PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA 412 Maynard Ave S Seattle, WA 98104
VOL 38 NO 36 AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
Fortune cookie, noodle maker sold Tsue Chong under new ownership
FREE
37 YEARS YOUR VOICE
What trade war? Chaos at opening of China’s first Costco Seattle architect firm designed Shanghai’s Costco
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Photo by Becky Chan
SHANGHAI — Costco was forced to close early on Aug. 27 on its first day of operations in China due to large crowds of bargain-hunting shoppers. Despite a deepening trade war between Beijing and Washington, thousands of people thronged the aisles of its maiden store in Shanghai as the Kirkland, Wash.based chain became the latest overseas retailer to try its luck in China’s fast-growing consumer market. Traffic within a half mile radius around the Costco outlet was brought to a near-standstill as lines of people formed outside. The store suspended operations in the afternoon after officials warned over the traffic. The Paper, a media outlet run by the Shanghai see COSTCO on 16 Camillo Cheng (left) and son Isaac, new owners of Tsue Chong who will continue the Rose Brand legacy manufacturing noodles and fortune cookies.
The transition was easy. Isaac Cheng didn’t need to remove any
purple and gold décor inside his office at Tsue Chong, the colors of the University of Washington (UW). He is a UW graduate. So is see TSUE CHONG on 11
Jeremy Lin to play for Beijing
Sidney Rittenberg dies 6
“The Case of Hana and Alice” 7
“American Factory" 9
My 6 healthy snacks 10
Seattle looks on Hong Kong in awe, and starts to organize
Photo by George Liu
By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Jeremy Lin (right) posted this photo on social media when he made his Aug. 27 announcement, with brother Joseph of the Fubon Braves of the Super Basketball League in Taiwan.
Jeremy Lin announced on social media on Aug. 27 that he will play for the Beijing Shougang Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the 201920 season. The former Knicks and Nets guard posted a message on Twitter, writing “Beijing, I’m coming!” He posted a picture of himself in a Beijing jersey. He also posted a message on his Instagram account. “All I can say is THANK YOU to the NBA, my family, inner circle, every fan who came to watch or rooted for me during these 9 years!” Lin wrote.
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“The journey and privilege to rep Asians at the NBA level has been amazing and Im [sic] overwhelmed with gratitude for each person who has been with me each step of the way. “Equally excited for this next step with the Beijing Ducks! I always knew my path would go through the CBA solely bc [sic] I knew how much of an honor it would be to hoop in front of all my Chinese fans. Im [sic] here now and there is more history to be made!” Lin, 31, said in an emotional see LIN on 13
Approximately 70 people demonstrated at Westlake Park on Aug. 25 in support of the Hong Kong protest.
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Thirty years later, his father still screams at night. “My father was in prison doing hard labor in a communist camp for seven years,” said Tien Ha, a Seattle real estate developer who came here from Vietnam 25 years ago. “It was brutal. He is very traumatized. Up until now, I could still hear him screaming at night from the past.” Now, as millions of Hong Kong people resist a law that could send any one of them to prison in communist China, Ha wants to do something. “I see the parallel, they could do the same thing,”
he said. “It’s the same thing going on, whether the person is guilty or not.” Ha and others are calling for people in Seattle and around the country to support the students and others in Hong Kong that are calling for their guaranteed legal protection from arbitrary arrest, detainment, and disappearance into China’s prison system. Students in Hong Kong are aware of reports of forced organ harvesting practiced on imprisoned members of the Falun Gong spiritual sect, which China deems a cult aimed at overthrowing the government. see HONG KONG on 15
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37 YEARS
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Alysa Liu, a 14-year-old who in January became the youngest U.S. women’s figure skating champion, landed a quadruple lutz on Aug. 24. The quadruple lutz is widely considered to be the hardest jump Alysa Liu in figure skating. Liu landed the jump—something no other U.S. woman has done in competition—at the Aurora Games in Albany, N.Y. It does not count officially, since it’s not a sanctioned competition. Liu will not meet the age minimum for senior international competitions until the 2022 Olympic season. But she can continue to compete at senior nationals.
Tim Lee to help with planning and development
SPD. The goal of the position is to develop community partnerships, engaging the community, and solving problems.
2019 Ethnic Potluck Picnic
Photo by Assunta Ng
Alysa Liu makes history
Bettie Luke
More than 120 people gathered at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center on Aug. 11 for the Ethnic Heritage Council (EHC)’s Fifth Annual Ethnic Potluck Picnic. There was folk dancing led by Northwest Folk Dancers, Inc. and world folk music performed by The Lonely Coast. Fifteen exhibitors sold ethnic items or told their stories through their displays. Prizes for ethnic-themed games and best food presentations kept excitement and laughter going all afternoon.
Photo by Assunta Ng
Bellevue honors Lawrence Lui
Tim Lee
Tim Lee, owner of Real Home Network Realty in Bellevue and International District (ID) property owner, is the new Senior Planning and Development specialist for the Seattle Police Department (SPD)’s West precinct. His role will include planning and community outreach, and to act as liaison between ID community members and
In August, the City of Bellevue issued a proclamation to Lawrence Lui of Cloudvue for his support to temporarily house 110 homeless men in the heart of downtown Bellevue. Cloudvue is allowing Congregations for the Homeless to use its property at Northeast Eighth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast as a “bridge” shelter, while the current winter shelter is brought up to fire code for year-round operation. Bellevue Mayor John Chelminiak said, “It is another
From left: Bellevue Mayor John Chelminiak, Lawrence Lui, and Bellevue City Councilmember Conrad Lee.
example of how the city, our human services providers, our residents, and the business community are stepping up to meet the challenge of homelessness.”
CWU unveils special partnership marker
Central Washington University (CWU) held a ceremony on its Ellensburg campus on Aug. 23 to unveil a “partnership marker” with officials from Japan’s University of Shimane. CWU and the University of Shimane have been sister-universities since 1990. The marker is a cherry tree that was planted, at the request of Shimane officials, in the CWU Donald L. Garrity Japanese Garden, also established in 1990. The Shimane officials visited Ellensburg along with 25 of students who are now enrolled in the WorldCat Institute, a short-term, English-language proficiency and cultural immersion program on the CWU campus. Over the years, students from Shimane have attended CWU for up to four quarters of study in the university’s English as a Second Language program.
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YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
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Keiro NW leadership change Board President Tomio Moriguchi steps down
By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Keiro Northwest announced on Aug. 26 that co-founder Tomio Moriguchi was asked to step down from the board of directors and his role as president, effective Aug. 22. The former Uwajimaya CEO was named board president in December Tomio Moriguchi 2018. CEO Bridgette Takeuchi wrote in a statement to update the community, “Given the unforeseen
turnover within the board of directors this year, it is our goal to work toward a more stable, consistent overarching leadership so that it supports our needs in a uniform manner.” The statement also said Frank Fukui, Dale Kaku, Sue Taoka, and Vicki Toyohara Mukai have resigned from their board positions. “The board is very grateful for everyone’s service and their contributions to Keiro Northwest and the community,” Takeuchi wrote. “The interim board president is Ted Tomita. Ted, along with the rest of the remaining board members, will help me lead these
efforts as we work toward a successful end result.” Takeuchi said she is “quite excited about the possibilities that we’re uncovering,” as the leadership team works to guide Keiro’s future. There are only four residents remaining at Keiro’s nursing home. Takeuchi also said, “We are working with the family, who owns the land at Nikkei Manor, to ensure that we will be able to continue our assisted living services at our current location.” If you are interested in seeking a role on the board, email askKNW@keironw.org.
Ted Tomita
DNC urged to include AAPI moderator in presidential debate Democratic Rep. Grace Meng along with ASPIRE PAC, the political arm of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) members of Congress, sent a letter to the Democratic National Committee Rep. Grace Meng (DNC) on Aug. 20, calling for the DNC to ensure that at least one of its sponsored presidential debates features an AAPI moderator.
