VOL 39 NO 28 | JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 39 NO 28 JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

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Sidelined by protests, abandoned by police, AAPI businesses yearn for return of safety

U:Don Fresh Japanese Noodle Station

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Sometimes the sentries outside the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone would let him in. Other times, they’d question him. Now that the police have reclaimed the area,

Tak Kurachi still can’t get customers to come. The area is still blockaded. “It’s like an exchange of hands,” said Kurachi, 41, owner of U:Don Fresh Japanese Noodle Station, in a telephone interview. see CAPITOL HILL on 8

Robin Leong honors fatherhood and Chinese tradition with a new children’s book By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY He’s been known as that handsome star from Singapore’s Triple Nine and the son of Seattle’s own Grandmaster John S. S. Leong. But what is foremost on Robin Leong’s mind these days is being a dad. “Becoming a father, my priorities changed,” Leong told the Northwest Asian Weekly. “Everything I do now is for my kids, and that’s not a bad thing—that’s a great thing. I love fatherhood. I think I was born to be a father.” With fatherhood as inspiration, Leong has written a children’s book, The Kung Fu Force and the Tower of Doom, published by Epigram Books. The book, which will be part of a series, see LEONG on 12 Robin Leong with his sons Lucas and Brady.

Man goes on racist rant against Asian family dining at restaurant

Kodama’s job saved

A video of a man racially abusing diners at a restaurant in Carmel Valley, California over the holiday weekend has gone viral after it was retweeted by “The Voice” judge Kelly Clarkson. Jordan Chan originally shared the video on Instagram on July 6, showing the man cursing and gesturing with his middle finger at the family at the Bernardus Lodge and Spa’s Lucia restaurant. Chan said the man “relentlessly harassed” her family while they were celebrating her aunt’s birthday. “Trump’s gonna f*** you! You f***ers need to leave... f***ing Asian piece of s**t,” the man is heard saying to Chan’s family in the clip. A waitress at the restaurant is seen stepping in and ordering the man to leave. “You do not talk to our guests like that. Get out now,” she is heard saying. “They are valued guests. You are not allowed here ever again.” Chan said, “I’ve dealt with racism as well, but never on that scale. Never on that level to the point

Bellevue College’s Interim President Gary Locke has approved a one-time allocation from the president’s discretionary account to 91.3 KBCS-FM, and save the jobs of the News Director and Program Director. KBCS is affiliated with Bellevue College, and the college’s Board of Trustees holds the broadcast license for the radio station. Supporters of Yuko Kodama had started an online petition to save her job as News and Public Affairs Director. Her contract was set to expire on June 30. The petition on Change.org said, “Yuko is a critical voice in our local media market … Her stories, along with those of her volunteer/student news

■

Image from Jordan Chan’s Instagram account

where somebody completely unprovoked felt see RACIST RANT on 9

Yuko Kodama

team often focus on the most underserved populations in our see KODAMA on 4

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

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Yoneko Mochizuki’s 100th birthday

Passing of the gavel between David Della and Henry Wong

Zoom call with family members

Centenarian Yoneko Mochizuki

The staff and residents of Nikkei Manor celebrated the 100th birthday of Yoneko Mochizuki on June 27. Jenn Doane, Mochizuki’s granddaughter, said, “She was so happy to see herself on the front page of Northwest Asian Weekly...the staff and residents really enjoyed reading about her life.” “We did a Zoom call for her birthday cake with my brother, who lives in Washington, D.C., then we surprised her in the Nikkei Manor garden for a socially distant celebration.” Doane said there was also a birthday card campaign for Mochizuki. “We were shooting to get 100 birthday cards sent to her from family and friends, and received over 150…so it’s safe to say she felt very loved on her special day.” Mochizuki is a survivor of the atomic bombing of

Nagasaki back in 1945, and was eventually able to find her way to Seattle in search of a better life. She’s now a resident at Nikkei Manor, where she has been quarantined since February. 

Henry Wong is new president of Seattle International District Rotary Club

The Seattle International District Rotary Club held its annual Passing of the Gavel Ceremony on June 18. Outgoing President David Della passed the gavel to incoming President Henry Wong, who officially took over on July 1. Due to the pandemic, the club meeting was done virtually. Della and Wong were in the same room and socially distanced for the ceremony. Wong said, “We couldn’t access our official gavel due to our restaurant meeting/storage place being closed so we

fashioned a paper gavel which David handed to me over Zoom.” 

Kin On CEO Nigel Lo retiring

Kin On announced on July 8 that its CEO, Nigel Lo, is retiring effective January 1, 2021. During his tenure, Lo oversaw the launch of the supportive housing program, provided board leadership for Aging in PACE Washington, gave much-needed guidance during a global pandemic, and secured Nigel Lo $750K in funding to replace the entire HVAC system for Kin On’s nursing home. Lo called his time as CEO “one of the most significant and rewarding experiences in my life.” He said he will be spending more time with family, especially his mother, who lives in a long-term care facility in Canada. The Kin On Board of Directors has already commenced the search for Lo’s replacement. 

SELF-CARE DURING COVID-19 “Family caregivers and care recipients should discuss what to do now, such as keeping Erwin J. Tan, M.D. in touch via Director Thought Leadership phone or email in Health, AARP and determining who can provide care if the caregiver gets sick.”

HOW TO COPE

COVID-19’S IMPACT ON GEN X CAREGIVERS

Days may feel chaotic but make time to exercise and talk to friends. Carve out a few moments in your day for a favorite hobby, like reading, drawing or baking. Even a long shower or bath can help calm frayed nerves.

Gen Xers — Americans born between 1965 and 1980 — are already more likely to be caregivers than those who belong to other generations. Based on a nationwide AARP study, AAPIs are almost twice as likely to care for their elders than the general population. Add coronavirus to the mix, and the stresses mount.

People who are caring for others can take steps to manage the stress.

