open the taste buds. This is best evidenced in their Salt and Pepper Squid which has a nice, crispy batter that feels light. Baozilnn’s classic dim sum fare such as their Classic Dim Sum Platter, Xiao Long Bao, and Wontons with Prawn or Pork Filling are masterfully prepared and visually stunning. The restaurant’s Dan Dan Noodles are equally wonderful with just the right amount of spicy kick. The wait staff at Baozilnn go the extra mile to make sure your experience is the
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September 2019 | Cover Story
Zheng Chelsea Less than a five-minute walk from the South Kensington’s Tube Station, which provides easy access to several of London’s museums, lies the Malayasian restaurant Zheng Chelsea. The unassuming restaurant exterior is marked only with a simple name plate which makes it easy to mistake it for someone’s townhouse. However, once you get past the foyer, you see the chic but simple design of a cozy restaurant with plenty of corners to hide away and just enjoy your meal. Malayasian cuisine is supposedly a fusion of Asian food that mixes and matches to create a wonderful meal. Dining at Zheng Chelsea is best done family style in which you share everything you order. A favorite is the Chili Salt and Pepper Aubergine which is eggplant battered, fried, and topped with flash fried garlic. The flavor combination opens the taste
Found at Zheng Chelsea, Char Kuey Teow is a Malaysian flat noodle dish made with prawn and egg and served with sambal on the side. Photo Credit: Dan Langevin
buds and makes you hungry for more. Another favorite is the Rendang Beef, a well executed curry with blended spices that ensures even flavoring and mouthwatering, tender beef. As a whole, the menu is filled with tasty dishes and with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Chef and owner, Adam Abdullah, boasts that both Zheng Chelsea and Zheng Oxford, the Oxford location, on being authentic Malayasian as the recipes come from his wife. Given the quality of the food and service, it is evident that the couple enjoys their career in the restaurant industry. Xi’an Impression Xi’an Impression is far from the Western idea of Chinese food. Featuring handpulled noodle dishes and street food signature of Xi’an City, famous for the Terracotta Warriors, the food is humble, unapologetic, and undeniably authentic. The restaurant prides itself on importing certain ingredients from China, which explains the bold flavors of the food. If you have no idea what to eat, picking a dish is easy as the menu is in Chinese, English, and has pictures of most dishes. Service is quick in this small, 20-seat restaurant as food is served shortly. Enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, guests may find themselves hearing Chinese or British English while sitting down to lunch or dinner. TOURIST HAVEN London is a fantastic place to visit for any tourist. There’s bound to be something to see, explore and love that captures your attention. There’s so much to do that there is no way it can be done in one visit. The best advice: pick and choose your itinerary based on your interests. Jessalyn Langevin traveled to London in July during peak summer season.
Inside Story
Why You Should See a
Chiropractor
Instead of a Doctor After a Car Crash Car crashes can cause numerous neck and back injuries due to the tremendous amount of force that occurs during a collision. The injuries you have sustained might tempt you to schedule a visit with your physician, but you should actually see a chiropractor instead. Chiropractors are trained to treat parts of the body that are in pain, whereas a doctor is much more likely to prescribe medication. While prescription medication may temporarily subside pain, medication does not treat pain. A car accident can be a traumatic experience for any person. This is especially true if you are suffering from temporary or chronic pain caused by a car crash. It is important to visit a professional who can target the area of the body that is in pain and treat it. Injuries such as whiplash or a herniated disc can be treated by a chiropractor rather than your primary care physician. The Basics of Chiropractic Care Chiropractic care is an effective way to treat injuries that you may have sustained in a car crash. Chiropractors specialize in treating tendons, ligaments, discs, and muscles that have become damaged from severe trauma. While chiropractors are not allowed to perform surgery or to prescribe pain medication, they are able to treat back, neck, and spine injuries di-
rectly. Chiropractors can also prevent the advancement of herniation, correct subluxations, and treat muscle strains. Chiropractors are also well-equipped to repair ligaments, nerve damage, and other injuries that can’t be fixed through surgery.
