VOL 37 NO 21 | MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018 by Northwest Asian Weekly

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 37 NO 21 MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

Latinos, Asians organize to oust DOL Director Pat Kohler

FREE

36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

On May 7, the Metropolitan King County Council proclaimed May 2018 as Asian Paciﬁc American Heritage Month, to honor people of API descent, and enrich our county’s culture, economy, and identity. We asked: What are some of the ways AAPIs have contributed to American society? Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember:

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) Director Pat Kohler is stepping down. It was revealed in January that the DOL was routinely sharing residents’ personal information with immigrationPat Kohler enforcement authorities. The Latino Civic Alliance (LCA), a statewide Latino community organization, initiated the call for Kohler’s removal, and the Asian

the 1886 anti-Chinese riots and the 1889 Seattle fire and was a wealthy and prominent figure in Seattle.

“Chun Ching Hock was Seattle’s first Chinese immigrant and became one of its earliest entrepreneurs when he established a store on the waterfront near Yesler Mill in 1868. He survived

continue on 15 for APA CONTRIBUTIONS from Rod Dembowski, Derek Lum, and Michael Itti

see KOHLER on 6

Photo by George Liu

JOE NGUYEN running a grassroots campaign for state senate

Front row, from left: Councilmember Claudia Balducci, Diane Narasaki, Assunta Ng, Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and Larry Gossett. Back row, from left: Councilmembers Pete von Reichbauer, Dave Upthegrove, Kathy Lambert, and Joe McDermott.

2018 Asian Hall of Fame »3

Abacus »8

Photo provided by the People for Joe Nguyen

Photo of the actual Proclamation taken by Ruth Bayang

The Asian (food) invasion » 10

APA Heritage Month: Reﬂecting on our past for the present By Connie So FOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Joe Nguyen sat across the table at Freshy’s, one of his favorite hangouts in West Seattle, bursting with energy towards his recently launched campaign for the 34th district seat in the Washington state senate. If Nguyen wins the seat, soon to be vacated by Sharon Nelson, he

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), Asian Americans are persons “originating in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.” Meanwhile, Pacific Islander Americans are natives of “Hawaii and other Pacific Islands,” comprised of the Oceanic regions of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. While these definitions are an improvement over the pre-1970s Eurocentric concept of the “Oriental,” they still neglect to recognize the many diﬀerences between, and within, the Asian

see NGUYEN on 15

see CONNIE SO on 5

Joe Nguyen

By Jessica Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

■

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Hall of Fame Medal makes its way home

The grandson of a man who was on a team that was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame — has received a medal. In 2005, the Vancouver Asahi Team was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Medals were made for each of the individual Asahi players, but many remained unclaimed by family members, including George Iga of Seattle. Iga joined the Douglas Tsujii, grandson of George team during its Japan tour in Iga, wearing Iga’s medal. 1921. Yobun Shima and the Asahi Family Network in Japan and Emiko Ando of the Asahi Baseball Association in Vancouver tracked down Iga’s grandson, Douglas Tsujii of Seattle. Tsujii was not aware of his grandfather’s baseball career until after his grandfather had passed away. 

Veteran pharmaceutical executive joins ICHS

International Community Health Services (ICHS) announced on May 8 that Rachel Koh has been named senior director of pharmacy services, a newly created leadership position that will drive enhancements to ICHS’ pharmacy capabilities. Koh will be responsible for the administration of ICHS’s reRachel Koh tail pharmacy operations, management of medication and vaccines within ICHS clinics, and developing new

models of pharmacy care for ICHS’ senior services programs. Koh most recently served as the vice president of clinical product strategy for ZeOmega. She has also served in pharmacy leadership roles for organizations, including Community Health Plan of Washington, Group Health Cooperative, and Eckerd Drugs. Koh has a MBA from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s of pharmacy from the University of Kansas. “I’m excited about joining ICHS and returning to the nonprofit sector,” said Koh. “As a first generation immigrant, I feel a strong connection to the ICHS mission and the communities it serves.” 

2018 Congressional Arts Competition winners

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (4th from right) with Arts Competition winners.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal announced the winners of Washington’s 7th District 2018 Congressional Arts Competition on May 3. Zhen Williams of Chief Sealth International High School took first place, Marlowe Pody of Garﬁeld High School Zhen Williams won first place came in second, and Min Jeong Lee of Shoreline Christian School rounded out the top three.

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Seattle sailor delivers the mail aboard USS Blue Ridge

Logistics Specialist Third Class Taeyoun Jeong from Seattle distributes mail in the post office onboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge and her crew Taeyoun Jeong have now entered a final upkeep and training phase in preparation to become fully mission capable for operations. 

Ly honored as All-Washington Scholar

WEEKLY SPECIALS GROCERY

Zhen’s painting will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. Jayapal will hang the second place entry in her congressional office. Six high schools from around the district participated in this year’s contest. 

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Highline College student Phong Ly, 20, was honored as a member of the 2018 AllWashington Academic Team for academic achievement, community service, and involvement on campus. Ly and other top scholars from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges attended Phong Ly the March 22 awards ceremony at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. During the event, Ly was named as one of the top six students statewide among the 78 recognized. An international student from a middle class family in Vietnam, Ly maintains a 4.0 GPA. When he graduates in June, he will have earned associate degrees in both engineering and physics. His goal is to become a computer engineer after studying at the University of Washington. 

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Four honorees inducted into the 2018 Asian Hall of Fame

Photo by Sam Le

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

From left: Kevin Kwan, Roy Yamaguchi, and Kourtney Kang with Karen Wong, Robert Chinn Foundation president.

SEATTLE – The Robert Chinn Foundation inducted four people into the 2018 Asian Hall of Fame on May 5, at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle. They were Kourtney Kang, writer and producer of TV’s Fresh Oﬀ the Boat and How I Met Your Mother; Kevin Kwan, best-selling author of Crazy Rich Asians; Melissa Lee, host of Fast Money on CNBC; and Roy Yamaguchi, Chef/Founder of Roy’s, Humble Market Kitchin and Eating House 1849 Restaurants. Kang, Kwan, and Yamaguchi were present for the ceremony in Seattle, while Lee addressed the

audience in a video message. “Thanks so much for this honor,” said Lee from the set of Fast Money. “I found my voice through the show. Finding your voice means being comfortable with showing who you are, 360 degrees. And I use my voice to educate, to influence to be a role model.” Established in 2004, the Asian Hall of Fame is a national recognition event for Asian Pacific Americans that honors achievements across industry and ethnicity with a national reach. “My father, Robert Chinn, would be so proud of the foundation continuing his legacy through the Asian Hall of Fame, by honoring deserving see FAME on 13

Asian Americans 4 Arts Activism: Young APIAs celebrating culture By Dylan Tran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY As a junior at the University of Washington (UW), I often find that our cultural education is mostly limited to campus life. A few months ago, several American Ethnic Studies students and I decided to go beyond that. Looking for a means to celebrate arts and activism, we wanted to work with the larger Asian Pacific American communities in the Greater Seattle area. By encouraging other students to express themselves and learn more about the rich history of APIAs, we aimed to bridge the gap between generations of APIAs that came before us.