1. TAKE AN INVENTORY OF YOUR RESOURCES. In high-stress situations, we kick into survival mode. Think back to other crises in your past, try to recall what resources you drew on that helped you through that time and write them down.

AARP has been working to promote the health and well-being of older Americans for more than sixty years. During this pandemic, AARP is providing information and resources to help the AAPI community and those caring for them to protect themselves from the virus and prevent it from spreading to others. For more information and resources about COVID-19, please visit

aarp.org/coronavirus

or simply scan the QR code below to follow AARP’s AAPI Facebook page.

2. TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF.

3. DRAW ON YOUR STRENGTHS. As a generation that went through adolescence during the AIDS epidemic, entered adulthood during a major recession, and today has high levels of debt, Gen Xers are accustomed to weathering hard times.

4. DRAW ON THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR PARENTS. Older adults have the wisdom and ability to call upon past successful coping mechanisms.

ment s a com leave u now what k s to let u arn ke to le you’d li out! b a re o m

YOUR VOICE

■ NATIONAL NEWS

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Hair weaves from Chinese prison camps seized By MARTHA MENDOZA ASSOCIATED PRESS Federal authorities in New York on July 1 seized a shipment of weaves and other beauty accessories suspected to be made out of human hair taken from people locked inside a Chinese internment camp. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials told The Associated Press that 13 tons of hair products worth an estimated $800,000 were in the shipment. “The production of these goods constitutes a very serious human rights violation, and the detention order is intended to send a clear and direct message to all entities seeking to do business with the United States that illicit and inhumane practices will not be tolerated in U.S. supply chains,“ said Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade. This is the second time this year that CBP has slapped one of its rare detention orders on shipments of hair weaves from China, based on suspicions that people making them face human rights abuses. The orders are used to hold shipping containers at the U.S. ports of entry until the agency can investigate claims of wrongdoing. Rushan Abbas, a Uighur American activist whose sister, a medical doctor, went missing in China almost two years ago and is believed to be locked in a detention camp, said women who use hair weaves should think about who might be making them. “This is so heartbreaking for us,’’ she said. “I want

people to think about the slavery people are experiencing today. My sister is sitting somewhere being forced to make what, hair pieces?’’ The July 1 shipment was made by Lop County Meixin Hair Product Co. Ltd. In May, a similar detention was placed on Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. Ltd., although those weaves were synthetic, not human, the agency said. Hetian Haolin’s products were imported by Os Hair in Duluth, Georgia, and I & I Hair, headquartered in Dallas. I & I’s weaves are sold under the Innocence brand to salons and individuals around the U.S. Both of the exporters are in China’s far west Xinjiang region, where, over the past four years, the government has detained an estimated 1 million or more ethnic Turkic minorities. The ethnic minorities are held in internment camps and prisons where they are subjected to ideological discipline, forced to denounce their religion and language and physically abused. China has long suspected the Uighurs, who are mostly Muslim, of harboring separatist tendencies because of their distinct culture, language and religion. Reports by the AP and other news organizations have repeatedly found that people inside the internment camps and prisons, which activists call “black factories,’’ are making sportswear and other apparel for popular U.S. brands. The AP tried to visit Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. more than a year ago during an investigation into

forced labor inside the camps. But police called the cab driver taking AP journalists to the area, ordering the driver to turn back and warning that the cab’s coordinates were being tracked. From the road, it was clear the factory—topped with “Haolin Hair Accessories’’ in big red letters—was ringed with barbed wire fencing and surveillance cameras, and the entrance was blocked by helmeted police. Across the street, what appeared to be an educational facility was topped with political slogans declaring “the country has power’’ and urging people to obey the Communist Party. It was unclear whether the factory was part of a detention center, but former detainees in other parts of Xinjiang have described being shuttled to work in fenced, guarded compounds during the day and taken back to internment camps at night. The Chinese Ministry of Affairs has said there is no forced labor, nor detention of ethnic minorities. “We hope that certain people in the United States can take off their tinted glasses, correctly understand and objectively and rationally view normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and American enterprises,” the ministry said in a statement. Last December, Xinjiang authorities announced that the camps had closed and all the detainees had “graduated,’’ a claim difficult to corroborate independently given tight surveillance and restrictions see HAIR WEAVES on 10

asianweekly northwest

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

38 YEARS

■ LOCAL NEWS

Washington state begins trapping for Asian giant hornets BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — About 600 traps to catch invasive Asian giant hornets are being placed in Northwestern Washington’s Whatcom County by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, more than doubling the number already set out by citizens. The state traps are being placed around Blaine, Custer, and Bellingham, the only places in the U.S. that the giant hornet has ever been found, The Capital Press reported. The traps are being put on the edge of forested areas.

The state has waited until worker hornets are active to put out the traps. Asian giant hornets—their Latin name is Vespa mandarina—are the world’s largest hornets. They are brutal to pollinators, known to decapitate honey bees and the subject of wide fascination. Five Asian giant hornets have been found in Whatcom County since last winter. The non-native wasp eats fruit, which is a potential

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problem for agriculture, agriculture department spokeswoman Karla Salp said. The agriculture department plans to trap for hornets through the end of October. Asian giant hornets are native to mainland southeast Asia and Taiwan. Queens nest in the ground over the winter and emerge in April. Workers start foraging in late June. 

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community, and people that the commercial media landscape fails to represent.” “There is no question that the News Director is a highly respected professional producing stories of great significance and well-received by listeners,” Locke said in a statement. “However, there were many inaccurate facts, statements, and accusations in communications from supporters that must be corrected.” Locke said KBCS has been operating with deficits for years, and that the college has subsidized approximately $774,000 over the past five years to cover expenses and balance its budget. “Many supporters of the News Director offered to raise money from the community to cover that position’s salary. While the sentiment is admirable, this would not be a viable option for KBCS. Within public radio, receiving funds for the employment of a specific individual

could be considered quid pro quo and raises questions of lack of impartiality and independence,” Locke said. Moving forward, Locke said KBCS must achieve financial self-sufficiency and balance its budget without subsidies from the college. “Unless the station can reverse the decline in underwriting revenue, the future of the station is in doubt. To ensure the station is able to keep a News Director and other critical staff in the future, I encourage those groups, who offered to raise funds to retain the News Director, to raise that same amount, but for the station in general—and above and beyond the planned community fundraising goals.” Kodama is Japanese American and one of very few women and people of color in a leadership news director role in the media industry.  To donate, go to kbcs.fm/donate.