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additional ways a chiropractor can help you include:
Treating invisible injuries effectively Reducing pain and inflammation Restoring your range of motion
Chiropractors Can Treat Invisible Injuries Effectively If you have been in a car accident, it may take hours for the symptoms of whiplash to show up. Dizziness, soreness, nausea, headache, upper back and neck pain are all symptoms of whiplash. Those suffering from whiplash need to be treated as soon as they begin to see symptoms and a chiropractor is the first professional you should visit to treat whiplash. Chiropractors Can Help Minimize Pain and Inflammation Common injuries that are caused by a car crash include micro-tears in muscles and ligaments. A micro-tear can cause a person to wake up sore, which can prompt a person to visit a doctor. One issue you will run into if you visit a doctor
is that an x-ray can’t recognize micro-tears in a muscle or ligament. A chiropractor will use spinal manipulation to realign your spinal column. This allows your body to release an anti-inflammatory substance, which can reduce the inflammation and pain in your body with ease. Chiropractors Can Restore Your Range of Motion If you suffer from a back, neck, or spine injury caused by a car crash, the ensuing injury and inflammation can lead to further complications. Inflammation slows down the healing process by preventing the blood and nutrients in your body from reaching parts of the body that are in pain. When you are treated by a chiropractor, your neck and spine will be realigned, which can restore your range of motion within your neck and back. After a car crash, you may be tempted to visit a doctor before you visit a chiropractor. More often than not, you will walk out of your physician’s office with a prescription to minimize your pain. While the pain you are suffering from might be temporarily reduced, it will not have been treated. Visiting a doctor is not a practical solution to treat chronic pain. The only practical solution to treat spinal injuries is to schedule a consultation with Aim High Chiropractic at 303.922.2977. Inside Story | asian avenue magazine
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DAAPIC Column
By Gil Asakawa
What does celebrating Woodstock have to do with DAAPIC?
I
n a previous life during my long and winding journalism career, I was a rock critic. I was the music editor for Denver’s weekly newspaper, Westword. So when the Denver Press Club recently asked me to participate on a panel discussion for the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, I was eager to join in the fun. What does a talk about a 50-year old music festival have to do with the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC)? Admittedly not much… except for me, since I’m a commissioner. Here’s how being Asian American is part of this story: I became a rock critic because I loved rock and pop and soul music when I was a kid. From the Beatles to the Stones to Motown and Aretha, and all the stars and one-hit wonders in between, I was glued to my radio. I was a fan, and an opinionated one at that, thanks to the emerging music press back then, primarily Rolling Stone magazine. And in the early years of the magazine, I saw that one of the founding editors was Ben Fong-Torres. Somewhere I saw a photo and confirmed that he’s Asian. I found out years later when I read his excellent memoir, “The Rice Room,” that he is Chinese American whose family went to the Philippines and paid to add “Torres” to their name because it was legal for Filipinos to emigrate to the US but not Chinese. Anyway, the fact that a writer with an Asian face was one of my heroes, covering rock and roll in my favorite magazine was an
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September 2019 | DAAPIC Column
inspiration to me. I began reviewing records for my high school newspaper (Alameda High School Paragon in Lakewood), and when I went off to art school in New York City, I began writing music for a college newspaper entertainment insert, which continued after college for the Colorado Daily in Boulder, then Westword. I eventually even got to write some freelance pieces for Rolling Stone and other national music publications. And, I got to meet Ben Fong-Torres as an adult, and thank him for inspiring me. That’s what DAAPIC is about. Nothing like this commission existed when I was a kid. But with our activities supporting the area’s Asian Pacific Islander Desi American community with arts grants or job fairs or policy guidance for the city, if we can inspire some young kid to find their passion and follow their dreams… well, that’s our goal. That is, unless the kid has tiger parents who are determined to have them grow up to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. I haven’t written about music for years – except for covering Asian American artists, who seldomc are covered by mainstream music media – but because of my ancient past, I was asked to be on the Woodstock panel. The music festival was held Aug. 1518, 1969, in the town of Bethel, New York upstate from New York City. It took over the dairy farm pasture belonging to Max Yasgur, a nice, unsuspecting farmer who was probably as shocked as anyone when over 400,000 young people flooded his land to enjoy the weekend of music and art (and rain, and mud). There