In February, we established Asian Americans for Arts Activism (A4A), a community-based, student-run organization with members from UW-Seattle, Southeast Asian American Education Coalition (SEAeD), OCA-Greater Seattle, Seattle University, Cleveland High School, Franklin High School, Garfield High School, South Seattle College, and Seattle Central College. Our goal is to combat the invisibility of APAs in mainstream media. We believe that the contributions of historically marginalized groups must be recognized and appreciated. Our focus will be on the Chinatown/International District, Beacon Hill, and the Rainier Valley — areas where most Seattle APIAs reside. Two months ago, we were fortunate to receive a small grant from the Department of Neighborhoods to celebrate our local arts. May is significant because it is APIA Heritage Month. This month commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese to the United States (May 7, 1843), as well as the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad (May 10, 1869). Like the contributions of early Asian immigrants, our APIA artists are often forgotten and overlooked. With the prevalence see ARTS ACTIVISM on 12

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asianweekly northwest

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

36 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Nielsen: Asian Americans outpace all other ethnic groups in growth, spending power By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Total online shopping: Asian-Americans, Ages 18+ Annual Dollard Spend per buyer Computer/Electronic Products Housewares & Appliances Hair Care

Chart by Han Bui

Oral Hygiene Skincare Preparations $0 Asian-American

$50

Non-Hispanic White

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

Index-Asian-American/Non-Hispanic White

Nielsen’s 2018 Asian American Consumer Report, Asian Americans: Digital Lives and Growing Influence, released on May 8 revealed that Asian American consumers are growing faster than the general population and maintaining income and education rates higher than any other racial or ethnic group. As the fastest growing ethnic group, Asian Americans’ consumer buying power has grown exponentially to $986 billion, up 257 percent since 2000, versus 97 percent for all of the United States. This year’s report highlights Asian American

consumers as predictive adopters of new media and technology — including the platforms consumers use to watch their favorite shows, what they buy online, and which apps they choose to enhance their everyday lives. According to the Nielsen report, Asian Americans are showing incredible growth in mainstream influence as social influencers, food bloggers, and talented U.S. athletes. Highlights of Asian Americans: Digital Lives and Growing Influence: • Asian Americans are leaders when it comes to technology consumption, purchasing, and see NIELSEN on 12

Soldier reunites with Japanese WSU football coach and some birth mother after 57 years By KATHRYN TOLBERT THE WASHINGTON POST It began with a heart attack in the Pentagon parking lot in predawn darkness. Air Force Col. Bruce Hollywood was on his way to work and found himself on the ground, thinking: “This is where it ends.’’ Later, as he lay in the ambulance racing to Walter Force Col. Bruce Reed Army Hospital, two Air Hollywood regrets popped into his head. One was that he wouldn’t be able to help his son with his college applications. The other was that he never thanked the Japanese woman who gave birth to him, then gave him up for adoption in 1960. Hollywood was adopted by an American couple who were stationed in Japan with the U.S. military and who could oﬀer him a good life in America. It took that heart attack in 2005 for Hollywood to set out to find his birth mother, something his adoptive mother, who had passed away, had repeatedly encouraged him to do. Before that, he said, he never felt something was

missing. His adoption was not something he had reflected on much. “I always knew I was adopted because I had Asian features and (my father) was an Irishman and (my mother) was a Norwegian lady,’’ said Hollywood, 57. “And they always told me, ‘We picked you out special. So you’re even more special than everyone else.’” His parents had told him his birth mother’s family name and even oﬀered to pay for a flight to Japan for him. He had always declined. But once he recovered from his heart attack, Hollywood began his search. His plan was to send his mother a secret letter, in case she never told anyone she had a son. He wanted her to know how wonderful his life turned out, to show her gratitude. He planned to write: “I lived the best life ever. I’m a colonel in the United States Air Force. I’ve got beautiful children. Life is really good.’’ He gave the Japanese Embassy what information he had, but it wasn’t enough to find her. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo told him the same thing. A private detective didn’t work out either, so he gave up. “And I thought, ‘You know what, I’ve tried. I’ve made all the eﬀort that I can make. It’s just unfortunate,’”

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see HOLLYWOOD on 12

lawmakers visit Cambodia

state Rep. Vincent SPOKANE, Wash. Buys, in meetings (AP) — Washingwith Cambodian ton State football Prime Minister coach Mike Leach Hun Sen. and three state legThe Spokesmanislators are visiting Review reports Cambodia, where Mike Leach it was unclear they met with the prime minister and other whether the politicians government officials earlier were paying for the trip themselves or traveling as this month. A university spokesman guests of a private or govsays Leach is paying his ernment organization. A website called Fresh own way for the trip, which is not connected to any News International reportWashington State Univer- ed the four met on May 7 sity business. with the Cambodia prime Photos posted on Twit- minister and other dignitarter show Leach, along with ies at Phnom Penh’s Peace state Sens. Mike Baumgart- Palace.  ner and Doug Ericksen, and

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ WORLD NEWS

Is 92 too old to lead? Malaysia’s Mahathir doesn’t think so

By TIM SULLIVAN and EILEEN NG ASSOCIATED PRESS KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The longtime strongman was born when silent films still packed movie theaters and Adolf Hitler was still a fringe politician. It was 1926, and his homeland was known as British Malaya. Now Mahathir Mohamad is 92 Mahathir Mohamad years old. He is also Malaysia’s newest prime minister. It’s been 37 years since he first had the job, and 15 since he retired from it. All of that raises an obvious question: How old is too old

CONNIE SO from 1 and Pacific Islander groups in terms of history, culture, generation, language, values, and other demographic factors. These diﬀerences cannot be ignored because they have significant implications for programs impacting education, employment, and politics, including bilingual ballots, affirmative action, and immigration, to name a few. Yet despite our diversity, for the month of May, officially celebrated as Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, we can take time to reflect and acknowledge some of our shared issues in the United States. 1. Common historical forces. Most APAs can date our larger pattern of immigration to the United States after the 1840s. Many of our ancestors were pushed out of their native countries because of poverty, political strife, and/ or colonization. Many were also attracted by the American Dream. Unfortunately, our early immigrants were greeted by exclusion laws or, at the very least, long immigration wait lines. Some later found a quicker passage by serving in the U.S. armed forces. Others gained admission through an American college entrance exam. But most were finally able to come through the 1965 immigration laws, especially the Family Reunification Act. 2. Common patterns of historical discrimination by members of the host society. According to University of California (UC) Santa Barbara Asian American Studies Professor Sucheng Chan, historically, nearly all APAs

to run a country? Mahathir, for one, insists he has time left. “I am, of course, quite old. No, I am very old,’’ he said in an April interview with The Associated Press. “But I can still function.’’ He’s right about that. Mahathir has had two coronary bypass surgeries, but still has a reasonably full head of hair. He has a forceful presence, a love of political brawling, and a fondness for jokes. He could easily pass for someone 20 years younger. He doesn’t hide his age. “Young leaders do not have sufficient background,’’ he said in the interview. “And not many people with experience have survived. I have survived.’’ Age has long been an issue for politicians. Ronald Reagan faced plenty of questions about his mental abilities when he ran for U.S. president in 1980, and he was just 69 years old. Robert Mugabe was ridiculed as Zimbabwe’s “dinosaur,’’

confronted several types of hostilities in the United States, ranging from racial prejudice and economic discrimination to physical violence and incarceration. Even now, many fellow Americans regard us as perpetual foreigners, all too often asking us or other people of color, but not those of European descent, “What are you?” “Where are you from?” “No, where are you really from?” 3. Common responses to inequality and discrimination. Traditionally, as APAs were either de jure or de facto segregated from white America, we had to rely on our co-ethnics for support. At an institutional level, for American Samoans, for example, this survival and support are probably best represented by the Samoan Chief Council and the Samoan Congregational Church that provide an extended family within a spiritual setting. In the public arena, providing support for one another has inspired APAs to fight against injustice. This fight is exemplified by the evolution of the Japanese American Citizens League, which successfully gained an apology and reparations from the U.S. government for the World War II internment order. This support is also seen in the creation of “rotating credit systems” by APAs. When banks would not provide loans, APA immigrants helped create the grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses through the hui, tanomoshi, kye/gei. We came together and provided community loans when others would not. 4. Common ignorance. Unfortunately, another commonality is the relative ignorance most Americans have about

a man consumed by greed and power who refused to give way to a younger generation, until being pushed out at age 93. During the Cold War the U.S. warily watched a Soviet leadership dominated by men in their 70s and 80s, some of whom seemed to be barely clinging to life. But age isn’t always bad. “From the point of view of the outside world, there is something good to be said about a Kremlin gerontocracy,’’ The New York Times said in a 1976 editorial. “The ruling Soviet 70-year-olds are hardly likely to push an adventurous course that would pose serious risks of thermonuclear war.’’ The questions about Reagan, though, resurfaced five years after his presidency ended, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors and historians still debate whether the disease aﬀected him while he was in