View the solution on page 10

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

asianweekly northwest

The Layup Drill

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. As we head into the summer, we take a look back at a major record set by a Taiwanese athlete. In addition, Filipino American brothers are seeking to make it in the NHL.

Photo from Taiwan Today

World’s fastest woman remembered

This month marks the 50th anniversary of Chi Cheng’s incredible feet to break the women’s world record in two sprint events at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Chi won the 100 meters event in 10 seconds—a world record at the time. An hour later, she set another world record when she ran the 220 yards event in 22.7 seconds. Chi’s humble beginnings began in Taiwan where she ran barefoot among the rice fields. Her father borrowed money from a friend so that she could buy track spikes. Chi came to the United States where she went to Cal Poly Pomona and ran track. She won four U.S. national championships and was a dominant force in college track. She went on to represent China in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics. At the 1968 Olympics, she won the Bronze Medal in the women’s 80-meter hurdles. Chi was ranked first in the world in the 100 and 200 meters in 1970. Unfortunately for Chi, she suffered a career-ending leg injury at the 1970 Asian Games. Chi eventually returned to Taiwan, where she went on to work in government. Chi’s remarkable achievements should not be forgotten as she was once the fastest woman in the world.

Chi Cheng

The NHL is seeking to reopen this summer to continue its 20192020 season, and the Robertson brothers hope to be a part of it. Jason, 20, was drafted by the Dallas Stars in Jason Robertson 2017 and Nick, 18, was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 draft. The brothers have been working their way through the minor leagues with the hope of playing professionally. Both have represented Team USA in junior hockey and are doing well in the sport. Jason won a silver medal with Team USA in 2019 and Nick made the National Junior Team in 2020. He was the youngest player on the roster. Growing up in Southern California, the Robertson boys would go to Los Angeles Kings hockey games with their father and found their passion for the sport. They started skating at local rinks in California. But when they moved to Michigan in 2010, their hockey growth began with local leagues. The brothers were born in Manila

Tokyo Olympics seek COVID-19 defenses, but what exactly? By STEPHEN WADE AP SPORTS WRITER TOKYO (AP) — As the president of the Tokyo Olympics, Yoshiro Mori knows experts will have to come up with defenses against COVID-19 for the postponed games to open a year from now. These include quarantines for athletes, and few fans at the venues among ideas being floated by the organizing committee, the city of Tokyo, and the International Olympic Committee. The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, 2021. So far local organizers and the IOC have talked only vaguely in public about how the games can be held. They’ve proposed cutting out frills and simplifying, but have said the sports will be unchanged with 11,000 athletes competing from 206 national Olympic committees. Add to this 4,400 Paralympic athletes and thousands of staff members, technical officials, and Olympic officials. “What we are most worried about now is if we are told to limit people,“ Mori said on July 6, speaking with Yuriko Koike a day after she was elected to a

second term as Tokyo’s governor. “How do you separate tickets of those who already bought them?’’ Mori asked, throwing out an example of the challenges. “We have these kind of problems.’’ In addition to talks with Mori— a former prime minister—Koike also met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Koike, who is viewed as a future prime minister, said Abe explained the progress on vaccines being developed for COVID-19. Some scientists believe the Olympics can’t be held safely unless a vaccine is available. “Regarding the Olympics and Paralympics, there are various issues regarding what kind of form they will take, what will be done about costs and, above all, what will be done for coronavirus countermeasures,“ Koike said. In an interview last month, Olympic Games operations director Pierre Ducrey was optimistic the games would be held. But he was light on details. “The future is not clear exactly as to see OLYMPICS on 11

and moved to Los Angeles as young kids. Their mother is from the Philippines and moved to the United States to escape the Ferdinand Marcos regime. Rinks in Southern California Nick Robertson are few and far between for youth hockey so their father, originally from Michigan, moved them back to the Midwest where hockey is more prevalent. The boys actually began playing hockey when they were 4 or 5 years old and learned numbers by looking at the back of players’ jerseys. The brothers realize that they are role models to aspiring Asian hockey players out there. Both have been approached by younger Asian players that say that they look up to them because of their heritage. Nick has been especially moved by the following as Toronto has a big Asian-Canadian demographic. In 2017, when Jason was drafted, two other Asians were drafted, which included Japanese American players Nick Suzuki and Kailer Yamamoto. It was the first time in the NHL that three Asians had been drafted, which shows the disparity in minority representation in the sport.

Filipino American brothers seek to make it in NHL

see LAYUP DRILL on 10

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

■ WORLD NEWS

Tokyo governor wins 2nd term, buoyed by handling of virus By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has won a second term to head the Japanese capital, propelled to an election victory on July 5 by public support for her handling of the coronavirus crisis despite a recent rise in infections that has raised concerns of a resurgence of the disease.