The Congress members wrote to DNC Chairman Tom Perez, saying that AAPI voters will play a critical role in the 2020 election, numbering 11 million registered voters, or 5 percent of the electorate. There are currently three AAPIs seeking the Democractic presidential nomination DNC Chairman —entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Sen. Tom Perez Kamala Harris of California, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing population in our country and the DNC has rightly recognized this fact by increasing the number of AAPIs in senior level positions, and expanding AAPI outreach
Photo by Assunta Ng
By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
efforts,” Meng said. “It is now time for the DNC to take their commitment even further by ensuring that Asian Americans are represented among moderators on the debate stage.” AAPI voters’ participation in the 2018 midterm elections increased more than any other racial group, according to the letter. As of Aug. 26, exactly 10 presidential contenders have qualified to participate, and if that number stands, all 10 will be on stage at the same time and the third Democratic presidential debate will be confined to a single night, on Sept. 12. Yang and Harris have qualified, while Gabbard has not. Staff can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
Suspect arrested in ID street robbery A 50-year-old man is in custody following a street robbery in the International District. At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 24, officers responded to a 911 call regarding a man assaulting another
Man alerts police to burglary in progress in ID Seattle police responded to a 911 call on Aug. 26 at the Domingo Viernes Apartments on 721 South Lane Street. A home camera installed alerted one of the managers to two men breaking in to his office at around 11:30 p.m. The manager called 911 but by the time police arrived, the burglars were gone. Nothing was reported missing from the office. Surrounding businesses and the International District/Chinatown Branch of the Seattle Public Library have been the victims of vandals who have broken glass doors and windows in the past month and a half. Police have not confirmed if all these incidents are related.
man on the street in the 600 block of 5th Avenue South. Officers arrived and saw the suspect running down the street. Officers located the 44-year-old victim, who told them the man assaulted him and stole his cell phone. The
victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. Officers arrested the suspect a few blocks away and booked him into the King County Jail.
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AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
37 YEARS
■ NATIONAL NEWS
North Korea tests new ‘superlarge’ rocket launcher
By HYUNG-JIN KIM ASSOCIATED PRESS SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said that leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of a “newly developed superlarge multiple rocket launcher,’’ another demonstration of the North’s expanding weapons arsenal apparently aimed at increasing Kim Jong Un its leverage ahead of a possible resumption of nuclear talks with the U.S. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, said that weapons test on Aug. 24 was successful and cited Kim as saying the rocket launcher is “indeed a
great weapon.’’ Kim underscored the need to “continue to step up the development of Korean-style strategic and tactical weapons for resolutely frustrating the ever-mounting military threats and pressure offensive of the hostile forces,’’ according to KCNA. The “hostile forces’’ likely referred to the United States and South Korea, whose recently ended regular military drills infuriated North Korea. The North has called the drills an invasion rehearsal and conducted a slew of missile and rocket tests in response. Some experts said North Korea aims to show off its weapons to try to get an upper hand ahead of a possible restart of nuclear negotiations, which have been largely stalemated since the second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim in Vietnam in February fell apart
US Marines chief acknowledges worries on Japan-Korean ties By YURI KAGEYAMA ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO (AP) — Gen. David Berger, the new U.S. Marines commandant, acknowledged on Aug. 21 that he is concerned about deteriorating relations between Japan and South Korea, both key regional allies, but expressed hopes politicians would work out a resolution. Gen. David Berger Berger stressed that Japan and Korea have common interests despite their differences, such as the threat posed by China and pursuing stability in Asia. “I’m optimistic it will get worked out,’’ said Berger, during his first trip to Japan after being appointed to his post. Besides meetings with Japanese government and military officials, his visit also includes going to the southern islands of Okinawa, where most of the U.S. forces here are based. Bilateral relations worsened after Tokyo removed South Korea’s preferential trade status in early July.
South Korea has decided to do the same to Japan, with the new rules taking effect in September. Seoul sees Japan’s move as retaliation for South Korean court rulings that Japanese companies compensate South Koreans forced into labor during World War II. Japan says it is a security issue. Berger declined to comment on what might happen if South Korea makes good on the threat to end an agreement with Japan to share military intelligence, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, which went into effect in 2016. He said such sharing was important from a military standpoint, and discussions were ongoing outside the military. “I never said I was not concerned. We are. What I did say is we have a common focus on an assessment of what the near and long-term threats are. But absolutely we should all be concerned when any part of any alliance has some challenges,’’ said Berger. “I am confident that the right leaders are talking. I am confident that we all share a common view of the threat to stability in this region.’’ While in Okinawa, Berger will go to Henoko, where a U.S. Marine air base is being built on a coastal landfill. see JAPAN-KOREAN on 13
due to squabbling over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea. The two leaders met again at the inter-Korean border in late June and agreed to resume talks. Trump downplayed the latest launch, saying, “Kim Jong Un has been, you know, pretty straight with me. ... He likes testing missiles but we never restricted short-range missiles. We’ll see what happens.’’ South Korea’s military said North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on the morning of Aug. 24, and that they flew about 236 miles at a maximum altitude of 60 miles. It was the seventh known weapons test by North Korea in about a month. North Korea has been pushing to develop powerful multiple rocket launch systems, whose projectiles resemble see NORTH KOREA on 14
Vulcan Capital opens office in Singapore SINGAPORE — Vulcan Capital, the investment house of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has opened its first international office in Singapore. The multi-billion dollar fund intends to invest an initial $100 million across Southeast Asian startups, making it one of the largest early-stage platforms in the region. The firm has hired financiers Tommy Teo and Minjie Yu as managing directors to lead the Singapore outfit. They will focus on seed, Series A, and Series B investments in a broad range of areas including financial services, real estate technology and consumer internet, according to Teo. Their initial target markets will be Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Investors like Vulcan will help build the ecosystem in the region, said Wilton Chau, who teaches entrepreneurship. “International VCs will have the network, the expertise and the knowledge of different markets and they will be more attractive to ventures here,” he said. Vulcan Capital takes an unusual approach to investing. Like any venture capital firm, it will aim to maximize returns from its investments. But the returns from those investments will go directly into Vulcan’s broad range of philanthropic projects, including climate change and wildlife conservation in Africa. The company is hoping its model will help attract young and mission-driven startup founders in the region.
Young dugong dies in Thailand in blow for vulnerable species By PITCHA DANGPRASITH ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — Marine resources officials in Thailand said that an ailing 5-month-old dugong died during surgery, just days after the much-publicized death of another one of the vulnerable ocean mammals from what biologists believe was a combination of shock and ingesting
plastic waste. The 5-month-old male was found washed ashore in July in southern Thailand and put in a protected enclosure by marine experts. It was found to have contracting stomach muscles and an X-ray showed a buildup of gas in its intestine together with seagrass clogging its stomach. The condition eventually caused an infection and put pressure on his lung, making it hard to
breathe. The dugong, dubbed Yamil, died on Aug. 22 during surgery to have the seagrass removed. An autopsy found it died from septic shock. “Yamil was not raised on his mother’s milk, therefore, his immunity was extremely low, and that makes it very hard for him to survive a surgery like this,’’ said Jatuporn Buruspat, director-general
of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Dugongs are a species of marine mammal similar to a manatee and can grow to about 11 feet in length. They are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and are protected under Thai law. see DUGONG on 13
YOUR VOICE
■ NATIONAL NEWS
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
asianweekly northwest
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Trump’s fake accent angers Asian Americans as they veer left
By TERRY TANG ASSOCIATED PRESS When Amanda Berg heard reports that President Donald Trump mocked the accents of the leaders of South Korea and Japan at a recent fundraiser, it brought back painful memories from her childhood. Berg, a Korean American who grew up President Donald in Fort Collins, Colorado, recalled kids Trump doing the “stereotypical pulling at the eyes and the mocking accent.’’ It made her feel like she was a foreigner in her own community. Berg, a registered Democrat, is among a growing and crucial bloc of Asian American voters leaning further to the left in the age of Trump, and his stunt, reported by the
Man who drowned at Crater Lake identified
CRATER LAKE, Ore. (AP) — The man who drowned after jumping off a rock cliff into Crater Lake was a student at Oregon State University. Crater Lake National Park spokeswoman Marsha McCabe says 27-year-old Sumedh Mannar jumped off the cliff at Cleetwood Cove on Aug. 18 and did not resurface. McCabe told the Oregonian/OregonLive that Mannar was a graduate student at the university from India. McCabe says the cliff Mannar had jumped from was about 25 feet high. The cliff, known as “Jumping Rock,’’ is a popular recreation spot, she said, and it was not prohibited to jump. On Aug. 19, divers dove in the last known spot Mannar was seen and found his body down in the water on a rock ledge.