the APA experience. The late UC Berkeley Professor, Ronald Takaki, once wrote that APAs have a rich “Buried Past” and “Present.” Despite all of our contributions, many in the United States fail to recognize our presence – even when we win acclaim. While we are rightfully proud of those that achieved some fame, we should not forget the accomplishments of our “everyday” APAs. Think of Gordon Hirabayashi, the University of Washington (UW) Quaker student who stood up against the curfew orders imposed on Japanese Americans during WWII. Think of 6-year-old Kinney Kinmon Lau and the 13 other Chinatown kids who fought against the San Francisco School Board to create a mandate for bilingual education. Think of the major unions on the West Coast – Larry Itliong’s Agricultural Committee of California (precursor to the UFW), canneries, and other locals created by Filipino Americans who were paid lower wages than everyone else at the time. In reality, almost all the hard-fought gains for APAs came from the “common APA person,” not the sudden benevolence of white America. At times, APAs were scorned, even by other APAs. But despite difficult obstacles, APAs remained resilient

see MAHATHIR on 11

to provide a better future for others. So this month, let us praise the “famous” APAs, and even more, praise the not-sofamous. As APAs, we built the railroad, paved roads, revitalized ghost towns like Vacaville, Calif., turning them into agricultural oases. We introduced dry-shrimp, bing cherries, several varieties of oysters in the Puget Sound. We harvested salmon, asparagus, grapes. We created farmers markets, and formed the most decorated military unit in American history, the 442nd Regimental Combat Unit. Many of us, like my mother and other relatives, worked for years as the seamstresses of America. My late father and grandfather, like many APAs, worked as cooks, custodians, domestics, dishwashers, gardeners who, with dignity, constituted the backbone of the American economy. APAs, by our mere physical presence, our hard work and our tax payments, contributed to our national identity and the practical realities of a national economy. More important, through the individual stories of APAs, especially the immigrants and nationals, we invigorate the country’s idealism. We reaffirm the hope, vision, and promises of the American Dream. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01254C18, King County International Airport Airﬁeld Painting 2018 (Work Order); by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on May 29, 2018. Late bids will not be accepted. Scope of Work: Work will be issued via Work Orders for painting of numbers, markings, and stripes on the surface of runways, taxiways, and aprons at the Airport. Work includes, but is not limited to survey and layout of markings, painting and striping, thermoplastics, and related miscellaneous work. Contractor must be capable of applying 50,000 SF of paint within a 7-hour period. Not-To-Exceed contract price: $750,000. Pre-Bid Conference: 10:00 a.m., May 22, 2018. Bidders have the choice of attending: (1) in person at Procurement & Payables Section, Bidding Room, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. or (2) via conference call 1-206-263-8114, then entering Conference ID 80794. No site tour. 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

asianweekly northwest

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

36 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 18

A GLIMPSE OF CHINA – CHINESE CULTURE & ARTS FESTIVAL Seattle Center 11 a.m. seattlecenter.com/festal

MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE ENSURING THAT THE VOICES OF MUSICAL WITNESS BE HEARD Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall 5 p.m.

FAMILY NIGHT, “NI HAO! TAIWAN” Mercer Island Community & Event Center 6:30 p.m.

DISCOVER KOREA! Asia Paciﬁc Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 11 a.m. apcc96.org

19 & 20 21

CISC’S 46TH ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP DINNER & AUCTION, “COME TOGETHER” Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle 5:30 p.m. $150/person cisc-seattle.org TASTE OF KOREA HOSTED BY KOREAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St., Tacoma 4:30 p.m. tasteofkorea_kwa.eventbrite. com

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT STREET FAIR University Way N.E., Seattle 10 a.m.

20 CACA SEATTLE ANNUAL BANQUET CELEBRATING UNITY & FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY China Harbor Restaurant 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30 p.m. $20-$60 cacaseattle.org

KOHLER from 1 Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) of Washington state joined with LCA in building and leading a coalition of 18 state and community organizations to advocate and organize on the issue. “I am proud of the Asian Pacific Islander community’s collaboration in the leadership, organizing, and advocacy to improve the safety of all immigrants and refugees, from every community, in our state,” said Diane Narasaki, executive director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS). “Without [Narasaki’s] organization, leadership, support, and collaboration, the final result of … Kohler resigning would not have happened,” said LVC board chair Nina Martinez. Martinez said Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos recommended

FILM SCREENING AND PANEL, “ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL” Wing Luke Museum 719 S. King St., Seattle 11:45 a.m.

10 a.m.

WHEN NETIZENS MEET PARTY LEADERS: ESCALATING CONTROL OF INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN CHINA SINCE 1987 East Asia Library, Room 224, 518 Memorial Way 12 p.m.

JOINT PERFORMANCE LIVING STREAMS CHORUS & VANCOUVER FORMOSAN SINGERS Newport Presbyterian Church 2 p.m.

MENTOR’S NIGHT VOL. 5 Haggett Hall, 4000 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle 6 p.m.

FREE VGOC CHAMBER PERFORMANCE Kinokuniya 525 S. Weller St, Seattle 6 p.m.

7TH ANNUAL PRIDE ASIA CELEBRATION Hing Hay Park 12 p.m.

21 & 22 28 A DOCUMENTARY, “LOOKING FOR?” BY CHOU TUNG-YEN Seattle International Film Festival

73RD ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE Lake View Cemetery 1554 15th Ave. E., Seattle

that Martinez contact Narasaki to build a stronger union. “I truly believe we bridged our leaders statewide to collaborate and continue the work on issues that impact our communities and we care so deeply for,” said Martinez. “Approximately 1 out of 5 Washingtonians is Latino or API, and these two communities have the largest numbers of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, in the state. Our two communities’ joint eﬀort in addressing a danger to our communities was a great example of solidarity,” said Narasaki. In an April 27 resignation letter announced on May 10, Kohler said the loss of her brother has caused her to reevaluate her priorities. The Seattle Times reports Kohler did not mention the controversy around the department’s information-sharing practices, which stopped after the newspaper reported on them.

JUN 2

BC TAIWAN YES NIGHT MARKET Bellevue College 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue 6 p.m.

THE FUTURE OF US CHINA RELATIONS: A DEBATE Bell Harbor International Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle 5:30 p.m.

PHNOM PENH NOODLE HOUSE CLOSING CELEBRATION Phnom Penh Noodle House, 660 S. King St., Seattle 4 p.m.

FRIENDSHIP CONCERT FEATURING GRAHAM KAPOWSIN WIND ENSEMBLE Lagerquist Concert Hall of PLU 2 p.m.

In his statement, Gov. Jay Inslee didn’t directly address the issue, but said it is important that the next director be “fully committed to our ongoing eﬀorts to protect the personal information and data of every Washingtonian.’’ Former DOL Director Evelyn Yenson told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “It is critical that every department follows the governor’s policies, and particularly all Executive Orders including EO 2017-01 “reaffirming Washington’s Commitment to Tolerance, Diversity, and Inclusiveness.” Kohler’s resignation takes eﬀect June 30. Inslee’s office says a search for her replacement will begin immediately.  Ruth Bayang can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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■ BUSINESS

Southport office campus reaches construction milestone

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

asianweekly northwest

Photos by George Liu

YOUR VOICE

The second office building being topped out.