Photo Credit: Jude DeLorca
were so many people who converged on the concert that the Carlos Santana and his band, whose debut album was just coming state closed down the highway, and the festival organizers were out and was virtually unknown outside of San Francisco. forced make it a free event instead of trying to charge everybody. The panel discussion focused on the legacy of Woodstock, and Because it was such an important milestone for the baby boom I had to admit that I didn’t think it made any real impact on the generation, coming towards the end of the turbulent 1960s, politics of the day. The anti-war movement was already taking Woodstock has become an iconic symbol of its times. It’s also over college campuses, and the “peace and love” hippie vibe become so well-known because it was filmed for a documentary, wasn’t new – it was sparked by the Summer of Love in San Franand the film was released less than a year later, in March, 1970. cisco in 1967. Even the idea of a rock festival wasn’t new, though My friend Alan Shumway’s mom drove us to a theater in McLean, the huge scale of Woodstock was unprecedented. Monterey Pop Virginia so we could see the film, which clocked in at over two in 1967 was filmed for a terrific documentary, and so had the hours. Subsequent version of the documentary have been edit- Newpork Folk Festival earlier in the decade, which featured Bob ed longer and longer, and the blu-ray disc has an insane amount Dylan unveiling his electric rock and roll self. of music that wasn’t in the original movie, including sets by CreeBut Woodstock, if nothing else, was a huge gathering that dence Clearwater Revival and Grateful Dead. alerted an entire generation of young people that they weren’t I was just 11 years old when Woodstock was held, so of curse alone in questioning authority and rocking out to a new breed of I didn’t attend. I probably would have hated it anyway, because musicians who were like them, not the polished AM Top 40 pop of the crowds and the mess. And, frankly, some of the lousy mu- music of the Monkees or the Association. sic from overrated acts like Alvin Lee and Ten Years after, and But you know what? The Association, who performed at MonCanned Heat, whose set in the film was longer than it needed terey Pop, was the only group of the times that featured an Asian to be. American musician, lead guitarist and singer Larry Ramos, who But there was great music from a wide range of artists including was Filipino. folkie Joan Baez, the Who, Jimi Henrdix, Janis Joplin, Sly and the There were no Asians rocking it at Woodstock, which for me, Family Stone – a who’s who of ‘60s rock giants. Even Crosby Stills is a shame. and Nash, who were anewly-formed “supergroup” at the time, and More news about DAAPIC coming next month…
Woodstock 50 Years Later | asian avenue magazine
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8
OF THE BEST IDEAS FOR A
Modern Asian Wedding Are you knee deep in wedding planning mode? Get your Pinterest board ready, because we’ve got fun ideas for you if you want to incorporate some Asian elements into your fusion wedding.
See the full list of 30 ideas and learn more about East Meets Dress at: EASTMEETSDRESS.COM
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WEAR A CHEONGSAM AS YOUR SECOND OUTFIT
The reception is a great time to change and wear a modern cheongsam (qipao) as your second outfit! Often lighter and Celebrate your roots slimmer than traditional wedding with style with a dresses, these Chinese wedding dresses modern qipao. are perfect for hitting those moves on the dance floor. East Meets Dress offers custom designs so you can turn your dream cheongsam into reality. Even better, show up as the power couple with matching cheongsam and Tang suits.
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HIRE DRAGON DANCERS TO PERFORM
Hire two dragon dancers to perform during your reception. It’ll be a great way to get guests unto the dance floor.
Ruobing and Tricia Wu incorporating lion dancing during their Villa Parker wedding.
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September 2019 | Feature Story
Michael Tran and Mini Ta Tran
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GIVE YOUR CAKE TOPPER SOME ASIAN STYLE
Make the couple on top of your cake wear matching traditional clothing.