New York Post, angered her and many others. “It empowers people who would be predisposed to doing that kind of thing anyway,’’ said Berg, a high school English teacher in Denver. “And it makes it acceptable to be openly, increasingly discriminating.’’ Trump has used racist rhetoric to fire up his conservative base ahead of the 2020 election—most notably against four Democratic congresswomen of color. Telling them to “go back” to their home countries triggered widespread outcry in July, but his reported mocking of Asian accents garnered a more tepid reaction. Some worry the frequency of Trump’s racially offensive remarks makes them easier to shrug off, a concern that could weigh on an Asian American voting group that’s only growing in power. The Asian American voting-age population has more than doubled in the past two decades, leaping from 4.3
million in 1998 to 11.1 million in 2018 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A majority of those new voters lean Democratic. By 2016, some Asian ethnic groups that had leaned Republican shifted into the Democratic camp, said Natalie Masuoka, an associate professor of political science and Asian American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. A larger share of Asian American Republicans voted for John McCain in 2008 than for Trump in 2016. A Pew Research Center survey said 53 percent of Asian American registered voters in 1998 identified with the Democratic Party. That figure rose to 65 percent in 2017. “They are adding more and more new voters to the electorate,’’ Masuoka said. “Alongside Latino immigrants, they’re important for candidates to mobilize.’’ see TRUMP on 13
3 indicted in immigration scam targeting overseas investors OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Three people face federal charges in California for allegedly defrauding foreign investors in a jobs program overseen by U.S. immigration officials, federal prosecutors said on Aug. 20. Thomas Henderson, Cooper Lee and Kexing Hu have been indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy charges in the scam involving the EB-5 visa program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Henderson, 70, is the founder and owner of the San Francisco Regional Center. Investigators said he and his co-defendants over a six year period raised more than $110 million from 200 investors overseas who believed they were funding EB-5-related businesses sponsored by the regional center. It wasn’t known if they have attorneys. Henderson submitted false documents and diverted funds for other projects, prosecutors said. The scheme
jeopardized the creation of more than 2,000 jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to officials. “Besides posing a significant threat to national security and public safety, immigration benefit fraud and related schemes seriously rob immigrants who are deserving of these benefits while deterring investors who genuinely want to assist them,” said Tatum King, special agent in charge of Homeland Security in San Francisco. EB-5 allows foreign nationals to obtain green cards for permanent residency by investing in qualifying U.S. businesses. Henderson was arrested on Aug. 20 in Oakland and made his initial appearance in court. He is scheduled to return on Oct. 1 for a status conference. Lee, 42, was arrested in Laguna Beach, California. Hu remains at large, prosecutors said.
KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01318C18, Battery Electric Bus Program South Base Bus Test Infrastructure; by the King County Procurement and
CORRECTION In last week’s issue, we wrongly reported the top two vote getters in the Aug. 6 primary for the City of Bellevue, Council Position 5 race. We posted Mark Wilson as advancing to the general election, when it should have been JD Yu who garnered 3,913 (16.42 percent) votes. Yu will face incumbent Janice Zahn in November.
Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on September 17, 2019. Late bids will not be accepted. The Work under this Contract includes, but is not limited to, installation of a fully functioning power supply system in coordination with Seattle City Light, a complete underground power distribution system (directional bored and open trench conduit installation and vaults), future test battery electric bus charger foundations and cable trench installation, and asphalt paving. Estimated contract price: $1,100,000 There is a 7% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a 10% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. 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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AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
37 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR AUG 29
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SEP 4
2019 CISC ANNUAL SENIOR RESOURCE FAIR North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E., Bellevue 10 a.m.-2 p.m. cisc-seattle.org
5 JOSH HOU TRIO CD RELEASE: BILINGUALISM//200 TRIO The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 8-10:30 p.m.
5, 6, 7 CLASSIC CHINESE DANCE DRAMA, “THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS”
McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle 7:30 p.m. 10% discount code: aapat8 asianperformingarts.org 425-830-8054
6 PING PONG TOURNAMENT Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 2-5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. A NEAR PROBLEM - US/ CHINA TRADE & WA STATE Davis Wright Tremaine, 920 Fifth Ave. Ste. 3300, Seattle 8 a.m. seattlechinesechamber.org
7 THAI FESTIVAL SEATTLE 2019 North Seattle College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle 11 a.m.-5 p.m. TASTE OF ASIA FEATURING BURMA AND TEA LEAF SALAD Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 11 a.m.-12 p.m. asiapacificculturalcenter.org IRON CHEF MORIMOTO Uwajimaya Seattle, 600 5th Ave. S., Seattle 2 p.m.
8 12TH ANNUAL SEATTLE LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center
■ NATIONAL NEWS
Sidney Rittenberg formerly of WA, dies
11 a.m.-7 p.m. LANTERN FESTIVAL Southwest Teen Life Center, 2801 SW Thistle St., Seattle 3-6 p.m. MEET YOUR SOUTH ASIAN CANDIDATES Northwest Arts Center, 9825 NE 24th St., Bellevue 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
11 PORT OF SEATTLE’S SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOOKDA GHEISAR El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30-7 p.m. RSVP at https://conta. cc/327arpV
12 WSCRC MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL SOCIAL Davis Wright Tremaine, 920 5th Ave. #3300, Seattle 5-7 p.m. Attendance is complimentary. Registration is required. RSVP deadline: September 10 info@wscrc.org
13 CHILDREN’S MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL Donnie Chin International Children’s Park, 700 S. Lane St., Seattle 4-6 p.m.
Former American adviser to the Communist Party of China, Sidney Rittenberg, died on Aug. 24 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 98 years old. Rittenberg was a long time Washington state resident, owning a home in Sidney Rittenberg Ileft) with his wife Yulin Wang Rittenberg at a dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping Bellevue and on Fox at the Seattle Westin Hotel in 2015. Island. The NorthStalin, he was jailed for allegedly west Asian Weekly honored him in the 1980s with an being a spy sent from America to “undermine the revolution.” His Asian American Pioneer Award. Rittenberg stayed in China for six years in prison came to an end 35 years after World War II, and after Stalin died in 1953. In early 1968, Rittenberg was later made millions as a business consultant to Western companies imprisoned again over accusations like Microsoft, wanting to enter of being a Western spy and he spent 10 years in prison. The Chinese markets. Rittenberg first arrived in China New York Times reported that in 1944 as an American soldier Rittenberg had attributed his who was proficient in Chinese— arrest to Jiang Qing, Chairman which he learned after the U.S. Mao’s wife and a member of the Army sent him to its language Gang of Four. After Jiang and other members of the faction school at Stanford University. He was in Shanghai working were put on trial, Rittenberg was for a United Nations relief agency, released in 1977. When China and the United and it was there that he met members of the Communist Party States had established diplomatwho encouraged him to head to ic relations in 1979, Rittenberg Yan’an, where Mao was leading decided to return to the United the Communist Revolution in States, where he had always remained a citizen. China. Over the years, Rittenberg reThe South Carolina native went on to develop a good rapport with mained “an uncompromising China’s top brass—Mao Zedong champion of fair-minded appreand Zhou Enlai. But it was not ciation of Chinese culture and soall smooth-sailing—Rittenberg ciety,” as is stated in his biography was imprisoned twice by his on the Pacific Lutheran Universiown party over the course of ty website, where he was a visithis China tenure. Coming at the ing professor. request of Soviet leader Joseph
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asianweekly
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
YOUR VOICE
■ AT THE MOVIES
asianweekly northwest
7
“The Case of Hana and Alice”
mixes murder, mystery, and warm mirth By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Shunji Iwai’s new animated feature “The Case of Hana and Alice” begins with a young girl dancing ballet in her room. No color in the dancing girl’s figure. No color in the room, or through the window to the outside world. The sequences unfolds entirely in outlines on a light blue background. For anyone made nervous by this, don’t fret; Iwai switches to normal anime methods and colors, for the body of the film. But he’s made important points early. His new feature will emphasize movement, and it will urge the audience close to the frame, to make sure we’re getting the meanings in small movements. (The characters were rotoscoped; that is, flesh-and-blood actors acted out the scenes, and the animators then electronically traced over those moves.) His backgrounds, too, show even more subtle richness than normal for anime, with treasures and surprises places in the foreground, the background, and along different planes, to reaffirm the depth of the overall image. Director Iwai’s past projects consist mostly of live-action titles, usually filmed with distinctive visual approaches or conceptual twists. He shot the live-action “Last Letter” in China with a Chinese cast, far from his native Japan. “Swallowtail Butterfly” used hand-held cameras to tell an odd, disjointed crime story starring the Japanese pop star Chara. “Vampire” took him to America, where he explored vampirism with surrealistic touches and a scene of violence so disquieting I saw SIFF audience members walking out on it eight years ago.