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Renton — Exxel Pacific and SECO Development marked the topping out of the first two towers of the Southport office campus on May 11. That project is scheduled to finish later this year, for occupancy in early 2019. A third tower is expected to be completed next year. “This vibrant, new employment and lifestyle center will be a gamechanging project for the City of Renton, serving as a next generation hub for high-tech firms and other innovative companies,” said Kip Spencer, director of leasing and marketing for SECO Development. “In addition to the office space available for pre-lease, the project includes 695,159 square feet of structured parking — enough for 2,121 vehicles — as well as added retail space.” Buildings one and two will both feature 8,700-squarefoot rooftop decks and 1,700-square-foot outdoor decks on the fourth floor. The third building, with 197,568 square feet of office space available, will have an 8,600-square-foot rooftop deck and 1,600-square-foot outdoor deck on the fourth floor. Since acquiring the 17-acre Shuffleton power plant in 1999, SECO has spent the past two decades reimagining life in Renton at Southport. At the completion of the first phase next year, there will be a 2.4 million-square-foot mixeduse waterfront urban village that is home to as many as 9,000 residents, tenants, patrons, and employees. 

Top of the building

Boeing Field neighbors SECO Development

View of the Hyatt Regency from SECO Development

From left: Project manager Scott Rosenstock, architects Bertha Martinez and Dan Simpson, and Sunny Wu, and Annie Yuan

Outside the new construction.

The office building being finished.

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Abacus Bank sisters on courtrooms, cameras, and family By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Sung family of Abacus Federal Savings Bank spent years in court, accused by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City of fraud, connected to the 2008 financial crisis. They came close to losing everything that the bank’s founder, Thomas Sung, worked since 1984 to build, as relayed in the documentary film “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” screening at the Wing Luke Museum. According to two of the founder’s daughters, though, the perils of the case and its aftermath weren’t only professional ones. “I’m a very private person,” commented Jill Sung, president and CEO of Abacus. “I don’t like being probed, or having to show any part of myself on camera. I always felt there was a downside to this (the film). We were in a very precarious position where potentially we could lose, right? And that would be quite disturbing and who knows what that would look like?” Sung elaborated that she liked the finished film well enough, but she did wish that the cameras could have gone into the courtroom, to demonstrate more fully what she describes as the ludicrousness of the prosecution’s side. “As the trial went on, it was pretty incredible to us how bad the case was, on the D.A.’s side, and it’s very hard to capture that. It was very entertaining [having] the transcript read back… [but] it would have been wonderful to have the not guilty verdicts filmed, because that was 80 counts of not guilty, not guilty, not guilty, and then repeated by the

court clerk, and the other two defendants, for a total of 240 not guiltys.” Jill Sung’s sister Vera Sung, a director for the bank, elaborated that the family was so badly shaken by the case, they’ve become, outside of their scope as bank officials, advocates for improvements in the justice system. The two Sung sisters are both attorneys, as is their father Thomas and their third sister, Chanterelle, who does not hold a formal position at the bank, but who will appear at the Wing Luke Museum to present the documentary. Vera Sung said, “We’re advocating for financial reform, but stepping outside of what the bank does, advocating for criminal law reform. We can see how unfair the criminal justice system is, especially for those who don’t have resources. “That’s not part of the bank’s mission, per se, but we individually are going out and speaking about how discrimination is not only alive and well, it is thriving… trying to understand things such as implicit bias, subconscious bias, all these issues see ABACUS on 12

MAY 20

“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” Wing Luke Museum 719 S. King St., Seattle 11:45 a.m. The screening features a special appearance by Chanterelle Sung, from the Sung banking family shown in the film.

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates and honors the invaluable contributions of our region’s Asian Pacific American communities. I send my best wishes to all of King County’s Asian Pacific American communities, and I salute the many organizations and nonprofits working tirelessly to empower Washington’s API residents. Congratulations also to The Northwest Asian Weekly for its crucial role in informing and inspiring our API communities.

Dow Constantine King County Executive

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ SPORTS

The Layup Drill

Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This month, we take a look at an outstanding performance in bad conditions, Ichiro’s announcement, and an NBA hopeful who stays in school.

Credit: Photorun.net

Kawauchi wins Boston Marathon

near 40 degrees that dampened the field, but not Kawauchi. “For me, these are the best conditions possible,” joked Kawauchi, who won his first major race in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 58 seconds. The last Japanese man to win the Boston Marathon was Toshihiko Seko in 1987. The 31-year-old, known as the “citizen runner,” is unlike other professional marathon runners. He has turned down

Yuki Kawauchi comes from behind to win Boston Marathon.

Yuki Kawauchi of Japan won the Boston Marathon last month, as he overtook Kenya’s Geoﬀrey Kirui at mile 25 of the 26.2-mile race. Runners had to withstand constant rain, strong headwinds, and temperatures

sponsorships and paid his own way for training and races. Unlike some runners that pick and choose which races to compete in, he races often. His busy schedule has produced some record feats. He has the world record for the shortest period of time

between two marathons under two hours and 10 minutes (14 days) and the most career sub-2:12 marathons (26). Prior to the Boston Marathon, he placed first in three other marathons this year. He also has a sense of fun. He’s run a half marathon in a threepiece suit and ran dressed as a panda. Growing up in Tokyo, Kawauchi started running in the first grade. His mother, a former runner, coached him early on and had him running daily time trials in their local park. His goal was to beat his personal record and if he missed by 30 seconds or more, he’d have to run an extra lap. If he missed by more than a minute, he’d have to run two extra laps. He ran for his junior high and high school track teams and was not recruited by a college due to injury. His father died in an accident his senior year in high school. He walked-on to run for Gakushuin University. Despite his college coach discouraging him from running for a living, he carved out a running schedule around his full-time job. He has said that the lack of time to train has taught him to become more efficient. Kawauchi has held down a job as a government clerk while training. Due to his job, he cannot accept sponsorship money. However, he can accept prize money and he was rewarded with $150,000 for winning the Boston Marathon. But the days of being the “citizen runner” may be coming to an end. He told reporters after the Boston Marathon that he would quit his job and focus on running.

Ichiro retires…or does he?

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Ichiro Suzuki

The Seattle Mariners announced that Ichiro Suzuki would be taking on a front office role with the club in early May. Suzuki insists he’s not retiring and could return to playing next season, but the 44-year-old is ending his playing season this year, which is his 27th year in professional baseball. Next year, the Mariners begin the 2019 regular season with two games in Tokyo and that could possibly be the reason why Ichiro is not officially calling it over. Although it would have been nice for Ichiro to ride out of Safeco with a home run as a Miami Marlin in the 9th inning of last see SPORTS on 13

Hey Seattle! How can we make it easier for your kids to walk and bike to school? Take our racial equity survey: www.seattle.gov/transportation/srts-rea

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! From King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov kingcounty.gov/council/balducci

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

The Asian (food) invasion

Bánh mì

Pad thai

Bibimbap

Pick Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), pad thai (stir-fried Thai noodles), fried rice, or Korean bibimbap (mixed rice), it is relatively inexpensive and can fill you up quickly. If you are on a tight budget, dining with little kids, chatting loudly with friends, Asian restaurants’ casual style would fit you perfectly. And you can count on Asian restaurants to be open 365 days a year, especially Chinese restaurants, when mainstream restaurants close on major holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s Day.

problems serving you. Asian sauces and cooking utensils, such as woks, have been incorporated into the kitchens of many Western restaurants. How many American restaurants also oﬀer sushi rolls on their menu? Plenty…

Noodles Co., which also makes fortune cookies in the Chinatown International District, are considered to be an economic powerhouse of the Asian community, according to community leader Charlie James. Not all the Asian restaurants are owned by Asians. Wild Ginger is owned by Rick Yoder, a Caucasian entrepreneur, and serves traditional Asian cuisine. Its kitchen is mostly staﬀed by Asians. These food institutions provide thousands of jobs to new immigrants, and meals as well. I was a beneficiary when I worked as a waitress in college because I got cash tips every day, and free food. My trick was to order a double burger (two pieces of ground beef) or to help myself to two bowls of fried rice so I could bring food home. It saved me money and cooking time, as I didn’t need to buy food. The increasing number of Asian

The inﬂuence of Asian food Sashimi

Sushi rolls

Asian cuisine has inspired more and more Americans to be adventurous. For instance, pork belly was not acceptable in the old days at mainstream restaurants. Now, it’s available. They are so good and succulent. I almost couldn’t believe it. Go to American restaurants and ask for soy sauce, tumeric, wasabi, or teriyaki sauce. The waiter would have no