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ADD AN ORNAMENTAL ASIAN HAIR ACCESSORY TO YOUR LOOK
A Chinese style hairpin is a beautiful touch if you’re not sure what to wear for your wedding. Ranging from ones with pankou knots adorned to more subtle ones with pearls and fans, these Chinese hair accessories are a perfect way to complete your look. Bonus if you can find any from your mom or grandma’s jewelry box for that something borrowed.
5 Source: WeddingChicks
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DECORATE YOUR CAKE WITH RED AND GOLD
JAZZ UP BRIDAL SHOES WITH RED
Jazz up your bridal shoes, with a pop of red underneath. It’ll feel like you’re walking on the red carpet and give you extra good luck. We love this subtle touch to your wedding, especially if you don’t want to go all out with a Chinese wedding dress.
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LINE YOUR CEREMONY AISLE WITH LANTERNS
Go all out with your cake decoration and make it red and gold.
Ruobing and Tricia Wu celebrate with a red and gold wedding cake.
Lanterns symbolize your wish for a good future. What a perfect way to frame your walk down the aisle.
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HOST A TEA CEREMONY Either before or during your ceremony, consider incorporating a tea ceremony to involve your parents and relatives in your wedding. Get all the supplies you need for your tea ceremony—from the tea set to kneeling pillows (your knees will thank you!) in the East Meets Dress one stop shop. And get the timeline for when you should be planning what for your tea ceremony with their Ultimate Tea Ceremony Guide.
The nephews of Michael and Mini Tran participate in their tea ceremony. Modern Asian Wedding | asian avenue magazine
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Book Feature
FALL READING ABOUT JAPAN
Books by Japanese authors or focused on Japanese-related topics Young and unsure, Hitomi drifts through her twenties before landing at the Nakano Thrift Shop, where the bonds she forms with its oddball Compiled by Mary Jeneverre Schultz cast of employees---from the enigmatic Mr. Nakano, to his Need some ideas for fall self-assured sister Masayo, reading? Consider these books and above all, the shy, silent about Japan or books written Takeo---tug her into adultby Japanese American or Japa- hood. Among the seemingly arbitrary objects she sells, Hitnese authors. omi will come to realize that The Nakano Thrift Shop love, desire, and intimacy require acceptance not only of By Hiromi Kawakami idiosyncrasies but also of the delicate waltz between open and hidden secrets.
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2 From one of Japan’s best-selling and most beloved authors comes the perceptive, life-affirming novel that sheds light on the beauty of often overlooked people and objects and invites readers to look at the world with a renewed sense of empathy and wonder. Objects for sale at the Nakano Thrift Shop appear as commonplace as the staff and customers that handle them. But like those same customers and staff, they hold many secrets. If examined carefully, they show the signs of innumerable extravagancies, of immeasurable pleasure and pain, and of the deep mysteries of the human heart.
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September 2019 | Book Feature
Who’s Next Door? By Mayuko Kishira, illustrated by Jun Takabatake Chicken is thrilled when he finds out someone new has moved in next door. His quiet house deep in the woods can be lonely sometimes, and it would be so much fun to have a friend! But chicken never catches so much as a glimpse of his neighbor , despite many days spent waiting, pacing, and knocking on his door. As it turns out, his neighbor, Owl, has been doing the same things, yearning to meet Chicken --- only he’s been doing it at night. It’s not until after two exchange notes
and mix up plans for a visit, each using his own definition of “tomorrow,” that they meet fortuitously and find a creative way to enjoy each other’s friendly despite their different schedules. A comical look at nocturnal and diurnal creatures, this simple story explores the concept of opposites in a smart, subtly funny way. Kids and adults alike will have fun anticipating the punchline, hinted at through the mix of traditional and comic panel-style artwork. Who’s Next Door? Is a page turner that will be a joy to read for the first or umpteenth time. Through its fun, heartfelt look at the anticipation that comes with new friendships, this book celebrates the fact that even those as different as night and day can form a special bond.