For “The Case of Hana and Alice,” Iwai reached back to his 2004 live-action film “Hana and Alice,” about two oddball but strong and determined teen girls whose friendship endures through all kinds of creative mishaps. They stumble into brazen mistakes, but they help each other out of them. The new anime feature functions as a prequel to the
first film, tracing the colorful twosome back to before they knew each other. Also, Iwai wanted to use the same two actresses from the 2004 film as his protagonists, but they were obviously too old, by now, to plausibly play schoolgirls. He got around that part by filming the actors,
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asianweekly northwest
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AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
37 YEARS
■ NATIONAL NEWS Animals at some Texas shelters respond to various languages By NATALIE WEBER HOUSTON CHRONICLE HOUSTON (AP) — Spanish. Vietnamese. French. German. Hungarian, even. The Houston Chronicle reports while the list may sound like options for an online language learning program, animal shelters and dog trainers in the greater Houston area have said they’ve encountered pets that respond to commands in these languages. The Harris County Animal Shelter sees a “diversity in pets’’ and the languages the animals respond to reflect the diversity of Harris County, said Kerry McKeel, a spokesperson for the shelter. A 2015 analysis of Census data found that 145 different languages are spoken in Houston. “Just from observing interactions in our lobby, we can guess the animals understand Spanish, and I’m sure there are other languages that (our) pets understand,’’ McKeel said. McKeel said she doesn’t know the number of bilingual and non-English-speaking pets at the shelter, as it doesn’t specifically track that demographic among the roughly 18,000 animals it receives each year. However, she said that judging on interactions she’s observed, the most common language after English for pets in the shelter would be Spanish. Staff members do not currently have time to retrain the animals in English, McKeel said, so the shelter would likely encourage new pet owners to seek out private trainers for their animals to learn commands in English. The Houston Humane Society also receives pets that only respond to commands in a foreign language, said Angelina Saucedo, the society’s marketing manager, but
it is “very rare.’’ Last year, the humane society accepted 4,854 animals. Each year, the shelter receives about two or three that don’t respond to English, Saucedo said. Currently, the humane society has a 4-year-old Boxer mix named Missy, who mainly responds to commands in Spanish. She’s been working with a Spanish-speaking volunteer, but is also learning English commands through exposure to the language. “She’s usually around English-speaking dog walkers when it comes to volunteers here throughout the week,’’ Saucedo said.
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Dolores Alvarez, an 88-year-old Cuban American who fosters pets with the Homeless and Orphaned Pets Endeavor, said she has trained her foster cats—Jack, Lucas, and Adorable—to respond to both Spanish and English. She uses the word “bueno’’ to tell her cats to go back into their carrier, and also uses Spanish to tell them when she’s very tired. The cats also respond to the command “go and get it’’ in English. “They understand everything I say,’’ Alvarez said. see DOGS on 14
YOUR VOICE
■ AT THE MOVIES
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
asianweekly northwest
9
Film on factory is first Netflix project endorsed by Obamas By DAVID BAUDER AP MEDIA WRITER NEW YORK (AP) — A documentary about an Ohio auto glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor debuted on Aug. 21 on Netflix as the streaming service’s first project backed by Michelle and Barack Obama’s new production company. Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert said they learned of the Obamas’ interest after “American Factory’’ was shown at the Sundance film festival and they were pitching the film to Netflix. They were told the Obamas had screened it days earlier. They’re ecstatic about the support, and in an interview were quick to dissuade anyone from the idea that the film is delivering a message either for or against any politician. “They got what we were trying to do, which is to tell a story that sort of transcends the year-to-year politics,’’ Bognar said. Bognar and Julia Reichert, who live in the Dayton, Ohio, area where Fuyao Glass replaced an abandoned General Motors plant, said they were initially interested in exploring a culture clash, but the film deepened into a story about the rights of workers, globalization, and automation. The Fuyao plant, bought by Chinese industrialist Cao Dewang, employs some 2,200 American and 200 Chinese workers. The film gives a close-up look at how the cultures adjust to one another. At one point, a Chinese worker explains that Americans are slow because they have fat fingers. Many Chinese at the plant consider the Americans lazy. The Americans at the plant question what they see as Chinese workers unquestioned devotion to a company that robs them of time to enjoy life. At the factory’s opening ceremony, Dave Burrows, the vice president of the American factory, privately curses out
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown for suggesting that the Chinese owner be open to running a union shop. Two years later, after he’s been fired, Burrows drives by the factory and bitterly notes that you can’t spell Fuyao without an “f’’ and “u.’’
Tensions rise when the factory doesn’t initially meet production goals, culminating in a bitter fight over the right to unionize. In one of the last scenes, an employee gives Cao a tour of the factory floor and boasts about how automation provides Fuyao with the opportunity to fire workers. The name of the Obamas’ company, Higher Ground, flashes by in the opening credits, but the Obamas themselves aren’t mentioned anywhere. Neither is President Donald Trump. Netflix worked in partnership with Higher Ground to acquire the film from Participant Media earlier this year, and gave no details about the financing. Netflix released a brief clip on Aug. 21 of the Obamas discussing their interest in the project with the filmmakers. “One of the many things I love about this film ... is that you let people tell their own story,’’ the former first lady said. “`American Factory’ doesn’t come in with a perspective. It’s not an editorial. I mean, you truly let people speak for themselves, and that is a powerful thing that you don’t always see happen.’’ Former President Obama said that they want people to look outside of their own experiences to understand the lives of others. That “is what a good story does,’’ he said. “It helps all of us feel some solidarity with each other.’’ Reichert said she’s seen some commentary that the Obamas were interested in the film as a criticism of Trump, and said that was stupid. “It has zero to do with Trump or Obama, or the political scene at all,’’ she said. “It’s about the lives of average working people in the heartland. It’s really a close up and intimate look at what globalization looks like.’’ see AMERICAN FACTORY on 13
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asianweekly northwest
10
37 YEARS
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
My 6 healthy snacks 2. Pumpkin seeds
My biggest companion, besides my family and work, is food. I snack constantly. My snacks yield not only fewer calories, they taste awesome and provide health benefits. Here is my list.
Photo by Assunta Ng
1. Bananas with virgin olive oil
Most people consider bananas bland and uninteresting, unless you think of banana split. But there’s too much sugar in ice cream and that translates into loads of calories. Fried banana is a popular dessert, too. Once fried, you destroy the vital nutrients in the fruit. Eating too much greasy foods increases your risk of heart disease. I eat a banana every day because it is essential for my health. I’ll explain its health benefits later. What if you can make a plain banana taste super great? Mix a banana with extra virgin olive oil. You may think it sounds strange. No one taught me to do this. But I love to experiment with food. The oil by itself is bitter and pungent. It taunts your tongue and throat. It’s hard to swallow. Yet, when the fruit is soaked in the virgin oil, its texture and flavors are transformed. It becomes miraculously great. My husband is now a believer. That’s what he does with his breakfast. Gone is his habit of using slices of banana in his cereal with milk. Why extra virgin olive oil? It is a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, which aids longevity. It is considered to be one of the best fats. Keep in mind, never cook with extra virgin olive oil. It will produce negative chemical reactions if you heat it. Just dip the bananas in olive oil like you mix it with your salads. Bananas supply our bodies with magnesium and potassium. Besides being an antioxidant support, magnesium serves many vital functions in your body. Magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. If your body is low in magnesium, you develop insomnia. Potassium is in charge of over 300 bodily functions. Low potassium in your body could lead to headaches, constipation, depression, bloating, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, and more. If you shop for bananas, I recommend you get the organic kind. It’s not that much more compared to regular bananas, but it will be much better for your body.
aforementioned fruits give me energy, health, and it fills my stomach. Those fruits prevent me from stuffing myself with junk food when I am hungry. We are lucky in Washington state to be surrounded by varieties of fresh fruit. When you want to consume a piece of bread, reach for fruits instead. It will change not only your health, but your mindset.
5. Peanut butter
4. Tomatoes
By itself, pumpkin seeds are quite bland. But if you are hungry, you can eat a lot without getting fat. One full cup of pumpkin seeds is about 285 calories. I eat two to three batches at a time, and they never amount to 50 calories. The seeds also have zero cholesterol. The same thing with cashew nuts and walnuts if you buy them unsalted and unroasted. But pumpkin seeds have much fewer calories than other nuts. I bought an 8 ounce bag of pumpkin seeds a few months ago, and I still have them. They are a good source of iron and zinc, which maintains a healthy metabolism of your body. It can also help you build muscle, and regulates blood sugar levels. Chia seeds and sunflower seeds are recommended, too. Chia seeds are absolutely tasteless and they look weird. Sunflower seeds are said to be polluted. So I pick pumpkin seeds.
3. Apples, avocados, oranges, peaches, green grapes, watermelons
Photo by Assunta Ng
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Grape tomatoes are my favorite kind of tomatoes. I can’t finish a big tomato, but I can nibble all day with baby tomatoes. What’s not to love? Fewer calories, they taste wonderful, and it’s good for your skin. They are good to eat raw, you don’t have to cook them. Although some studies say cooked tomatoes can release an anti-cancer chemical, I am addicted to juicy sweet tomatoes. They are great for snacks. I prefer to eat them right after I get them from the grocery store. If I leave them in the fridge, I tend to forget about them for days.
I love to scoop up peanut butter from a jar and then savor it in my mouth. You have no idea how satisfying that is. I don’t want a peanut butter sandwich. The truth is, I don’t want carbs. I just want to eat it plain. Eating teaspoonfuls slowly is delightful. And I would relish them in my tongue for a long time. That’s pure joy!