Today’s restaurants hire white or Mexican chefs to make Chinese dumplings or sashimi, and doing stir-fry. And oh, many of the successful Asian chefs working in American restaurants cook dishes with an Asian flair, and their food tastes fantastic. Why? Because they have introduced Asian fusion techniques in their cooking without publicizing it. While many historians would point to the contributions of Asian Americans in building railroads in the 1800s, and now in technology, architecture, science, and engineering, few realize the impact of API cuisine on the food industry. Asian restaurants and food manufacturing are driving forces of the economy. The 120+ Asian restaurants, Asian supermarkets, and food manufacturers like Tsue Chong

see BLOG on 16

Photo by Assunta Ng

Imagine dining in a Seattle restaurant, but you can order only steaks, fish and chips, or chicken breast. Would you be inclined to eat out more? Thank God, Seattle isn’t one of those cities without imagination. Nor is Bellevue. What really energizes the culinary scene nationally and locally for the past decade is the addition of diverse Asian entrees. Have you noticed more and more nonAsians mastering chopsticks like pros, sometimes embarrassing American-born Asians who are unfamiliar with them? If you are hooked on bubble tea, you might be aware that it’s not American — it originated in Taiwan. Did you know Japanese Americans invented fortune cookies, not the Chinese? Did you know that a Vietnamese refugee created the popular Sriracha hot sauce in California? Have you heard about the Chinese American farmer who invented a type of orange that can withstand frost in Florida in the 19th century? According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the concept of bigger egg rolls deep-fried in a thicker skin originated in America. Of course, you’ve heard of chop suey, a cuisine invented in America. A Chinese official didn’t have anything prepared for visitors, so he told the chef to dish up all the leftovers and make up an interesting name to fool his guests. By the way, General Tso’s chicken is also a product of America. So many of my Asian and non-Asian friends have confessed that they can’t go on without rice — it has become an essential staple in the American diet.

Photos by Han Bui

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Pork belly

Dim sum

Raise your hand if you have had poke, kimchi, sushi, dim sum, naan, or pho recently. When I spoke at the King County Council last week in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I was surprised that over 80 percent of the audience raised their hand when asked if they had Asian food recently. And most of the audience members were not Asian.

Compost so life goes on. Happy Asian Heritage Month from Seattle Public Utilities!

Celebrating with a big meal? Don’t forget to compost your food scraps.

Alan Lai

community leader

Phở

Why is Asian food popular

One feature of Asian cuisine, with the exception of Japanese food, is its low price.

Collect and put all food and yard waste in the green Food & Yard waste cart. Food and Yard waste are not allowed in the garbage. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/util/foodwaste

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

A crappy compromise

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously this week — 9-to-0 — to pass a tax that will charge businesses $275 per-employee per year, instead of the $540 per employee figure initially proposed. They called it a “compromise.” The new tax is expected to collect about $48 million a year. The bulk of the money — supposedly — will go toward new aﬀordable housing units. The rest will be spent on more immediate needs, such as rental subsidies and shelter beds. In late 2015, then-Mayor Ed Murray declared a state of emergency and directed millions toward the homelessness crisis. 2015 was also the end of the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. King County officials estimate that a billion dollars or more was spent to help the homeless from 2005 to 2015.

And the problem has only gotten worse. Matt Dubin, a Seattle attorney who is running to be a state lawmaker because of the homeless crisis, told the Seattle City Council on May 14, “$200 million was spent in King County last year, $17,000 for every man, woman, and child, and the problem got worse.” Dubin also said, “We spend more per capita on homelessness than almost any large city in the country and yet we are the third worst.” Amazon Vice President Drew Herdener said, “The city does not have a revenue problem — it has a spending efficiency problem. We are highly uncertain whether the city council’s anti-business positions or its spending inefficiency will change for the better.” Herdener went on to say that the tax “forces us to question our growth here.” The new tax will aﬀect about 3 percent of the city’s

business community, according to figures released by the city council. All major companies in Seattle grossing more than $20 million will each be charged $275 per full-time employee every year. It’s trendy nowadays to target the top producers — to force them to pay for the rest of society. But this isn’t even about the 1 percent versus the 99 percent. How about holding your city council members accountable? Demand a full accounting of where every penny goes. Most of the money earmarked for the homeless goes to nonprofits — and those nonprofits also need to provide a full account of where the money goes. Our theory is this: homelessness is a business. In order for a business to stay in business, it must have clients (in this case, the homeless). And right now, business is booming. 

■ COMMENTARY AAPI health disparity intersects disability and civil rights By Nadine Shiroma HBV CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE & HEPATITIS B FOUNDATION POLICY ADVISER Between 1991 and 2012, many medical and dental schools in the United States accepted students with chronic hepatitis B (CHBV) — most of them Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) — only to prohibit their enrollment due to the disability. Over the years, few schools disclosed or updated their policies. Young AAPI adults with CHBV have likewise been barred from U.S. uniformed services and Department of Defense (DOD) scholarship programs, even as the DOD failed to document or update science-based accommodations for personnel diagnosed after accession.

Chronic hepatitis B

CHBV is a silent disease that harms the liver before making its presence known. It can lead to life-threatening liver scarring, liver failure, and liver cancer. Fortunately, a vaccine — the first anti-cancer vaccine — was developed in 1969, followed by HBV antiviral drugs that reduce infectivity to levels the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers non-infectious. Worldwide, 257 million people live with CHBV. In the United States, CHBV disproportionately impacts U.S. immigrant communities from world regions with moderate to high HBV endemicity, where infants born to HBV-

MAHATHIR from 5 the White House. The medical world — and the perception of aging — has changed dramatically since Reagan was running for office, when American men had a life expectancy of 70 years. Today, an American man can expect to live more than 76 years, and advertisements show retirees on surfboards. Mahathir is also no Reagan, who was known for his occasional forgetfulness and supposed love of naps. If Reagan’s handlers carefully shaped his public image to make him appear younger, with lots of photos of him chopping wood and riding horses, Mahathir needs no such help. He looks young — or at least far younger than he is — and he acts young. The mental and physical frailties that batter many people in their 70s seem to have left Mahathir alone.

infected mothers and not treated at birth, become infected. The AAPI community comprises less than 5 percent of the U.S. population, but accounts for 50 percent of the estimated 2 million Americans living with chronic HBV. Ignorance, combined with a reluctance to report or speak of the disease or discrimination for personal, professional or cultural reasons and legitimate concerns of immigrant backlash, underscore the need for advocacy, similar to the advocacy sustained since the 1980s for persons with HIV.

Dismantling discriminatory healthcare school policies

In 2011, the Hepatitis B Foundation convinced the CDC of the urgent need to revise outdated guidelines for HBVinfected healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the third party complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) prompted an investigation and a settlement agreement in 2013, followed by a Technical Assistance Letter informing U.S. healthcare schools that 1) accommodations were required for students with CHBV disability and 2) failure to comply could violate Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Ongoing CHBV discrimination in the U.S. uniformed services

Since 2013, advocates have assisted enlistees and students ruled ineligible for DOD service and others who were disqualified or discharged from active duty or a DOD military academy due to CHBV. Upon learning that the 2013 DOJ settlement agreement would not impact federal agencies, HBV disability rights advocates worked to bring attention to the injustice resulting from DOD’s outdated CHBV policies, which aﬀect not just the military services