In her victory speech, Koike, the first woman to lead Tokyo, pledged to continue to take measures to protect the city’s 14 million people amid the pandemic, calling it her “most pressing task.’’ “Now is a very important time to prepare for a possible second wave, and I will continue to firmly take steps,’’ she said. Japanese public broadcaster NHK said its exit polls showed that 74% of respondents supported Koike, with 63% saying they approved of her handling of the coronavirus crisis. Koike, 67, is a veteran conservative who has served in key Cabinet and ruling party posts, and is viewed as a potential candidate to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when his term ends in September 2021. For now, she says she’s focused on protecting the lives of the people of Tokyo, a megacity with a $1 trillion economy. “The next four years is a crucial time for Japan’s capital, with the Olympics and Paralympics coming up, and coronavirus measures are needed,’’ she said. “I’m fully committed to my duty as governor.” Tokyo’s infections started to rebound in late June, with the city reporting 111 new cases on July 5, topping 100 for a

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Professor who asked student to “Anglicize” name put on leave Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A professor at a San Francisco Bay Area community college was put on leave late last month after asking a Vietnamese American student to “Anglicize” her name because it sounds like a vulgarity in English, school officials confirmed. Laney College President Tammeil Gilkerson said that as soon as campus leaders learned of the comments, an unnamed faculty member was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, the East Bay Times reported. Freshman Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen told KGO-TV that on her second day of classes at the college in Oakland, she received an email from her trigonometry professor, Matthew Hubbard, asking her to use a different name. “On the surface this incident is obviously disturbing and comes after decades of discussing and working to combat structural racism, xenophobia, and violence” against the Black and Asian Pacific Islander community, Gilkerson said. Hubbard said in an email to The

Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen

Associated Press that he was sorry for his mistakes “and the pain they caused so many.” He declined to elaborate. About 30 percent of the college’s more than 16,000 students are Asian American. Nguyen said people would ask how to pronounce her name when they didn’t know how while she was growing up. “He’s being an ignorant person and not trying to learn my name,” she said of the professor. Emails exchanged between Hubbard and Nguyen shared on social media show Hubbard wrote to her saying her name “sounds like an insult in English.” see NGUYEN on 10

fourth straight day. New daily cases have spiked throughout Japan in recent weeks, with the country approaching 20,000 cases and 1,000 deaths. Koike said, however, that another state of emergency nationwide or in Tokyo would be difficult because the economy had already been battered by seven weeks of restrictions in April and May. She instead pledged to balance disease prevention and the economy, while suggesting “pinpoint’’ measures in specific areas. One area would be Tokyo’s night entertainment districts linked to younger people, who have accounted for the majority of recent new cases. A record 22 candidates ran in the election. Koike’s challengers included popular actor-turned-politician Taro Yamamoto and veteran lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya. Yamamoto wanted to cancel the Tokyo Olympics—which were postponed from this summer to next summer due to the pandemic—and use the funds to help people hurt by the coronavirus crisis. Utsunomiya, known as the Bernie Sanders of Japan, called for better welfare support for a more inclusive and diverse society.

Koike’s victory was widely expected, with a recent poll by the Mainichi newspaper having her leading her opponents by a wide margin. Outside a polling station in downtown Tokyo, retiree Hidekazu Tamura said he voted for Koike because of her effort to secure the Olympics. “I say no to anyone who is against the Olympics,’’ he said. Another voter, Yojiro Tsuchiya, said he didn’t think Koike had addressed growing concerns about the latest jump in coronavirus infections. “I don’t think they have a clear grasp of the current situation,’’ he said, adding that he voted for Utsunomiya, who is pushing for more testing. Koike also pledged to set up Tokyo’s own version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, she said Japan lacked an efficient crisis management system to deal with the pandemic. Despite a growing call for a cancellation of the Olympic, Koike said she hoped to achieve the event “as proof of our victory against the coronavirus.“ She has tried to gain public support for a simpler version see KOIKE on 11

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

Hirokazu Kore-eda, Catherine Deneuve look for ‘The Truth’ By LINDSEY BAHR AP FILM WRITER

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Catherine Deneuve plays an icon of French cinema in “The Truth.’’ She even chose her own middle name, Fabienne, for her character who says things like, “I’d rather have been a bad friend and a bad mother and a great actress.’’ But don’t go looking for some essential truths, or gossip, about Deneuve in lines like that, or in Fabienne’s eye roll at the

mention of Brigitte Bardot. dialogue-heavy character The 76-year-old insists that study about the nature of similarities end with the truth and memory and a name. delicate mother-daughter “To me she’s a stranger,’’ relationship with moments Deneuve said, cigarette in of comedy and drama. hand, after “The Truth’s’’ But Hawke found a way to debut at the Venice Film comfort his director. Festival. “It’s really so far “He said, ‘To make a good away from me.’’ movie it’s not important to She has a great share the same language. relationship with her Director Hirokazu Kore-eda It’s important to share the children and her co-stars and same vision,’’’ Kore-eda can’t think of any friendly said through a translator. “I rivalry with peers from her past. But it think that’s exactly the case.’’ doesn’t make “The Truth,’’ now available And all the actors adjusted in their on demand, any less of a fun send-up of own way. Deneuve said after she’d finish an imperious, larger-than-life star who a take, she would look at her director might not remember things the same way before anything else. her grown daughter Lumir does. “It’s important. You see little signs,’’ The tragicomic portrait of a star in she said. “After that we talk. But I always her final act who is juggling a film, the try to read something on his face first.’’ release of her memoirs and a visit from Deneuve relished the role and getting her daughter, played by Juliette Binoche, the chance to work with Binoche. comes by way of “Shoplifters’’ director Somehow the two had never been in a Hirokazu Kore-eda in his first film film together. outside of his native Japan. “It was really fun to play because it was It was a truly international affair, with so exaggerated,’’ she said. “It reminded a script primarily in French and English, me of the actresses from the 50s or 60s a director who spoke neither and actors in America because you have all these who didn’t speak Japanese. Ethan Hawke, people around. You know, I don’t have a who plays Lumir’s actor husband, didn’t press agent, I don’t have a stylist, I don’t speak French either. Suffice it to say, have a manager.’’ the Paris shoot was a little daunting Kore-eda counted himself as a fan for everyone considering the film is a of Deneuve’s and peppered her with