6. Dark chocolate
Notice I wrote dark chocolate. It contains flavonoids, which contribute to health and see BLOG on 12
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I frequently ask myself: Do those foods give me health benefits or make me sick? My goal is to make myself feel good so I can function better every day. Fruits definitely provide me with nutrients.
Thursday, September 19, 2019 Joyale Seafood Restaurant 900 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 5-7 pm If I don’t eat at least three different kinds of fruits every day, I would feel deprived. I eat apples and avocados at least three times a week.
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I drink organic orange juice daily. The
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
YOUR VOICE
■ NATIONAL NEWS
asianweekly northwest
11
Florida burglars target Chinese restaurants OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Florida burglars are targeting Chinese restaurants and they’re not walking away with takeout. Authorities say they are taking the entire cash register instead.
Ten restaurants around the Ocala area have been hit in the last few months. Police say the break-ins typically happen overnight and that the burglars either take cash or the entire cash register. The latest
occurred on Aug. 23 in Williston. The Ocala Star-Banner reports there were a series of home invasion robberies targeting Asian business owners in several counties, including Marion and Alachua,
Review: A rich mystery awaits in S.J. Rozan’s ‘Paper Son’ By OLINE H. COGDILL S.J. Rozan’s affinity for little known facts about Chinese culture has fueled exciting thrillers featuring private detectives Lydia Chin and Bill Smith. Memorable plots include a Jewish settlement in China comprised of refugees fleeing Nazi Germany (“The Shanghai Moon”), political art (“Ghost Hero”) and restaurant workers’ union (“A Bitter Feast”). In the outstanding “Paper Son,” Rozan uses the history of Chinese immigrants who established regular grocery stores serving predominantly black neighborhoods in the Mississippi Delta during the early 20th century to sculpt a story about family, culture, prejudice and community. These businesses took hold because the Chinese laborers’ jobs building the railroads dried up and white grocers who would not sell to black residents. Lydia, a Chinese American who lives with her traditional mother in New York’s Chinatown, had never heard of Chinese grocers nor did she know that she had relatives living in Mississippi until a tragedy happens. Her 23-year-old cousin, Jefferson Tam,
TSUE CHONG from 1 Tim Louie, the fourth-generation former owner of the iconic fortune cookie and noodle factory in the ChinatownInternational District (CID). The Cheng family bought the factory from the Louie family in June. Camillo and Isaac Cheng, father and son, are president and vice president, respectively, of SAVr, LLC. Prior to acquiring Tsue Chong, SAVr contracted other food manufacturers to make products for them. The Chengs once owned Golden Pheasant Foods (GPF) on 12th and Weller streets in the CID, which manufactured similar product lines—cookies, noodles, and wonton wrappers—as Tsue Chong, until they sold GPF to California’s Passport Food Group in 2012. “We were friendly competitors,” Cheng commented on GPF’s relationship with Tsue Chong. Cheng’s grandparents were from Beijing, China. His father Camillo was born in Taiwan, grew up in Malaysia, and moved to the United States after high school to attend college. Camillo met his wife, Sarah, on a blind date, after they both graduated from the UW. Sarah is a Washingtonian from Ellensburg. The couple had two boys and a girl. Isaac is the eldest. Besides the Huskies’ purple and gold, entrepreneurship runs in their blood. Isaac’s sister Annie is the CEO, “Chief Eating Officer,” of a culinary-focused tour company, The Table Less Traveled. Younger brother Alex is the “black sheep,” not being a UW graduate. He attended the UW, but transferred to West Point Military Academy. He cross-commissioned into the Navy after graduation and is an EA-18 Growler pilot, stationed nearby on Whidbey Island. Born in the Seattle area, Isaac spent his formative years on the Eastside. In the 1990s, Camillo bought GPF, which provided Isaac summer jobs during high school. Isaac studied business at the UW, worked management consulting in the
has been arrested for the murder of his grocer father, Leland. Despite the strong evidence, Lydia’s mother refuses to believe any relative—no matter how distant—could be a murderer. She wants Lydia and Bill to go to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to prove Jefferson’s innocence. That alone is a revelation since Lydia’s mother has never approved of her profession and has even less regard for Bill, who is white. With Jefferson’s uncle, Capt. Pete Tam, as their guide, Lydia and Bill maneuver through the morass of bigotry and an economically depressed community overwhelmed with drugs. Although the Tams have lived in Clarksdale for generations, the family still is disconnected from the rest of the town. However, those family members who moved away to larger cities have a different experience, including Reynold Tam, whose father married a white woman and who is running for governor of Mississippi. Chinese families are complicated, as Lydia explains to Bill. While these people are distant relatives, they are still family. Adding to the tangled family tree are those men who are “paper sons”—immigrants who convinced naturalized Chinese Americans to file papers identifying them as a son. In some cases, these “sons” had never met their “fathers.” A bit of money helped. Lydia and Bill were last seen in 2011′s “Ghost Hero,” but Rozan’s intricate plotting and affinity for characterization is seamless, making the reader remember how much we missed spending time with these private detectives. Rozan uses the historical footnote of Chinese grocers as a springboard for a rich, deeply satisfying mystery.
San Francisco Bay area for a few years, then moved back to the Seattle area 5 or 6 years ago. The opportunity to purchase Tsue Chong was timely. “My father sold Golden Pheasant and helped with the transition for a while, but then struck out on his own. He was looking for an opportunity to get back into manufacturing when Tim called.” “Yeah, it’s bittersweet with 102 years of family history in Tsue Chong. The Rose Brand is in good hands with the Chengs. They’ll continue the legacy.” Louie said. Tim’s great-grandfather Gar Hip started making noodles with a hand-cranked machine and sold them freshly wrapped in newspapers in Seattle around 1917. When Gar Hip retired, his son, Fat Yuen, and wife Eng Shee ran the business. They then passed it onto their sons Kenneth and Henry, Tim’s uncle and father, respectively. The Rose Brand was established as the business grew. “My grandfather liked to grow red roses,” Louie recalled. Tsue Chong produces 80,000 fortune cookies and 17 kinds of noodle products a day, selling under the Rose Brand locally in Washington and distributing regionally to restaurants in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Cheng is grateful for all the connections Louie has helped him make. “Continuation of the legacy is important,” he said. “The transition would not be successful without their knowledge.” “The only change is the ownership. Everything is still the same—the employees, the machines, and the products,” Louie said. “The Chengs have some good ideas that I’ll help implement.” He said he’ll stay at Tsue Chong as long as he’s needed. “The company’s been making high quality products for years,” said Cheng. “Retaining the people who make them is the goal. And to continue the workers’ legacies, to pass on their knowledge, so there’ll be stability and resilience.” Cheng noted some changes in the process and modernization
more than a decade ago. Four people were convicted in those cases.
Soldier from India awarded citizenship after long delay BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union says a member of the U.S. Army from India has been granted citizenship after a lengthy delay. Army Specialist Hiren Korat had enlisted in the Army three years ago as part of a program that was supposed to lead to expedited citizenship. But Army Specialist Hiren Korat after two years of waiting, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit in January to speed up the process. Korat was awarded citizenship on Aug. 16 in Bedford. The program, run through the Department of Defense, recruited immigrants who demonstrate critical language and medical skills as part of a path to citizenship. The program has been put on hold to new recruits amid concerns that immigrant recruits were not screened adequately, and security threats were slipping through the system.