In part that could be personal discipline. Mahathir was a doctor before becoming a politician, and he regularly recites his rules for keeping young: don’t eat too much, exercise and read. There was also a strain of nostalgia that ran through Malaysia’s election campaign. Mahathir was an authoritarian ruler, muzzling the media and making the judiciary a tool of the government, but he also transformed Malaysia into a modern nation with a comparatively strong economy. “We are concerned about his health and not his capability,’’ said M.K. Lum, a bank employee and Mahathir supporter. “If he has received the people’s mandate and he is willing, why not?’’ Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia scholar at John Cabot University in Rome, said Mahathir’s age worked to his advantage, with voters seeing him as an experienced

but the Public Health Service, Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Bear in mind: 1) There are an estimated 1.2 million HIV cases in the United States and an estimated 2 million CHBV cases. In 1988, the DOD established and has updated written accommodations for personnel diagnosed with HIV, but has yet to establish CHBV-specific accommodations. 2) In 2002, the DOD mandated HBV immunization for personnel without requiring CHBV screening. This allowed enlistees to be inducted, deployed to war theaters, diagnosed with CHBV as part of a routine physical, and years later face medical and/or physical review boards and service discharge, then find themselves scrambling to find jobs and housing. 3) Current CHBV outbreaks in white, non-immigrant, rural and/or economically depressed regions caused by injected opioids reveal that infected young adults were not immunized as children, or were infected before being immunized due to a lack of resources or access to healthcare. Lost opportunities and continuing discrimination caused by the DOD’s outdated CHBV policies are not just an AAPI or immigrant/refugee issue. We continue to work with the offices of Rep. Adam Smith (member of the House Armed Services Committee) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee). Lending their voices are the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and the national Japanese American Citizens League.  If you or someone you know experiences CHBV discrimination or are denied DOD employment or educational opportunity, email nadine.shiroma@hepb.org or call the Hepatitis B Foundation in Pennsylvania, (215) 489-4900.

leader who could move Malaysia beyond the government corruption of recent years and oversee a peaceful transition of power. Malaysia is still haunted by memories of 1969 race riots, between majority Malays and minority Chinese, that followed elections and left more than 200 people dead. “A 92-year-old man coming out to save Malaysia has a lot of traction with people angry with corruption,’’ said Welsh, who was in Kuala Lumpur to observe the vote. “He was a safe landing. He has a track record and experience.’’ Mahathir emphasized his age in campaign videos that tugged at voters’ heartstrings. “I am already old,’’ he said to a young girl in one video, tears brimming in his eyes. “I haven’t much time left. I have to do some work to rebuild our country; perhaps because of mistakes I, myself, made in the past.’’ 

asianweekly northwest

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

HOLLYWOOD from 4 Hollywood said. A few months later, he was at Dulles International Airport on his way to a military conference in Germany. Early for his flight, he sat down at a wine bar. Across from him was another military man who was going to the same conference. It was a turning point in Hollywood’s story. The man was Adm. Harry Harris, whose mother was Japanese. (Today, he is commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific and has been nominated to be ambassador to South Korea.) They started sharing stories. “I told him the story about having the heart attack and wishing I could find my mother. And he said, “Bruce, I can help you.’ And I said, ‘You know what, you’re an admiral and all, but you can’t. I’ve been to the embassy. I’ve tried this, and you just can’t help any.’” He said: “You know, Bruce, seriously, I can help.’’ Hollywood eventually gave him the information he had. His hopes weren’t high. Ten days later, Hollywood was sitting at his desk in the Pentagon, and the phone rang. It was the Japanese Embassy. “‘Colonel Hollywood we’re really pleased to tell you that we found your mother, Nobue Ouchi,’” Hollywood recalled. “And I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is wonderful. You’ve got to help me start writing this letter. And I want it to be accurate, and I want it to be culturally sensitive. And you’ve got to help me.’”

36 YEARS

His caller said, “There’s not going to be a letter. She’s going to call you at this phone number in 10 minutes, and she doesn’t speak English. Good luck!’’ After urgent emails, Hollywood found someone who could interpret on a conference call. Moments later, the phone rang. It was his mother. She was crying. In shock, Hollywood started talking quickly, telling her how happy he is, and how very grateful he is for her. Then he heard her say, “I’m sorry. I don’t speak English.’’ For the next few minutes, Hollywood listened to the interpreter and his mother. All he could make out was talking and sobbing. “And I said, ‘Stop, stop, stop. You’ve got to tell me what’s going on,’” Hollywood recalled. “And she said, ‘Well, tomorrow is your mother’s 65th birthday, and the birthday present that she dreamed of her whole life is that you would come back to her,’” Hollywood said. The interpreter said his mother never married, “because she said in her heart there was only room for one man. And it was you, and she knew you would be back.’’ And then the interpreter said something Hollywood could barely believe. His mother ran her own business — a restaurant and bar she named Bruce. “And I thought, ‘This is either the most incredible story I’ve ever heard or this woman is crazy, and these things aren’t true,’”

ABACUS from 8 that are going on here and everywhere.” The sisters admitted that working with a parent as a boss isn’t always smooth sailing. “When I first came to work for my father,” said Vera, “I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘Please define who you are, are you my father, are you my boss?’ It becomes interchangeable at times. “But he always told me that if you decide to come work

NIELSEN from 4 • usage. They over index non-Hispanic whites at 66 percent for owning smartwatches, 39 percent for streaming media players, 18 percent for game consoles, and 17 percent for smart TVs. • Asian Americans 18+ over index the total population on leading smartphone apps, such as Yelp, Venmo, Lyft, Uber, Skype, and WhatsApp. • Asian Americans are active online shoppers — spending an average amount of $1,151 on internet purchases in the last 12 months, 20 percent higher than online spending by non-Hispanic whites.

Hollywood said. It turned out, that in a gesture from one mother to another, his adoptive mother went to Nobue before they moved back to the United States and gave her a photograph of the baby. She said they had named him Bruce, and she promised to give him a good life. That was how Nobue knew to name her restaurant Bruce. His mother said she wanted to come visit. “I said, ‘No, it’s my mother,’” Hollywood said. “‘I will go see her.’ " Ten days later, he was in Shizuoka, Japan — a couple hours by train from Tokyo — where she lived. Every bit of what she said was true. His mother told him the story he never knew about his birth and adoption. The American military man who was his birth father had started the paperwork required to marry Nobue but was shipped home to South Carolina before the paperwork was finished. He had said he would call right away, but didn’t. When he telephoned many months later, she refused to talk to him, believing he could not be trusted. He did not know she was pregnant. Nobue’s father, a fisherman, oﬀered to support her and the baby, but she knew it would be difficult for a mixed-race child in Japan, so she gave him up for adoption to Edward and Eleanor Hollywood, who were stationed in Japan with the U.S. Air Force. As she spoke, she showed him the photo Eleanor Hollywood gave her, the one she

here, this is your own choice, and you cannot expect to have it easy, just because you’re my daughter. From the ground up, you’re not gonna get any unfair advantage, from me. [That] made it easier for me, in a strange sense.” “I think Vera’s point is right.” Jill Sung continued, “What is a family issue, versus what is a business issue. The very things that keep us strong, and that people noted in the movie, can also be very tiring at times — which is having the family as a unity, and having the strength of the family. “In the end, everything worked out, and we’re happy, I’m

• Online spending by Asian Americans grew significantly in skin care (40 percent), kitchen gadgets (37 percent), cosmetics (47 percent), and hair care (18 percent) in 2017, compared to the previous year. • With a population of 21.8 million, Asian Americans currently represent 7 percent of the total U.S. population. Much of the growth has come from immigration. • In 2017, California had the largest Asian American consumer spending with $323 billion. The next highest spend state was New York at $88 billion, followed by Texas at $78 billion. 

TAITUNG

happy with being documented. Because I think it’s important for us to be able to share our experience with other people. “The various diﬀerent screenings we do, I think we’ve been able to help show how the justice system works, and how people perceive it and what they see as possibilities, of being vindicated. People who are not guilty, who went through the fight, can actually be vindicated.” Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

ARTS ACTIVISM from 3 of “model minority” stereotypes, APIA artists must overcome mainstream views that we are “robotic, technological geeks” and “sojourners” without any artistic vision. This month, we honor the rich history of APIAs and celebrate the achievements of our amazing artists and creators. This month, A4A will host the free “Know Me” conference, from May 26-28. A4A highlights the lack of visibility for APIA Arts through three workshops. Due to limited space, an RSVP (cameronvela6.0@gmail.com) is required for Day 1 and Day 3.  For more information, go to tinyurl.com/2018A4A.