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00673E20, Work Order Multidisciplinary Engineering and Environmental Services for Water and Land Resources Division; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov, until 12:00 PM on July 27, 2020. This contract includes development and submittal of an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Innovation Plan. The ESJ Innovation Plan details the approach, strategies, and actionable steps that will be taken to maximize the participation of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms. Both MBE and WBE firms must be certified by the State of Washington Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises. Total Estimated Price: $2,500,000 (each)

questions about her films with French New Wave legends like Francois Truffaut and Jacques Demy. “Having my film in her filmography— which is as prestigious as the history of French cinema itself—is for me a source of both pride and anxiety,’’ he said. On set, he found her to be a free spirit with little vanity but always a cigarette around. “She’s like a person that is also like a child but extremely charming,’’ he said. “She’s not one who learns all her lines beforehand. She gets the gist. She gets on set and she adjusts acting together with the other actors who are moving around. I thought that for this movie that would fit the situation.’’ This is not to imply that she doesn’t take her work seriously. She does. In fact, partway through the movie she came to him and asked if she could see anything edited, especially scenes that she wasn’t in herself. Deneuve wanted to grasp, “the whole of the movie.’’ “I gave her a DVD with about 1/3 of the movie on it and she was really happy about it,’’ Kore-eda said. “She said, ‘Thanks to this, I got to understand your humor, your rhythm.’’’ Deneuve loves to work and despite her revered status will often take a chance on an unknown if the script is compelling. see THE TRUTH on 11

stay healthy. Consider quitting, if you smoke or vape. Do it for yourself and your family. • Smoking damages your lungs and other parts of your body. • And this may increase your risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19.

King County intends to award two contracts from this RFP. All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Regina Sparano, rsparano@kingcounty.gov, 206-477-4807

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

CAPITOL HILL from 1

Windows of the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct on 12th Avenue and Pine are boarded up.

And even though the main protests have ended, the crowds still surging in the area immediately outside of the former CHOP zone make it unsafe for them to get to work. Worried about the spread of the coronavirus, which seems exacerbated by the chaos and crowds that still seem to reign over the adjacent areas, Chucy is still taking an Uber to work. Before the protests, it cost her $6 one-way. Now, with the memories of the danger still present, the drivers are still charging the same rates they charged during the height of the CHOP activism. That means Chucy, who arrived from Thailand 6 years ago, and works only five hours a day, because her boss is portioning out hours among employees, must pay between $8 and $12 for a ride. Workers in both restaurants felt abandoned by the police. They said they had never seen anything like it. The abandonment of the East Precinct and the ceding of the area to protesters seemed pre-planned, said Kurachi, whose store is directly across from the police station. “Two days before they left, they were already putting up barriers at the block entries on 12th Ave and Pine around and boarding up the precinct windows. As soon as that work was finished, they up and left.” “It’s disturbing, being abandoned by law enforcement and the city, feeding these guys with food, barriers, whatever they needed,” he added, referring to the city’s enabling efforts for the CHOP zone. At the end of the two days of preparation, Kurachi saw busses pull up and the officers and state troopers file on. When his landlord called for more information, he was informed the police were leaving the area. “And we got this ominous quote from the police, ‘you guys are on your own,’” he said. Mangmati and Chucy were equally surprised by the departure of law enforcement. “When we saw the army arrive, we thought maybe they would come and take care of us,” said Mangmati, referring to the National Guard. “And then they left, and after that I saw that they and the police were just gone. We’ve never seen anything like this in Thailand.” Overall, though, both businesses hope revenue will pick up now. For Kurachi, who opened his

first shop in the University District in 2011 and his shop on Capitol Hill four years later, maintaining his business during the crisis was difficult. Every day, he personally drove cleaning and food supplies, including towels, soaps, take out containers and food ingredients, between his shop on University Avenue and his newer one on Capitol Hill. “Some of our vendors stopped delivering, they couldn’t get through,” he said. “I had to park my car just outside the CHOP and wheel it all in on a cart.” During the months leading up to the protests, his business had already dropped 70% to 80% due to the coronavirus pandemic. When he ramped up take out and delivery, it leveled off to a 50% drop. When the city allowed CHOP to fill the streets around his shop, his business nosedived again to at least 75% of normal. “Now we’re just running on fumes.” Kurachi said he ran through

Makeshift memorial for people who have died during George Floyd protests, or in cities where protests happened.

Photos by Assunta Ng

“It was like the police were in charge, then it was CHOP, now it’s back to the police,” he added. “Until the street in front of us is completely cleared, I can’t imagine us getting back to normal.” Now, however, the police have dispersed and regular traffic resumed, “which has been a huge relief,” he said. Just such turnarounds are typical of the experience of the few Asian and Asian American owned businesses that are still open after the desolation of the last month involving protests spiraling out of control, police brutality and abandonment, and the desecration of public property. Most of roughly a dozen Asian and Asian American owned businesses in the area were still shuttered after the month of turmoil. Many did not answer phones and listed closures on their websites. While Kurachi and others were relieved to have the police back, the long-lasting scars of the abandonment may never be healed, according to an attorney for businesses in the area that is suing the city in a class-action lawsuit. “The damage done has a variety of impacts and will continue,” said Patty Eakes, the attorney. “They were so frustrated, they’d reached out daily and nobody listened.” Kurachi said protesters would occasionally come into his shop and demand food. “I would say you have to pay for it,” he said. But they would insist, arguing they had bought something from him to drink earlier so he was obliged to provide food. “So I gave them what they wanted,” he said. Other forms of violence were experienced by Asian businesspeople as casual and random. At Baitong Thai Street Cafe, an eatery that serves Thai style street food, such as boat noodles—named because they were served on boats in Thailand 200 years ago—and crispy fried pork belly over rice, a gang of street goers casually smashed all the windows. It was 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning, and a group of half a dozen young men passed by. “They just wanted to have fun, they were just holding a stick and bam bam bam, they hit the windows all across the front,” said Kay Mangmati, the manager. Mangmati and her co-worker Sita Chucy saw the violence on a recorded video. “It’s like they were saying, ‘I don’t have anything better to do, so I just want to smash your windows,’” she said. Now that police have reclaimed the area, they still have to work out of a boarded up window. They could not get replacement windows during the protests. They still can’t. “We ordered them many weeks ago, and we were told it will still be many weeks before we get them,” said Mangmati. The restaurant workers take turns sneaking out the back door of the eatery.