will come, such as in food safety regulations and technology. “It won’t be easy to implement, but we need to balance risks with change,” he said. He is cognizant of the impact on his employees, many have worked under the Louie family for decades. One of them is Li Ming Li, who has been with Tsue Chong for 28 years. Li immigrated to the United States from Guangzhou and works in the front office. When asked which restaurants in CID use Tsue Chong’s products, Li replied, “Every restaurant here uses our noodles because they taste so good.” She is biased for obvious reasons. “What about the noodle shop down the street?” “Oh, no, not that one,” Li said. “Not yet,” Cheng chimed in. “Living with a commitment to excellence shall take you far.”-Fortune cookie Becky can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
asianweekly northwest
12
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
37 YEARS
■ WORLD NEWS
Women, late-in-life new authors expand Japanese literature By ALEX BARREIRA ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOKYO (AP) — The works receiving one of Japan’s most coveted literary awards, the Naoki Prize, have something new in common: For the first time in 85 years, all six of the nominated authors are women. Japan is home to what many consider the world’s first novel, “The Tale of Genji,’’ written in the 11th century by noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu. Its modern fiction has been defined mostly by long-established male writers such as past Nobel laureates Kenzaburo Oe and Yasunari Kawabata. And for decades it has been dominated by Haruki Murakami, whose surreal blend of magical realism and pop culture has made him an international bestseller. But Japanese literature is beginning to look different as new voices, including young writers, women and the elderly, receive domestic and international recognition. On Aug. 23, two women, Natsuko Imamura and Masumi Oshima, were presented with the Akutagawa and Naoki prizes. Since 1935 the Akutagawa and Naoki have recognized serious and popular fiction, respectively, and provided their winners with a commemorative watch and 1 million yen (a little under $10,000). Even more valuable is the prestige its winners receive from media attention and, increasingly, a clear path to wider audiences through translation. Consider, for instance, the 2016 rise of “Convenience Store Woman.’’ Writer Sayaka Murata’s novel inspired by her own jobs has sold more than 600,000 copies in Japan since it won the Akutagawa Prize that year. Murata, then 36, and still working part-time at a convenience store, shared the stage with actress Naomi Watanabe, known as “the Japanese Beyonce,’’ as one of Vogue Japan’s “Women of the Year.’’ Two years later, the
Masumi Oshima (left) and Natsuko Imamura (right)
English translation of Murata’s novel was an editor’s best-ofthe-year choice by the New Yorker, the magazine that helped catapult Murakami to stardom. “International markets grow when talent emerges,’’ said John Freeman, who published work from Murata and Murakami as editor of the anthology “Freeman’s.’’ `’In the past two and a half decades, there’s been an explosion of good writing coming from Japan. ... That wave is cresting now with writers just barely 40 years old.’’ Publishers in the United States and Britain are seeing a growing audience for novels in translation, experts say. Translations of half a dozen prize-winning works by female authors from Japan were published last year in the United States, with Yoko Tawada’s “The Emissary’’ taking a 2018 National Book Award for translated work. “The number of new voices that have been made available to Anglophone readers over the last few years has been encouraging,’’ said David Karashima, a professor at Waseda University who has translated Akutagawa-winning fiction.
Karashima said there are still not as many women published in Japan as men, but this may be changing, in part because there are more women on selection committees for literary prizes. He added that translated Japanese fiction is itself going through a “mini-boom.’’ “Outside of Japan, over the last five years or so, there seems to be a great thirst for fiction by Japanese women writers,’’ Karashima said. And there’s evidence of a demand in Japan for stories that look different from those mostly produced by men in the past. The latest Akutagawa and Naoki winners are bestsellers this summer. A recent issue of “Bungei’’ literary magazine on “South Korea, Feminism and Japan’’ required two reprints, a first in more than 80 years. Erika Tsugawa, a U.S.-based translator who runs the blog Tsundoku Reader, said she has also noticed a wave of new writers entering the field in middle age or after unrelated careers. She recalled a computer programmer who “used anger to fuel her novel writing’’ about the injustice she received while raising her two children. Another writer, Chisako Wakatake, 63, won the Akutagawa in 2017 for “I’ll Live by Myself,’’ a story about a 74-year-old widow adjusting to life alone. She began writing full time at 55. Fans hope that the popularity of new voices will lead to appreciation of diversity in expression and identity in a society that’s often stereotyped, even within Japan, as a monolith. Tsugawa said that publishers haven’t helped by favoring for translation “very ethereal and very quirky’’ novels associated with the style of Murakami. “It was a revelation when I could read Japanese novels and there was all this stuff out there,’’ Tsugawa said. “There’s freshness there that doesn’t make the bestselling list.’’
Sun Wen appointed China football vice president By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — Former FIFA female player of the year Sun Wen has been elected as vice president of the Chinese Football Association as China seeks to revamp its lagging national program. Sun, who became captain of the Chinese team in 2000, is currently director of the women’s youth training department at the CFA. Sun scored 16 goals over two Olympic and four World Cup tournaments, including the 1999 edition in which China was runner-up to the United States. She also played two seasons with the Atlanta Beat of the now-defunct Women’s United Soccer Association. Also on Aug. 22, Chen Xuyuan, former president of Shanghai International Port Group which owns China Super League team Shanghai SIPG, was elected CFA president and former China national team coach Gao Hongbo and deputy sports minister Du Zhaocai were also
BLOG from 10 longevity. Milk chocolate has too much sugar. I love dark chocolate cake. But I don’t want to eat it often. My selfdiscipline is decent. Even though I can afford to have it, I would eat it only once every few months. When our family celebrates birthdays and anniversaries, chocolate cake is
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Sun Wen (left)
voted in as vice chairmen. The Chinese women’s team is 16th in FIFA rankings and its men 71st. Coached by former Italy manager Marcello Lippi, China is pushing ahead with a reform program issued in 2015 that envisions the men qualifying for the 2022 World Cup
and becoming a top-ranked national team by 2050. That includes allowing the China Super League to operate along more market-oriented lines with greater independence from the CFA. It would also nationalized Chinese players onto the national team, including London-born Nico Yennaris and, most recently, Brazilian-born Elkeson, who, while having no Chinese heritage, qualified under FIFA’s five-year residency requirement. China’s World Cup qualifying campaign begins away against the Maldives on Sept. 10. The country’s lack of success in international football— having qualified for only one World Cup in 2002 under Bora Milutinovic—has long confounded China’s leaders. President and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping has taken a personal interest in changing its fortunes, ordering a massive program of youth leagues, football academies and pitch construction.
my favorite dessert. At home, I have all kinds of dark chocolate. From dark chocolate with almonds to Godiva, I have them at my fingertips. Still, I consume no more than three small pieces a day. I don’t miss other kinds of candies or sweets, which would be terrible for my health. Buy yourself chocolate if you feel down. Chocolate is a
mood booster. I cannot live without them at home. They are also pleasing treats for the Northwest Asian Weekly staff.
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YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
asianweekly northwest
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Predictions and advice for the week of August 31–September 6, 2019 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Warming up to an idea that you had initially dismissed? The more you learn about it, the better it seems.
Dragon — You are not afraid of hard work, but it is important that you set aside time for play as well.
Monkey — You are of two minds today. If you delay too long in making a choice, it may be decided for you.
Ox — Your attention is sought by many, but you are under no obligation to grant it to all who seek it.
Snake — To the extent that your concern overlaps with a colleague’s, consider whether it would make sense to consolidate your efforts.
Rooster — At the top of your game, there is no stopping you. Go ahead and tackle the project that you have been putting off.
Tiger — Not in the mood to mingle today? This might be a day better suited for activities close to or at home.
Horse — It could take a lot of experimentation, but you will know when you have hit the right combination.
Dog — Is your outside world finally starting to reflect how you feel inside? Others will notice the change in you as well.
Rabbit — A creature of habit, it takes a lot to get you off the beaten path. If you are willing to deviate, then adventure awaits you.
Goat — Are you taking something precious for granted? Recognizing the value in what you have is the first step to safeguarding it.
Pig — Are you avoiding something that makes you feel uncomfortable? In order to make progress, you cannot shy away from the truth.
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, 2019
*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.
The Henoko base, decades in the making and backed by the Japanese government, would replace a base that’s considered noisy and dangerous and is in a crowded residential area of Okinawa. Many residents want the base moved completely off Okinawa, and its new governor, Denny Tamaki, was
elected last year while pushing that demand. Berger played down worries about delays and said construction was going smoothly, while stopping short of giving a detailed timeline. He said he earlier checked out the construction of a Marines facility in U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, where some of the Marines from Japan will be transferred. “I think the progress is solid,’’ he said, adding that the
DUGONG from 4
TRUMP from 5
There are about 250 in Thailand’s coastal waters. Experts say 17 have died this year, an abnormally high number. “Most dugongs die because of humans, especially from their fishing equipment. If we can solve this problem, then we should be able to minimize the dugong’s death toll significantly,’’ said marine life specialist Thon Thamrongnawasawat. The female dugong that recently died was named Marium and became celebrated in Thailand after images of biologists embracing and feeding her with milk and seagrass spread across social media. The deaths of the two dugongs have raised concern over the negligence of sea resources in Thailand, with the disposal of plastic waste in Thailand’s seas being the main concern. Many NGOs have already come out with a campaign to raise awareness over the overuse of plastic bags in Thai society and advocating for Thai people to substitute it with cloth bags.