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cherished all those decades. On that first visit, she didn’t want to let him out of her sight. When he went for a run, he came back and found her frantic with worry. The next morning, he snuck downstairs at 5 a.m. to go running, only to find her waiting, dressed in a track suit. Okay, he thought, I’ll go for a walk. She said, no, you run. And she rode a bicycle behind him. That became their morning ritual during the visit. Hollywood went often to Japan, and he brought her to Washington. She started taking English lessons. He studied Japanese. Three years after their reunion, in 2009, she died of a heart attack. For Hollywood, finding his mother gave him an identity as a Japanese American. Growing up, he didn’t know about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Today, he is active in the Japanese American community, and on the boards of the Japanese American Veterans Association and the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in World War II. “The last 12 years, I finally became a Japanese American. Before that I had no Japanese American identity. I just had Japanese American features. But as I got integrated in this community, I ended up becoming incredibly proud of this heritage that I had. “I’ve got to tell you if I didn’t live it, I almost wouldn’t believe it,’’ he said. 

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

■ ASTROLOGY

Predictions and advice for the week of May 19–25, 2018 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — You know that it takes time to build something well. So avoid shortcuts, if it aﬀects the quality of the ﬁnal product.

Dragon — Swapping one issue for another likely isn’t what you had in mind. Instead of a lateral move, wait for something that is truly better.

Monkey — A recent development has you rethinking your strategy. The goal is still the same, but how you get there may need to be adjusted.

Ox — A lot of moving pieces are in motion this week. Writing out a tentative plan should help you to keep it all straight.

Snake — Are you shining a light on an area that had been in the dark? Despite the initial reaction, there is value in revealing what is there.

Rooster — There is much to be gained from listening. When you speak, let it be informed by and responsive to what you have heard.

Tiger — Resting all your hopes on one thing probably isn’t a good idea. Have some backups available just in case.

Horse — An interest that you have indulged is turning into a serious pursuit. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun while you pursue it.

Dog — Concerned about a tricky situation that you may encounter? While it is prudent to keep your eye on it, don’t let it stymie your progress.

Rabbit — Are you trying to determine what to tackle ﬁrst? Get some of the quicker tasks out of the way, so you can really focus on the big ones.

Goat — Don’t let a trivial matter consume your energy. Instead, turn your attention to what really needs to be worked on.

Pig — A fresh start is just what you have been looking for. Letting go of the familiar could be a very liberating experience for you.

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, 2017 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 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.

year’s game against the Mariners, Ichiro’s last at-bat this season was a strikeout with the bases loaded in the 9th inning. Still, Ichiro will be remembered for much more than a bookend to the completion of a career. Rather, fans will readily immerse themselves with the great memories throughout the story of Ichiro when he came to the Mariners as a young outfielder in his mid-20s, set records with his hits, and his great defense in the outfield. Already with a resume from playing professionally in Japan, Ichiro built on his mystique in Seattle and his presence gave the team international notoriety. Just like he’s been his whole career, Ichiro remains mysterious about his retirement. When he signed with the Mariners this year, he said he wanted to play into his 50s, but with the announcement of his front office title, it may just be a wish. “The past two months have been the happiest I’ve been,” said Ichiro, through an interpreter at the press conference announcing his time away from the field. Yet, with the new position, Ichiro still takes batting practice and wears a uniform during games, as if he’s still available to play if needed. Ichiro’s decision to end his 2018 season coincided with the new Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels visiting Safeco Field. The 44-year-old legend and the 23-yearold future legend met prior to the series start in what you may see as a passing of the torch. Ohtani, a rare threat on the pitching mound and the plate, showed why the Mariners coveted the twoway star. Amid boos from the Seattle fans, who wished he had chosen Seattle over Southern California, Ohtani went 2-for-4, as the Angels’ Designated Hitter hit a double that brought in a run to help his team win the first game of the three-game series. In the third game, Ohtani pitched and showed his excellent arm in striking out six Mariners. He hit 99 miles per hour with his fastball, which was untouchable to most Mariners hitters and also a slider which fooled others.

Hachimura returns to Gonzaga, but many eye his NBA future Rui Hachimura announced that he is returning to Gonzaga University for his junior season, instead of declaring for the NBA Draft. Although a forward, he’s been the center of attention for Asian American and Japanese media. Hachimura may be the first

Japanese-born player to be drafted in the NBA. Hachimura’s mother is Japanese and his father is originally from the Republic of Benin in West Africa. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound 20-yearold was the first Japanese native ever to play in the NCAA Division I men’s tournament in 2016. Last season, he averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds for the Bulldogs and figures to improve upon those statistics as his role with the Rui Hachimura team expands. Hachimura actually started out playing baseball, but quickly picked up basketball as a youth. He was invited to play in the 2015 Jordan Brand Class International Game, a showcase for standout high school players. He expressed a desire to play college basketball in the United States and he was noticed by ESPN as one of the five best international players to potentially play in college. College scouts were impressed with his length, athleticism, and shooting ability. Hachimura chose to attend Gonzaga in Spokane over the University of Arizona in Tucson. Both schools are considered elite college basketball programs. Hachimura now has Japanese media following him, anticipating his potential success. He is one of the most sought after in postgame interviews. In addition to his college basketball career, Hachimura plays for the Japanese national team. He was an important part of the U19 World Cup and figures to be an important part of the Japanese national team during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Although baseball and soccer are Japan’s most popular sports, basketball could reemerge once again. During the Michael Jordanera, basketball was popular in Japan. When Yuta Tabuse made the Phoenix Suns in 2004 and became the first and only Japanese player to make it in the NBA, the interest in the sport spiked as well. Hachimura is taking the attention and pressure in stride. He wants to keep improving his game before he decides to take his shot in the NBA. 

湖景墓園 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

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

FAME on 3

Photo by Sam Le

SPORTS from 9

Asian Pacific Americans from all industries and ethnicities,” said Karen Wong, president of the Robert Chinn Foundation. “Asians are now speaking up in ways they have never before and that gives me so much hope,” said Kwan, who referenced the bravery of many past Asian Hall of Fame inductees.  Learn more about the Robert Chinn Foundation and Asian Hall of Fame at robertchinnfoundation.org.

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872 An Independent, NonProfit Association

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01259C18, SE 19th Way Road Realignment and Revetment Repair; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on 06/05/18. Late bids will not be accepted. Scope of Work: The SE 19th Way Road Realignment and Revetment Repair project includes the realignment of a portion of SE 19th Way, located along the left bank of the Snoqualmie River, and the reconstruction of the adjacent bank revetment along the same left bank. The project includes the following speciﬁc elements: realigning approximately 440 linear feet of the SE 19th Way roadway further landward of the existing bank; reconstructing approximately 200 linear feet of riprap bank revetment; construction of coir encapsulated soil lifts along the upper bank of the revetment; and placement of ﬂoodplain

roughening structure (log structures) along the top of bank. Many project elements will require construction within the Ordinary High Water work window from June 15 to September 30. Estimated contract price: $526,000 Pre-Bid: 05/24/18, 10:30 am, at Fall City Library, 33415 SE 42nd Place, Fall City, WA There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a 7% minimum requirement for King County ‧骨灰靈位 Certiﬁ‧陵墓地下室 ed Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. ‧墓碑、紀念碑 ‧土葬福地 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