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Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan’s Disaster Zone by Richard Lloyd Parry On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake sent a 120-foothigh tsunami smashing into the coast of northeast Japan. By the time the sea retreated, more than 18,000 people had been crushed, burned to death, or drowned. It was Japan’s great single loss of life since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. It set off a national crisis and meltdown of Fukushima’s nuclear power plant. And even after the immediate emergency had abated, the trauma of the disaster continued to express itself in
bizarre and mysterious ways. Richard Lloyd Parry, Asian editor and Tokyo bureau chief of The Times (London), lived through the earthquake in Tokyo and spent six years reporting from the disaster zone. There he encountered stories of ghosts and haunting, and met a priest who exorcised the spirits of the dat. And he found himself drawn back again and again to a village that had suffered the greatest loss of all, a community tormented by unbearable mysteries of its own.
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Diary of a Tokyo Teen, written and drawn by Christine Mari Inzer A book for comic lovers and Japanophiles of all ages, Diary of a Tokyo Teen presents a unique look at modern-day Japan through a young woman’s eyes. Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and an American fa-
ther in 1997, Christine Mari Inzer spent her early years in Japan and relocated to the United States in 2003. The summer before she turned 16, she returned to Tokyo, making a solo journey to get reacquainted with her birthplace. Through illustrations, photos and musings, Inzer documented her journey in a self-published book. Tuttle’s new, color edition of Inzer’s well-reviewed cvolume makes this charming travelogue available to a wider audience. In Diary of a Tokyo Teen, Inzer explores the cutting-edge fashions of Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku district, eats the best sushi of her life at the renowned Tsukjii fish market, and hunts down geisha in the ancient city of Kyoto. As she shares the trails and pleasures of travel from one end of a trip to the other, Inzer introduces the host of interesting characters she meets and offers a unique and often hilarious look at a fascinating country and an engaging tale of one girl rediscovering her roots.
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Momotaro Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway, illustrated by Choong Yoon
Margaret Dilloway enjoyed writing this book. She created Xander and his friends as a way to represent the original’s ani-
mal companions. Each one has his or her own unique strengths and personal journeys. Percy Jackson meets Hayao Miyazaki in this contemporary twist on Japanese folktale. A Japanese American boy discovers the powers that are his birthright when he goes on a quest to save his father from monsters that are wrecking havoc on earth.
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The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco’s parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family’s Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family—like thousands of other Japanese Americans—are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.
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The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, translated and abridged by Edward G. Seidensticker In the 11th century, Murasaki Shikibu, a lady in the Heian court of Japan, wrote the world’s first novel. But The Tale of Genji is no mere artifact. It is, rather, a lively and astonishingly nuanced portraits of a refined society where every dalliance is an act of political consequence, a play of characters whose inner lives are as rich and changeable as those imagined by Proust. Chief of these is “the shining Genji,´the son of the emperor and a man whose passionate impulses create great turmoil in his
world and very nearly destroy him. This edition, recognized as the finesse version in English, contains a dozen chapters from early in the book, carefully chosen by the translator, Edward G. Seidensticker, with an introduction explaining the selection. It is illustrated throughout with woodcuts from a 17th century edition.
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Strawberry Yellow by Naomi Hirahara This fifth installment is set in the strawberry fields of Watsonville, California, where young Mas first arrived from Hiroshima in the 1940s. Now a semi-retired gardener who lives in an LA suburb, he returns for the funeral of a cousin and quickly gets entangled in the murder of a young woman. Was his cousin murdered, too? Mas has to figure out what happened, keep himself safe in the face of considerable peril, and uncover the mystery of the Strawberry Yellow blight— and a new strawberry varietal so important that it could be inspiring a murderer.
Fall Reading About Japan | asian avenue magazine
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Book Release er, every time he gets close, the panda disappears! Is Brandon imagining this small creature or is it real? Will Brandon find out before he has to fly back home? This story includes some Mandarin Chinese (simplified) with Pinyin pronunciation, adding layers for those learning or interested in the Chinese language and culture.
Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is a multicultural, multigenerational chapter book. In the story, Brandon and his cousins are on a trip to visit their grandparents in Beijing, China! While bonding with family, practicing Chinese, touring historic sites and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a tiny panda. Howev-
EUG EN IA
The book releases September 3rd!
is an attorney, turned stay-at-home mom, turned writer. She is a first generation Chinese-American and lives in Miami with her husband and son, Brandon, who is the inspiration for her stories. She is also the author of Brandon Makes Jiao Zi (餃子), a picture book about a boy and his grandma who bond while making Chinese dumplings called jiao zi (餃子). She has been a presenter at numerous schools, libraries and book festivals. When Brandon was younger, Chu couldn’t find children’s storybooks to read to him which touched on Chinese culture and included Chinese (Mandarin) words to teach and/or reinforce his Chinese vocabulary, so she started writing her own. Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is her second “Brandon” story and first children’s chapter book.
U CH
EUGENIA CHU
Get it at: eugeniachu.com
Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant
● The Best Chinese Restaurant by 710 AM Restaurant Show ● The Best Chinese Restaurant by the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show ● Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese Restaurant in the US
1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210 26
September 2019 | Book Release
Brandon at the Great Wall of China
Samosas and Sikhs event organized by APDC By Mary Jeneverre Schultz
The Energy Panel co-organized with CFA Society of Colorado.
3rd J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities International Symposium brought international attention to Denver By Jiamei Chen On Aug. 12-13, about 140 attendants from eleven countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.) gathered in Denver and attended the 3rd J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities (JPMCC) annual international symposium at University of Colorado Denver business school. Gary Colbert, the business school interim dean made the welcoming remarks, and Dorothy Horrell, the CU Denver Chancellor delivered the closing remarks. The symposium attracted a mix of academic, policy and industry processionals, and features a wide range of important topics in commodity space. Top academic scholars have contributed to the symposium, including chair professors and senior professors from Yale, Stanford, MIT, UC-Berkley, etc. Policy makers that attended the event come from organizations such as International Monetary Fund, Federal Reserve Board, Bank of Canada, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, US EIA, Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City, and the US National Renewable Energy Lab. More than fifty international and local companies also participated in the symposium, including multinational companies on the Fortune Global 200 list (e.g., J.P. Morgan, Robert Bosch GmbH, JBS), international commodity industry leaders (e.g., CME, KGHM in Poland, APG Asset Management in Netherlands), and many other major companies headquartered in the Denver metropolitan area (e.g., CoBank, Ardent Mills, Johns Manville). The symposium has also attracted the interests of local and international media outlets, including the Economic Daily, which is the only newspaper sponsored by the State Council of China and has about 1 million circulation. The conference organizer, Jian Yang, who is also the JPMCC research director, was particularly pleased to see that the symposium has a joint energy panel with the CFA Society of Colorado this year, which features great commodities talents in Colorado and addresses important issues of local interest.
Misconceptions of Sikhs religion and culture were shared on Aug. 8 at the Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC) by community organizer Naureen Singh. More than 20 attendees from the community took some time during their lunch hour to listen to Singh share her PowerPoint presentation about Sikhs in the U.S. and in Colorado. She also enticed attendees with samosas, fried, triangular appetizer with savory fillings of spiced potatoes, onions, peas and lentils. Initially as part of staff training, the workshop started as “Know Your Rights” training. “As APDC staff members, we interact with a diverse group of community members from many different ethnicities, races, and religions,” she said. “I realized it was just as important that our service providers have an understanding of the community members that might walk through our doors.” Singh’s presentation slowly evolved into one that was not just limited to staff, but anyone who felt that can learn from the presentation about the Sikh faith and community here in Colorado. The session included factoids about religion, culture, misconceptions, history, and Sikhs turbans With Denver growing in population, information about the Sikh culture helps others understand the community. “I think the public can greatly benefit from this presentation, and other presentations like this, because our Colorado community is becoming more and more incredibly diverse,” Singh said. “This means that we are more likely to interact with people who may not share the same beliefs, look the same way, or pray the same way.” Singh hopes her session will touch many. “I hope this presentation will provide those who attended a deeper understanding of the Sikh community through an overview of the history, faith, and community,” she said.” As Sikhs, we are a very visible, and yet, invisible part of the greater Colorado community.” This session will become part of Know Your Rights and law enforcement Trainings. Singh is working on research regarding hate crimes and Incidents that have occurred since 9/11 to communities such as Sikhs, Muslims, South Asians, and Arab, A survey is expected to be released in September. 2019. For more information, visit apdc.org.