Community garden created near Cal Anderson Park.

all of his saved up cash, and he is waiting for the police to open up the streets outside his shop. Baitong Thai saw a drop of 40% due to the pandemic, and then a further drop of 30% during the CHOP activism. Restaurant owners in the International District told the Northwest Asian Weekly that the recent activity hurt their businesses also, due to their drivers being unable to deliver to customers in and

around the CHOP zone. All of them are eager for a return to normalcy. Each of them recounted hearing frequent gunshots, fighting and seeing acts of violence and vandalism. “We are so happy to see the police nowadays,” said Mangmati.  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMENTARY

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

asianweekly northwest

My Asian privilege

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY It can be uncomfortable to look in the mirror and acknowledge, “Yes, I am privileged.” I am eternally thankful that I grew up in a household with two parents, had a modest middle class upbringing, had the opportunity to live in several countries across the world, received a college education that my parents funded, and held jobs that I (mostly) loved that I applied for and got with ease, jobs that paid enough to allow me to live a comfortable life. I have never worried about my next meal, or paying the rent or mortgage. For the most part, life has always worked out for me. I never feared getting gunned down or being choked to death when I walk down a street, or jog outside, or sleep in my bed; never worry when I see cops, never worry when a cop pulls me over (aside from getting a hefty fine and a ticket), and I never get questioned for driving a nice car. I never had to school my kids on how to act, what to say or not say if they ever get pulled over by a police officer. People are nice to me so often that it is jarring and shocking when someone is not.

RACIST RANT from 1 obligated to voice out their hatred for absolutely no reason, just because they’re filled with that much hatred and because what, because we’re different skin color.” The verbal abuser has been identified as Michael Lofthouse, CEO of tech startup Solid8. In a statement to ABC7 News in San Francisco, Lofthouse said his “behavior in the video is appalling.” “This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments,” Lofthouse said. “I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day.” Lofthouse did not respond to ABC7’s question about his role at Solid8. Lofthouse’s company is based in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, a British company with almost the identical name, Solid8 Consulting Ltd., has been receiving hate mail from people believing Lofthouse is the CEO of that

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I am blessed and I am privileged. Upon reflection, I know that my father faced discrimination as an indigenous person, and his marriage to my Chinese mother was perceived as “scandalous” back in the 1970s. I recall as a young girl living in England, sensing my father’s growing frustration waiting for a table at a restaurant, while white customer after white customer was seated first, even though my family had arrived earlier. I remember getting passed over for college scholarships despite excellent grades, and those scholarships going to students with poorer grades but were of the “right” race. Then there were my family members’ own biases. My mother never understood why I liked being in the sun and would scold me if I got too dark. She herself would shield her skin by wearing long sleeved blouses, even in the sweltering tropical climate we lived in. I recall my grandfather exclaiming, “Oh my God! You’re so dark!” when I would come home for school holidays, after spending months in the outdoor pool swimming laps as I swam competitively. The message was clear: dark skin = bad. Perhaps not so much racism as it was a sign of social class, especially in Asia... dark skin has long been associated with

working in the fields and, therefore, the peasant class. Pale skin is associated with living a more comfortable, cosmopolitan life indoors, out of the sun. Just a few months ago, we were preoccupied by the impact of COVID-19 xenophobia and bigotry on Asian communities. Yes, Asian Americans face bias and discrimination. It is also true that—in comparison with Black Americans—we have privilege. And with that privilege comes responsibility. Being a non-Black person of color in America, it’s vital to recognize that being Black in America is not the same as being any other race in America. Were it not for the civil rights movement led by Black Americans, we would not even be in a position to ponder whether or not there is Asian privilege. Asian Americans have a particular role to play as allies to the Black community in 2020. In the past, our silence has been used as an example of a “good minority” that doesn’t protest and doesn’t rock the boat. I make mistakes where I don’t recognize my privilege until after questioning it. And I am sure I will continue to make mistakes as I learn. But this reflection is sorely needed. Reflecting on one’s own privileges will bring about the change in how we treat others every day. 

company. “It appears that my company, Solid8 Consulting Ltd, is being incorrectly attacked for racism and hatred,” owner Emma Jones says in a statement on the company’s web page, adding, “We would never condone this type of behaviour.” In a statement from the restaurant where the incident occurred, Vice President and GM of Bernardus, Sean Damery, said, “This is an extremely unfortunate situation, however, we are proud of our staff at Lucia in keeping with Bernardus Lodge’s core values. This incident was handled swiftly and the diner was escorted off property without further escalation. We provide guests with a safe environment for lodging and dining, and extend our sincere apologies to the guests enjoying a birthday celebration on a holiday weekend.” Lofthouse immigrated to the United States in 2010, from the UK. According to his now-deleted LinkedIn page, he graduated from Newcastle Business School in England, and worked for Hewlett-Packard and IBM. Lofthouse’s Twitter page has been suspended due to a violation of Twitter’s rules.

In July 2016, Lofthouse was found guilty of vandalism and sentenced to two days in prison, three years probation, and 80 hours of community service. As a result of the case, Lofthouse also had a restraining order placed upon him. Lofthouse had also been facing charges of domestic battery and the destruction of telephone lines. Those charges were dismissed. Asian Americans in California have reported 832 incidents of discrimination and harassment in the last three months as the coronavirus stoked racial tension, according to a summary by the coalition Stop AAPI Hate. The incidents listed in the study released last week were self-reported and included 81 assaults and 64 potential civil rights violations. The Stop AAPI Hate reporting center was established by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department.  To report a hate incident, go to stopaapihate.org.

asianweekly northwest

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

38 YEARS

CLASSIFIED

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HAIR WEAVES from 3 on reporting in the region. Some Uighurs and Kazakhs have told the AP that their relatives have been released, but many others say their loved ones remain in detention, were sentenced to prison or transferred to forced labor in factories. While tariffs and embargoes over political issues are fairly common, it’s extremely rare for the U.S. government to block imports produced by forced labor. The 1930 Tariff Act prohibited those imports, but the government has only enforced the law 54 times in the past 90 years. Most of those bans, 75%, blocked goods from China, and enforcement has ramped up since thenPresident Barack Obama strengthened the law in 2016. Rep. Chris Smith said that while the allegations of forced labor are appalling, “sadly they are not surprising.’’