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NGUYEN from 1 will be the first person of color to have done so in what is one of Washington’s most diverse districts. The 34th district covers West Seattle, Burien, White Center, and Vashon and Maury Islands. It’s where Nguyen grew up. His pride in his neighborhood, and desire to make it better, fuels his aspirations for this campaign and for the region as a whole. The fact that a person of color has never held a state senate seat in the 34th, in spite of its sizable non-Caucasian population, is something that sits at the core of Nguyen’s ideology and might be his unofficial slogan: “The reason why I’m running today is because representation matters,” said Nguyen. Nguyen was reluctant, initially, to highlight that he is Vietnamese American. His family, like most Vietnamese families, came to Seattle as refugees only one generation ago, and like most immigrant families, it has been a struggle to survive, let alone thrive. At first, Nguyen said, “I don’t want to play that card. I just want to be a good candidate.” But increasingly, as he talked to others in the community, who expressed excitement at a person of color running for the seat, Nguyen grew convinced that his background and where he came from matters. While many reacted with a hearty, “Finally!” after Nguyen’s candidacy announcement, others were skeptical. “Why should you do it versus somebody else?” they’ve asked. “I’ve been waiting for somebody else!” Nguyen has shot back. “I’ve been waiting for somebody transformative that represents our values, that cares, that is from the community … and there’s never been a person of color from the 34th.” The underlying question is why is it taking so long? In Nguyen’s view, it is difficult for a person of color, a child of a family that arrived in Seattle just a few decades ago, after escaping Vietnam by boat, to focus on anything other than immediate survival. Life was not easy for the Nguyen family. They relied heavily on social services and each other. When Nguyen’s father was left a quadriplegic after an accident, Nguyen’s mother alone cared for four children. Nguyen and his siblings took on great responsibility at an early age, all the while enduring extreme economic hardship. “I used to sleep on a dirty mattress in my basement because my family was one of the only ones that had a house … And we weren’t wealthy, it was not a nice house!”

APA CONTRIBUTIONS from 1 His store eventually moved to King Street to the space that the Wing Luke Museum currently occupies. Asian Pacific American women emerged as local elected leaders in the 1970s, starting with the election of Ruby Chow as the first Asian American person elected to the King County Council.”

Rod Dembowski, King County Councilmember:

“For over a century, Asian Pacific Americans have served our region, our country, our military, and our economy. We all benefit from the diversity

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

Nguyen related with a laugh. “My mom was a seamstress — I would wake up because she was sewing backpacks.” Nguyen worked at his own high school as a janitor, and to this day, along with his siblings, he helps his mother pay bills. “That was my lived experience,” he said. In spite of this, Nguyen has consistently risen to the top, starting from high school at John F. Kennedy (now called Kennedy Catholic), where he was class president for three years, and through college, where he served as student body president at Seattle University for two years — a rarity in the history of the university. Something about that early lived experience gave Nguyen the skills and the drive to succeed. Nguyen was embarrassed to bring up the hardships of his past, but his wife, Tallie, convinced him that talking about his upbringing would resonate with the public. “There are so many other people who struggle,” she told him. “The fact that you’re able to talk about it gives them hope that they can also overcome adversity.” Nguyen is mindful of the help his family received when he was growing up. It’s why he is active in social services and education today, and why he is adamant about the availability of aﬀordable housing and aﬀordable healthcare. He is the chair of the Associate Board for Wellspring Family Services, and was integral in helping to pass HB2861, which provides early childhood trauma care. In his job as a senior manager at Microsoft, he assists with Microsoft Professional Programs, Worldwide Learning, a resource that teaches trades, free of charge, to those who wish to transition into the tech field. He has also been very

and richness that Asian Pacific Americans have brought to our region, and it’s a privilege to recognize Asian Pacific Heritage month.”

Derek Lum, APACE/ APACEvotes:

“Through the leaders that have come from our communities to do great things for all of society. This includes leaders in government, business, and the nonprofit sectors. And by showing that an increasingly diverse group of people can come together around common concerns and push for greater equity.”

Michael Itti, Commission on Asian Paciﬁc American Aﬀairs:

Asian American and Pacific Islander activists have fought against stereotypes, discrimination, and racism in every aspect of society by championing social justice issues and founding nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of Washingtonians, particularly immigrants and refugees. AAPI civic leaders continue to promote equity and inclusion in public policies and programs so a person’s language ability, zip code, or citizenship status should not predict or be a barrier to their health outcomes, quality of education, and economic opportunity.” 

“Over many decades,

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involved with oversight of law enforcement and was in the news last year because he stepped into the fray after the shooting of Tommy Le in Burien. “Despite all the adversity that we grew up with, I’m very thankful for the privilege that we were given,” said Nguyen. “That kind of informs why I do a lot of the work I do now … I know that if not for my mom, who got on a raft and left, I wouldn’t be here. If not for the community here, in Seattle — White Center specifically — if they hadn’t sponsored us and opened their doors for us, I wouldn’t be here … I’m obligated to give back.” Another reason why Nguyen believes that the state hasn’t seen enough people of color in government, he goes back to his motto: representation matters. “Systems of power tend to be a reflection of those who created them,” he explained. “When you see the lack of diversity [in leadership], and people are like, ‘I don’t know how that happened,’ generally, this is a very specific group of people who have built this system.” A system built with power. And money. “Money wins elections,” Nguyen stated. “A very small community of people fund these elections, and I think you can guess their demographic.” Further, whoever is in power decides where the money goes, which leads to further under-representation in Seattle’s communities, fewer social services, less help for those in need. “That’s why I think it’s important for democracy that everybody gets a chance to run,” Nguyen said. Nguyen laughs when he talks about how much money he is going to have to raise for his campaign and how people ask him, “Isn’t this hard?” He answers, “Yes, it’s harder than just going to work and then coming home and watching TV, then putting your kids to bed — it’s harder than that…But not compared to jumping on a raft and then sailing in the open ocean. That seems pretty hard to me!” When asked what kind of West Seattle he would like to see in the future for his children, Nguyen was adamant. “I want a Washington state where it’s inclusive, where we respect other members of the community, where we have an opportunity to thrive, and I’m very scared that that’s not where it’s headed. I don’t think that the status quo is good enough. I don’t think it’s good enough for my family, for Seattle, for West Seattle, White Center, Burien, or Washington state.”  Jessica Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

MAY 19 – MAY 25, 2018

Photos by Han Bui

BLOG from 10

Dragonfruit

Durian

Jackfruit

Papaya

and Japanese food. I didn’t know anything about other Asian foods. I thank all my non-Chinese friends for their patience in educating me about their cultures and food. You have given me blessings and experiences, which I cherish. I have done my own share of enticing my non-Chinese friends to be bold in tasting “weird stuﬀ.” Practice is my motto now. Each country has so much to oﬀer, I just have to experiment until I discover the best foods from each culture. The journey has been rich, fun, and exciting. I am having a blast! 

supermarkets in King County also expands public interest and knowledge towards exotic fruits and vegetables from Asia. These stores are patronized by diverse customers, not just Asians. Simultaneously, Asia’s desires for America’s seafood, such as geoducks, lobsters, salmons, and clams, helps to flourish the export and import business between America and Asia, resulting in trade and job creation. Many of these trading companies are Asian American-owned. Longan

Star apple

or chopsticks, to enjoy the exquisite and irresistible. I proudly declare that I have tried all types of Asian cuisine, and often yearn for more. If you haven’t had Asian food

recently, you just don‘t know what you have been missing. Ironically, I was one of those who missed out in my younger days. I was not willing to experiment and stuck only to Chinese

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

Cantonese-style ginger scallion lobster

Clams

The Office Campus EB-5 Project Photo by Assunta Ng

at Southport Accepting Japanese-style dessert at the Consul General of Japan’s reception

Beneﬁts

Food does magic in fostering human relationships. It brings families, friends, strangers of diverse cultures, and even enemies together. A recent example is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hosting a banquet for U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after their successful talk about releasing American prisoners in North Korea. What do we do after a challenging encounter? We eat. Food is an incentive for negotiators to look forward to what lies ahead after tough talks or a meltdown. Asian food reflects thousands of years of culture and history. It doesn’t matter whether the dishes are Americanized, authentic, or fusion-oriented. It showcases the evolution of Asian cuisine in America. I still expect Asian American chefs to prepare palatable entrees with a twist of creativity. Don’t just dump the tray on the dining table, Make diners’ mouths water just looking at the food, so that we are dying to plough through with our fork

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