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On Scene
These cosplayers dress and act like the boys from the Ouran Host Club.
Artists at Artist Alley work on selling their fan art and sell it at the same time.
Nan Desu Kan celebrates 23 years By Jessalyn Herreria Langevin | Photos by Dan Langevin
On Friday, August 23, Nan Desu Kan (or NDK for short) kicked off its 23rd annual convention of Japanese anime and culture. The list of featured guests contained voice actors from several popular anime, professional cosplayers, and other important people involved in the production of Japanese anime and culture. Guests included voice actors such as Dante Basco, Jerry Jewell, and Leah Clark while featured cosplay guests consisted of Pannon, Teca, and Queen D among others. Convention goers had the opportunity to play Japanese video games, cosplay as their favorite characters, and attend panels discussing anything from kimonos to Anime crushes. This year, NDK featured Dr. Alisa Freedman as their head panelist. Dr. Freedman, a professor of Japanese Cultural Studies and Literature at the University of Oregon, spoke at several panels about culture trends between Japan and the United States, pop culture mistakes that were actually successful,
Dr. Freedman talks about how Japan influences American pop culture and vice versa.
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September 2019 | On Scene
and the influence of Japanese culture in the U.S. and vice versa. Her panels were filled with fascinating insights and attended many who wanted to learn. Overall, there was a wide breadth of topics discussed at the various panels. Subject matter ranged from fun and silly, like the “Would You Rather� panel, to historical and academic, like the panel about Edo era samurai armor. Other activities included the Dealers Room containing vendors selling authentic anime and gear, Artist Alley filled with artists selling their fanart, and the Video Game Room. Next year you can find NDK at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. The 24th NDK will be held from September 4th to 6th, 2020 or Labor Day Weekend, with tickets on sale now. Pre-registration prices are in effect until August 23, 2020. Find more information at the NDK website: ndkdenver.org.
The Video Game Room and Japanese Arcade are filled with popular games in Japan.
Polynesian Eats with
Comrade Brewing Company filled up with guests enjoying a cold beer alongside a Polynesian dinner on Aug. 27. The Polynesian Eats event catered by the No Ke Aloha food truck featured dishes such as: kalua pork, Hawaiian BBQ, hurrican fries, poke and macaroni salad. For many, this was their first experience eating Hawaiian food as their are limited options in Denver. The event also presented a discussion about the effects of climate change both in the Pacific Islands and in Colorado and what can be done about it. Speaker Allyson Masunaga Goto, a graduate of Brown University with a
No Ke Aloha
degree in Environmental Studies and focus on Sustainability in Development, shared resources and tips on what individuals can do to slow down the impacts of climate change and live more sustainably. Goto is a fourth-generation Japanese American. Fueled by her passion for sustainability, environmental justice, and human rights, she works with Denver’s Department of Health and Environment to address the lack of healthy and affordable foods in low-income communities. ASIAN EATS is a monthly event organized by Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network with the support
of Asian Avenue magazine. The events bring together Denverites to try different Asian cuisines and learn more about the Asian eateries in town. At each event, topics affecting the Asian American community are discussed. NO KE ALOHA is a family owned and operated Polynesian food truck and catering company that specializes in the delicious flavors of the Pacific Islands. nokealoha.com. COMRADE BREWING COMPANY, owned by Taiwanese-American brewer David Lin, has received many awards for its brews since opening in 2014. comradebrewing.com.
Members of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islanders Commission: Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa, Stephanie Tanny, Farman Pirzada, and Ken Arellano.