Asian American voters also could become a key factor in swing states. In Nevada, Asians make up 5 percent of registered voters and 9 percent of the eligible voting population. They comprise 5 percent of registered voters in Virginia and are 6 percent of the eligible voting population. The GOP, meanwhile, remains appealing to Asian Americans who are strongly anti-communist, as many are in Vietnamese communities. Some data also suggests that a large proportion of Filipinos and wealthy, higher-educated Chinese Americans are more likely to go Republican, Masuoka said. There is no solid answer for why, but religion is one often cited reason, she added. But it may be hard for some to look past Trump’s reported words. “He’s willing to use Asian stereotypes, Asian accents in his public speeches,’’ Masuoka said. “In that way ... the way Americans are talking about race is now shifting possibly back to what historically was effective before the civil rights revolution’’—explicit and sometimes offensive talk about race. The New York Post reported that Trump imitated South Korea President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, both close U.S. allies, at a fundraiser in the Hamptons in August. Trump used a fake accent to boast about Moon relenting in
JAPAN-KOREAN from 4
LIN from 1 interview in Taiwan in July that he had hit rock bottom and that “free agency has been tough.” Lin also said that “in some ways the NBA’s kind of given up on me.” He spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors. He was part of the Raptors team that beat the Golden State Warriors in June to win the franchise’s first NBA title. But Lin did not garner much interest in NBA free agency. Lin was an undrafted point guard out of Harvard but made his NBA debut with the Warriors in 2010, becoming the first Chinese American to make the league. “Linsanity” was born during a 35-game stretch with the Knicks, who signed Lin in 2011. But Lin’s stay in New York was short. He signed with the Houston Rockets in free agency in 2012. He played for the Rockets, Lakers, and Charlotte Hornets before signing a multi-year contract with the Nets in free agency in 2016. Injuries limited Lin to just 37 games with the Nets, and he was traded to the Hawks in 2018.
overall plan to begin the moves in the early 2020s is “on track.’’ Japan sees the U.S. as its most important ally. Berger said the military of the two nations work closely together. “This is the most consequential region for us. Our alliance with Japan is an essential part of that,’’ he said.
negotiations over the costs of U.S. military aid to South Korea and when rehashing talks with Abe had about trade tariffs, according to the newspaper. Trump has imitated Asian people before. At an August 2015 campaign rally in Iowa, he talked about his ability to deal with Asian negotiators and used broken English, saying, “When these people walk into the room ... they say ‘We want deal!’’’ In the past, such comments have led to outrage. In 1995, then-New York Sen. Alfonse D’Amato used a faux Japanese accent when discussing O.J. Simpson trial Judge Lance Ito, who is Japanese American, in a radio interview. The Republican senator’s apology was criticized at the time by the Asian American Defense and Education Legal Fund. “It was a time where even though we were very offended by the remarks, we thought it might make a difference to ask for an apology. But with President Trump, one doesn’t expect that,’’ said Margaret Fung, the group’s executive director. “That’s part of the way he speaks, the way he acts which is offensive. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get the kind of attention that maybe it should.’’ Officials for Trump’s re-election campaign defended his record with Asian Americans. “The Asian American community
AMERICAN FACTORY from 9 One of the American workers is shown bonding with Chinese colleagues, inviting several to a Thanksgiving dinner and to drive his motorcycle. Later, the worker is fired because it took him too long to use a computer. Reichter said she and Bognar were grateful to Cao for allowing them access to the factory. The company chairman mostly comes off as a cold-blooded capitalist, but
has never been stronger than under President Trump’s leadership,’’ campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. “Millions of Asian Americans have secured access to the strongest economy in modern history, with the Asian American unemployment rate hitting a record low under the leadership of President Trump.’’ A representative for the White House did not immediately respond on Aug. 21 to a request for comment. Trump supporters like Farhana Shah, of the Arizona GOP Asian American Coalition, however, say his personality is irrelevant. She praised Trump for creating jobs, passing a tax cut and keeping the country safe. Shah, who emigrated from Bangladesh in 2006 and is self-conscious at times about her own accent, also disagrees that his reported words were racist or done out of cruelty. “He has a humorous attitude. He has a funny way of expressing things,’’ Shah said. “Did he harm any political negotiations? Did the leaders (themselves) react to that? If not, then it didn’t do any big harm. So why should I get offended?’’ Shah has gotten into debates with those who question her support for Trump. “President Trump might not speak very posh, but he is trying to resolve these problems,’’ Shah said.
one arresting scene toward the end shows him wrestling with his legacy. “We hope that people realize that without empathy for people who are different from you, you’re not going to solve the political divide,’’ Bognar said. “We’re not going to solve gaping problems in this world. You have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to help see and feel other people’s points of view.’’
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AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
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NORTH KOREA from 4 short-range missiles, some experts said. On Aug. 1, North Korea said it tested a large-caliber multiple rocket guided system, a day after South Korea said the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles. Most of the North Korean weapons tested in recent weeks have shown short-range flight distances. This suggests that North Korea still doesn’t intend to lift its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests, which
DOGS from 8 However, she acknowledges the cats may also be responding to the sounds they hear. “Maybe it’s the tone of my voice,’’ she said. Bianca Burrascano, marketing coordinator with Citizens for Animal Protection, said the organization has seen dogs that respond to Spanish commands and others that respond to Vietnamese. If the dog does not initially know English commands, that doesn’t necessarily hold them back, she said. “I think they probably pick up another language better than a lot of humans do,’’ she said. In fact, teaching a dog to respond to English-language commands is actually
would certainly derail the negotiations with Washington. The latest North Korean launches came two days after South Korea said it would terminate its intelligencesharing deal with Japan amid trade disputes between the U.S. allies. Washington expressed its disappointment at South Korea’s decision. In a development that could possibly further complicate ties between Seoul and Tokyo, South Korea’s navy on Aug. 25 began two-day exercises on and around a group of islets controlled by South Korea but also claimed by Japan.
pretty straightforward, said Jerry Wolf, general manager of the pet-boarding and training company Man’s Best Friend. “The bigger challenge is teaching a deaf dog how to obey you,’’ he said. That’s because dogs don’t “speak’’ a language in the same way that humans process them. Rather, dogs simply learn to associate certain sounds with certain actions. “The native tongue for a dog is not a particular language,’’ Wolf said. About five to 10 people request for their dogs to be trained in Spanish each year, he said. Occasionally, after importing a dog, clients will ask to train their dog in English, as they often only respond to German or Hungarian. But he’s also seen clients who’ve used unconventional words to train their dogs, substituting
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Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the islets belong to Japan and called the drills “unacceptable.’’ South Korean navy officers said the drills are the first of two regular exercises held every year near the islets, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese. They said the drills involve aircraft landing on the islets and warships maneuvering nearby. Local media said South Korea originally planned the first drills in June, but delayed them in consideration of relations with Japan.
numbers or brand names in place of the terms for standard commands. Sheena Glazier, a trainer at Puptown Houston, said the company is currently training a Goldendoodle named Maverick using aviation terms. The dog was named for the Tom Cruise character in “Top Gun.’’ The business is also working with a Belgian Malinois dog, Mako, that only responds to French, and a Spaniard Poodle, Cyrus, that knows English and German commands. Like Wolf, Glazier said it isn’t hard to train a dog in another language. “People think of some complicated process,’’ she said. “Dogs are just responding to the vowels and sounds we make.’’
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AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
YOUR VOICE HONG KONG from 1 “The extradition bill is only the trigger for all these underlying issues,” said Corina Kwok De Los Santos. Kwok, 35, moved to Seattle five years ago. On Aug 25, she helped lead a rally of about 70 people in Westlake Plaza to support Hong Kong. Her parents, brother, and sisters are still living in Hong Kong. “They know that China has been doing stuff like this,” she said. “The reason why the people of Hong Kong are worrying is about the fear of the communist party, and the extradition law is the trigger.” In a news release, organizers of the Aug. 25 rally said the purpose of the gathering was “to let Washington state and Seattle residents know about the bill that is currently in Congress, H.R. 3289—Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act of 2019, and what this bill can achieve and help to solve the current crisis in Hong Kong.”
Seen and unseen fears
Chinatown organizations organized a counterprotest to the Westlake rally, on violence and Hong Kong’s independence on Aug. 25 at Hing Hay Park.
different legal system for Hong Kong until 2047, under an agreement known as “one country, two systems.” “They are trying to fight for what they are promised in the basic law,” said John Chan, 43, whose mother is still in Hong Kong. “They are not trying to overthrow the government.”
Awe from abroad
Philip Lipson and Charlette LeFevre, directors of the Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club at Bruce Lee’s grave on Capitol Hill.