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Nguyen responded that his request “feels discriminatory” and warned the professor she would file a complaint with the school if he refused to refer to her by her given birth name. Hubbard wrote her back repeating the request, saying he would change his name if he lived in Vietnam and it was offensive. “I understand you are offended, but you need to

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understand your name is an offensive sound in my language,” he wrote. After the emails went viral on social media, Hubbard tweeted an apology that read: “I apologize for my insensitive actions which caused pain and anger to my student, and which have now caused pain and anger to an untold number of people who read my two inappropriate emails on the internet.” He has since deleted his Twitter account. 

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LAYUP DRILL from 5 Notably, only one player of Filipino descent has played in the NHL prior to Jason’s debut this past February. Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba was the first Filipino to play in the NHL. Dumba, a Canadian, noted that despite the fact he was the only Filipino in hockey, many Asian fans, especially when the team came to play games on

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the West Coast, would approach him. The older Robertson was called up to the NHL prior to the league stopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The brothers are living and working out together while the league awaits to return.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

“It is likely that many slave labor products continue to surreptitiously make it into our stores,’’ said Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has taken a lead on anti-human trafficking legislation. On June 17, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, condemning “gross human rights violations of specified ethnic Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang region in China.’’ Earlier, calling for its passage, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decried what she described as China’s mass incarceration, forced sterilization and journalist suppression. “Beijing’s barbarous actions targeting the Uyghur people are an outrage to the collective conscience of the world,’’ she said in a statement. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

Predictions and advice for the week of July 11–17, 2020 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat —Rather than trying to recapture the feelings from an old experience, focus on making new ones instead.

Dragon — Does somebody need your help getting past a stumbling block? Recognize that you were in that position once.

Monkey — You have much to do in a limited timeframe, but there are a few things that do take precedence.

Ox — Just when you think you have reached the pinnacle, there is yet another peak that is beckoning you forth.

Snake — Unsure about an opportunity to start over? Take it as a chance to build it better on the second go-around.

Rooster — While you are tempted to react immediately, there is good reason for a more measured response.

Tiger — You have much more to offer than you realize. The best gifts are often those that have no monetary measure.

Horse — There is a side of you that not many people get to see. Let your true self shine through.

Dog — Though not necessarily at the center of the spotlight, your role is an important one to ensure a positive outcome.

Rabbit — Don’t give up before you even start. No matter what the odds are, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot.

Goat — Pay attention if someone is willing to teach you the ropes. The lesson might be free, but no less valuable.

Pig — Much to their surprise, you will give the others a run for their money as you join the competition.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 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.

OLYMPICS from 5

KOIKE from 6

what environment we will have next summer,“ he said. “Right now we cannot go with one plan and say this is our plan to the end. We need to develop different options.’’ IOC President Thomas Bach has floated the possibility of limited fans, though he said it’s not his preference. Ducrey said the same thing in the interview with the International Academy of Sport Science and Technology. “We all work in this environment to create circumstances where you can have spectators,“ he said. “But when this comes in the way of delivering the event safely, I guess there is not a lot to think about.’’ Neither Japanese nor IOC officials have said what the postponement will cost. Estimates in Japan have ranged from $2 billion to $6 billion, with Japanese taxpayers getting most of the bills. 

of the Tokyo Olympics since the games were postponed. Though Koike has not fully delivered on promises to Tokyo residents to relieve congestion on commuter trains, ensure adequate availability of child and elder care facilities, and end overwork, even her critics have generally lauded her handling of the pandemic. That’s in sharp contrast to Prime Minister Abe, who has been criticized for doing too little, too late.

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THE TRUTH from 7 She’d even consider American television, but she doesn’t get many offers from across the Atlantic. The few that do come her way, she said, are “not very interesting.’’ Retirement is not something she thinks of. The cinema still excites her too much. “I suppose the cinema will retire me before I retire,’’ she said. “You retire on films when you don’t have any parts to be offered.’’ Kore-eda did have a little amendment to Deneuve’s claim that Fabienne isn’t like her at all, however. Before filming, he asked his star if there was any young actress in France who had “received her DNA.’’ “She said, ‘No, there is no one,’’’ he said. Kore-eda was so impressed by her answer and her conviction, he decided Fabienne had to say the same thing. The truth, sometimes, is relative. 

As the pandemic deepened in the spring, Koike often upstaged fellow conservative Abe, whose approval ratings have plunged due to his handling of the crisis and its severe impact on the economy, on top of a slew of scandals. A former TV newscaster, Koike is stylish and media savvy. She earned the nickname “Migratory Bird’’ for hopping between parties and forming new alliances—doing it at least seven times—a rarity among Japanese politicians, who are known for their loyalty to party factions. 