Allyson Goto speaks about climate change and sustainability.
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Taiwan Update This July, President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) transited through New York, an icon of diversity and freedom and home to the United Nations, as a preload to her state visit to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Caribbean. While meeting with the Permanent Representatives to the UN of Taiwan’s allies, President Tsai reiterated that Taiwan’s 23 million people have the right to participate in the UN system. She also emphasized that Taiwan is committed to joining hands with global partners to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to forge the world we want, and the future we need. The SDGs form a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future, aiming to guide the world down a sustainable and resilient path with “no one left behind.” In the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this July, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed again the pressing need to accelerate relevant actions. Likewise, he called on nations to advance the “Inclusion Imperative” because “development is not sustainable if it is not fair and inclusive.” The principles of inclusiveness and leaving no one behind are key to realizing the SDGs. Taiwan, a full-fledged democracy, has made considerable progress in fulfilling the SDGs and has provided assistance to countries in need. Nevertheless, it continues to be barred from participating in related meetings, mechanisms and activities due to political interference. This has seriously undermined the principle of partnership, the foundation of the SDGs, which requires the participation of all countries, stakeholders, and peoples. Taiwan is willing and ready to share its success story and contribute further to the collective effort to achieve the SDGs. After many years of effort, Taiwan has made great strides in alleviating poverty and achieving zero hunger. Our percentage of low-income households has been reduced to 1.6 percent. Launched in 1993, the National Health Insurance program now covers 99.8 percent of the population. In 2018, our waste recycling rate reached 55.69 percent, our literacy rate 98.8 percent, and our infant mortality rate 4.2 per 1,000. These figures far surpass SDG standards. The government of Taiwan has further identified six major areas of interest with respect to the SDGs: smart water management, sustainable energy transformation, clean air, sustainable materials management and the circular economy, ecological conservation and green networks, and interna-
tional partnerships. These areas complement the main theme of the UN High-Level Political Forum 2018, the SDGs, and the 5Ps— people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership—referred to in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In recent years, Taiwan has been providing development assistance to and engaging in cooperation programs with partner countries in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In 2018 alone, Taiwan conducted development projects in SDG areas of interest in 39 countries. We will continue to track international trends and the needs of partner countries to ensure that all operations are aligned with the SDGs. Considering Taiwan’s robust experience and contributions, it is absurd that Taiwan is barred from sharing experience and critical information that could be used to better coordinate international efforts. The oft-cited legal basis for excluding Taiwan from the UN is Resolution 2758 (XXVI), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971. However, the resolution does not address the issue of Taiwan’s representation in the UN, nor does it state that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In fact, Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, part of the PRC. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its 23 million people. Unfortunately, the UN continues to misuse and misinterpret the resolution to justify its wrongful exclusion and isolation of Taiwan. International organizations are created to meet the common objectives of its members, not to serve the interests of just one member. Article 100 of the UN Charter clearly states that “In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization.” Regrettably, the UN sits idly by whenever China seeks to impose its so-called “one China principle” on the UN system. The most recent example involves dozens of NGOs being denied Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council simply because a reference to Taiwan in their documents contradicts China’s demands.
Building an Inclusive United Nations with Taiwan on Board
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September 2019 | Taiwan Update
A truly inclusive UN would not leave anyone behind. Today, however, Taiwan passport holders are blocked from entering UN premises for public visits and meetings. Taiwanese journalists and media outlets are also denied accreditation to cover UN meetings. These practices are unjust and discriminatory, and contravene the principle of universality upon which the UN was founded. The UN should make its actions and words congruent, and take immediate action to rectify its exclusionary practices. This dire situation does not, and never will, intimidate Taiwan. Taiwan is ready, willing and able to contribute. If the UN continues to yield to China’s coercion, rejecting Taiwan’s participation, it will only encourage Beijing’s callousness. Efforts to fulfill the purpose of achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, as stated in Article 1 of the UN Charter, will also be impaired. If the host of nations is serious about promoting inclusion and making development sustainable for all, it should open its doors to Taiwan.
By Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
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