Another group calling for action in Seattle and around the United States is the Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club, which 13 years ago successfully organized resistance to a wildly popular show of dead bodies from China, called “Bodies: The Exhibition.” The bodies had been encased in plastic, but were leaking fluids, and eventually most were found to have come from political prisoners executed in northern China, according to ABC News. “There is definitely a legitimate human rights concern by Hong Kong about China imposing an extradition law on Hong Kong given China’s human rights violations of executing prisoners,” said Charlette LeFevre, director of the Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club, in an email. “We became very familiar with China’s unjust court system and use of prisoners via the very visible ‘Bodies: The Exhibition’ displays,” she said. The Seattle City Council eventually passed a resolution banning the exhibit, which had attracted millions nationwide. The group that held the rally at Westlake Mall, a collection of volunteers calling themselves SEArious for Hong Kong, says some of what they feared has already come to pass. They cite the disappearance of prominent publishers into China, the removal of justly elected legislators, and say that Hong Kong police have just arrested two American journalists. All these actions, they insist, are violations of the Basic Law that China signed with Britain to guarantee a
Students in Hong Kong have adopted a leaderless, flowing approach to deal with police and government violence, retreating when necessary, seeking alternate routes for protest, and scattering when necessary. According to the Washington Post and other news outlets, their tactics are based on a saying by Bruce Lee, “Be like water.” LeFevre said that Bruce Lee is “perhaps the most famous Chinese man in the world,” and that his approach to conflict was part of his commitment to justice and righteousness. Residing, studying, and working as an actor for many years in Seattle, his memory ties the two cities together, she said. “Bruce Lee was a son of Hong Kong and Seattle, and of the world. For us, there is no doubt that if Bruce Lee were alive today, he would be standing alongside the Hong Kong protesters fighting for democracy, justice, and equality,” said LeFevre. “It is scary and frightening to be a protester,” she added, recalling her days protesting the WTO in 1999 in Seattle. Ha, the developer originally from Vietnam, admires the bravery and persistence of the students. “The protesters are mostly students, teenagers. They are very young and they are not afraid to stand up to speak for what they believe and what they want,” he said. “This is the longest protest in Hong Kong history. To organize it is not easy,” he added.
not attract any counter protesters, but organizers suspect it may have been because of heavy police presence. As for any future rallies in Seattle, the prospects for clashes—or even the ultimate effects of such rallies—is not entirely clear. “In terms of a march here in support of the protests in Hong Kong, it will demonstrate solidarity for what appears to be the vast majority of Hong Kongers who support the demands for the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill, an independent investigation of police behavior, and perhaps the resignation of Carrie Lam,” said David Bachman, professor at the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington (UW). “But a demonstration here is not going to affect anyone’s calculus in Hong Kong. And a peaceful march here may generate a counter demonstration by proPRC supporters,” he said. But organizers are not intimidated. “I’m not worried about who is going to stand up against me, I’m only worried about what is the right thing to do,” said
asianweekly northwest
Ha. “Government is to serve people not to create distress or repress people.” Still, some scholars worry that demonstrations in support of Hong Kong could be seen as a condemnation of China in general and all Chinese immigrants here. “We should protest and promote targeted sanctions and boycotts of Chinese corporations and political leaders who benefit from the camp system in Xinjiang and who are complicit in oppression in Hong Kong,” said Darren Byler, a lecturer at the UW who studies systems of repression used in Xinjiang and other parts of China. “The important thing is to be clear that we are opposed to authoritarian power, Islamophobia, and imperialism in all forms (including in the United States) while at the same time we embrace all immigrants, particularly from places like China,” he said. “It is important to differentiate institutions of oppression from groups of people,” he added. Organizers here insist they only want to help their home. “If we can try to tell all the people in America that believe in justice and democracy and human rights, please reach out to your senators and congressional representatives and ask them to support this law for human rights and justice,” said Kwok De Los Santos. Some volunteers from her group have offered to join future rallies organized by the Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club in Westlake Plaza or Hing Hay Park in the Chinatown International District. The Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club asks anyone interested in joining future rallies to email: seattlecharlette@gmail.com. Mahlon can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
A call for action
As Congress mulls a bill to support human rights in Hong Kong, called the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the supporters in Seattle are planning more rallies. Ha is planning to support the Seattle Bruce Lee Fan Club to plan future rallies, possibly on future Sundays in Westlake Plaza or Hing Hay Park. “The young Hong Kong people deserve support world wide. In a lot of countries, everyone is standing in awe of the protesters in Hong Kong,” he said. However, in other cities around the world, pro-Hong Kong rallies have been met with counter rallies by people in support of the Hong Kong police and the Chinese government. In London, Vancouver, Auckland, New Zealand, and other cities around the world, supporters of Beijing have torn down protest walls put up by supporters of Hong Kong while holding counter rallies, according to the New York Times and the BBC. The Aug. 25 rally in Westlake did
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37 YEARS
AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
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COSTCO from 1
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government, reported government officials as saying, “Because there is a high concentration of people around the newly opened supermarket, for the safety of the public, we recommend that residents consume in a reasonable manner and choose to go shopping at an off-peak time.” “The store has been clogged up with crowds,” Costco texted club members. “To provide you with better shopping experience, Costco will suspend business in the afternoon. Please don’t come.” A long queue formed outside the store’s entrance, with
HANA AND ALICE from 7 his leads including, and then rotoscoping their faces and figures. We start with Tetsuko “Alice” Arisugawa (voiced and body-modeled by Yu Aoi), who arrives at a new school knowing no one and having no idea how to fit in. She’s uncertain and a tad bit shy, but she’s capable of some iron in her spine, especially if she’s bickering with her single mother Kayo Arisugawa (voiced by Shoko Aida). Her parents’ divorce hit Alice hard, exacerbating her adolescent confusions to the point where she’s not sure what to do, or who she should be. Matters aren’t helped when she arrives in her new homeroom. Her classmates tell
some parts of the store so full they were impossible to enter immediately. Costco’s own-brand baked goods, such as muffins, were among the most popular items. “There are discounts as the business is opening now. Meat is cheap here,” said Rick Zhou, 31, who drove for more than an hour to the store. Clips circulating on Weibo and other Chinese social media show customers crammed in aisles, playing tug-ofwar with raw poultry and elbowing other shoppers out of the way. “Milk powder is very cheap and meat is cheaper than the average supermarket,” said a 60-year-old man Mr Wang, who spent Rmb1800 ($251) at the store, adding, “New Zealand apples are also well-priced.” Costco confirmed that it would re-open on Aug. 28. “Local police will assist in improving traffic in the area, in order to lessen the disturbance to our neighbors, and we have improved our internal guest flow system,” Costco said. “During the upcoming week, we’d like to ask our members to check there [sic] SMS before visiting—we will notify you if we are nearing maximum capacity or if there are long wait times.” Costco apologized on Chinese social media site WeChat, saying it will enforce a 2,000-person cap on the number of customers permitted in the store at one time. Meanwhile, the Northwest Asian Weekly has learned that the architect for the Shanghai Costco building is MG2, an architecture firm based in Seattle. MG2 and Costco are longtime partners. The firm has helped build the Costco brand and more than 725 warehouse locations around the
world. The Costco opening highlighted optimism among U.S. companies about the Chinese market, where wealthy consumers are increasingly demanding high-quality products that foreign brands are well-positioned to provide. Costco’s opening comes at a time when other international retailers have failed to succeed in the Chinese market. Costco’s corporate counsel James Doane told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “Our membership warehouse club model has been very successful everywhere we do business around the world. We have been in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan since the 1990s, for example. Looking at opening in mainland China was a natural progression. We tested the market through e-com using Tmall.com, operated by Alibaba, and what we learned selling in China online helped us when we decided to invest in our first brick and mortar location in Shanghai.” Costco’s senior vice president for Asia, Richard Zhang, said that Costco carefully marketed the brand to Chinese consumers, building brand-awareness. “Chinese consumers are ready to pay for a membership card that grants them an exclusive privilege to buy at a warehouse store, it’s not a new concept in the country,” Zhang said. Sam’s Club has been in China for about 20 years. The warehouse chain has roughly 24 stores open in the country. It said earlier this year it plans to add 16 more locations in mainland China by 2020.
her not to say certain things, perform certain actions, and definitely that she must not sit in certain places. The reasons for all these strictures may lie in supernatural possession, but it may also be a bunch of poppycock dreamed up by one of the other girls as a grandstanding bid for attention. Alice will be become much more confused, before the end. But when she meets Hana Arai (voiced and body-modeled by Anne Suzuki), a guilt-ridden girl who won’t come out of her house and seems well on the way to becoming “hikikomori” (a youthful recluse who withdraws completely from human contact), until Alice shows up. Alice won’t let her new friend fade into the woodwork. She’ll pull Hana out if it risks her own sanity and stability. In the end, the too-confusing plot seems less important
than its emotional underpinnings. The two girls help each other through life, and they cement their care for each other through words, deeds, and the always-graceful ballet dancing. You’ll find yourself thinking of your own best friend or friends, whether or not you ever braved ballet lessons.
Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
“The Case of Hana and Alice” plays on August 31, September 1, and September 8 at the Grand Illusion Cinema, 1403 N.E. 50th Street in Seattle’s University District. For prices, showtimes, and other information, visit http://grandillusioncinema.org. Andrew can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
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