Proposals will be received for E00679E20, Engineering, Planning and Related Services for Traffic and Transit Systems Work Order - FTA - WA Regional Mobility Grant; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on July 29, 2020. This contract is funded by the Federal Transit Administration. There is a 15% minimum commitment for Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Certified Federal Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms on this contract. Total Estimated Price: NTE $500,000 King County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all Proposers that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. All solicitation documents are published at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/ procurement_ovr/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Alice Phoenix, alice.phoenix@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-9311

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 11 – JULY 17, 2020

LEONG from 1

draws from Chinese philosophy and martial arts, as well as Leong’s own family, who feature as characters in the book, to teach children important values. Each book will center around two important concepts —in the first one, perseverance and humility —garnered from Leong’s experience as a son, teacher, and family man. Leong, who was born and raised in Seattle, nevertheless comes from a strong Chinese background. “People seem to think that if you’re Asian American, you must be very Americanized, but my upbringing was very traditional.” Leong’s family celebrated all the major Chinese holidays, and Leong was heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy, which shows in his book. “I love Confucius,” said Leong. “You’ll see Confucius appear in the book. There are a couple of sayings in each book to help kids in this modern day learn and respect the history of Chinese philosophy —but get them to understand it more in a kid’s way because it’s quite deep.” For

this purpose, Leong uses what he calls “KIDSPEAK” in the book to take time to explain the deeper meanings, which he believes will also be relevant to parents. “Kids these days won’t even know who Confucius is, but parents will understand it, and I think it’s relatable to both parents and kids.” Leong has an affinity for working with children. In 2002, he opened his own martial arts studio, Ch’i Life Studio, in Singapore. Since then, Ch’i Life Studio has expanded to China, and most recently, to Seattle, alongside Leong’s father’s Seattle Kung Fu Club in the International District. “Any Grandmaster would like their son to follow in their footsteps,” Leong said. “I did it in a different way, honoring my father through Ch’i Life Studio, which is a studio mainly for kids. That was important to me because growing up in the Seattle Kung Fu Club, I was basically in a class with mostly adults. You really had to buckle down, two-hour training sessions, staying in the horse stance for a long period of time can be discouraging for a 4-year-old. I wanted to make it more kid-centric. Especially these days, with this generation, there are a lot of things kids can be distracted with. Their attention span is different [from when I was a kid]. There was no Xbox. There was no PlayStation. I wanted to give kids an outlet to release their energy in positive and dynamic ways.” At Ch’i Life Studio, Leong teaches his students the Hung Gar style of kung fu he and his father practice. He also teaches Shaolin wushu, by which he was inspired during his filming of the Chinese drama series, The Challenge, which was shot on location at the Shaolin Temple in China. In comparison to the Seattle Kung Fu Club, Leong said, “We share the same philosophy. The only difference is that our kids’ classes are shorter in duration, and the training methods and techniques

are more kid-centric and kid-friendly for them to better understand each move and movement.” Growing up, the topic of whether Leong would follow in his father’s footsteps was not particularly discussed. Kung fu was, of course, important in the Leong household, but “overall expectations were studying hard, working hard, and getting a good job after college,” related Leong, who chose, as he describes it, “the unconventional route.” “I had no aspirations to become an actor, writer, or kung fu master. I actually wanted to be a professional baseball player. When that didn’t happen, I started to think about being a lawyer.” He earned a degree in speech communications at the University of Washington. Then life—or destiny—took a turn when he moved to Hong Kong after graduation. After a couple of years in Hong Kong, where Leong got his feet wet in the film industry, he was sent to Singapore by his agent to do an ad campaign. “I was offered a TV series thereafter, I fell in love with the country, and I never left!” Leong is often asked what it was like growing up as the son of Grandmaster John Leong, and he laughs, “No pressure!” As the only son, and the youngest among older sisters, Leong admits that, “especially in a Chinese family, there are certain expectations that you can imagine, but it was elevated to a different level being the Master’s son as well.” Today, Leong is a kung fu Master in his own right and spends his time mostly between Seattle and Singapore. The world of The Kung Fu Force and the Tower of Doom is therefore familiar. The setting is a kung fu studio. The teacher, Shifu Seong, named after Leong’s father, who in Chinese is known as Leong Seong, is a seahorse so full of chi that he manifests his own water bubble to float in. Two students, based off of Leong’s own

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Harbor City Restaurant

津津鍋 206-264-8899 Homestyle Dim Sum

sons, Lucas and Brady, are characterized as Lucas the Lizard and Brady the Bengal Cat. And there’s one more student, Coco the Cockatoo. In day-to-day life, these are small pet animals, but when called upon to save the world, they become superheroes. The message: “This transformation can occur with anyone! It’s all in the mind. If you believe it, you can make great things happen. This is what I tell my young students. Have no fear. When you are performing or doing a competition, you become that superhero for a period of time, and that will propel you to victory. It’s great for a kid to have an alter ego he can be proud of.” Thus, Lucas turns into a Komodo dragon and Brady into a Bengal tiger—that’s their spirit, even though they are small in stature. “Be a hero in your head and you will always be a winner,” says Leong. Leong’s book has a message, too, for everyone during this trying time. “It’s about learning to show mutual respect for one another. It’s important to respect each other’s viewpoints and not to have a narrow mindset. Instead of showing anger through destructive words and physical altercations, try to find a balance and learn to respect each other, then you will see positive change, peace, and prosperity. I’m seeing things in Seattle that I’m saddened to see. It is my hope that everybody can just talk with each other calmly and find that peace and prosperity, together.”  The Kung Fu Force and the Tower of Doom will be available at Kinokuniya Bookstores in August or September 2020. The book can be found now at epigrambooks.sg and localbooks.sg. Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Some restaurants are open for dine-in, please call ahead to verify.

Dough Zone

麵貼面 206-285-9999 (華埠) 206-682-6666 (市中心)

• Dine in • Delivery • To go

Fortune Garden

利苑餐館 (206) 521-8933

Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant

Honey Court Seafood Restaurant

Jade Garden Restaurant

我家小館 206-382-9888

生隆酒家 206-621-2228

利口福海鮮飯店 206-382-9671

Hong Kong Bistro

Hong Kong Dim Sum

House of Hong Restaurant

錦棠海鮮酒家 206-292-8828

來來點心 206-340-6122

美味來香港茶餐廳 206-682-1922

海港明珠 206-829-9189

康樂酒家 206-622-7997

翠苑酒家 206-622-8181

Kau Kau Restaurant

King's Barbeque House

King’s Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Little OceanSheep Star Mongolian Hot Pot Seafood Restaurant

Phnom Penh Ocean Star Noodle House Seafood Restaurant

Purple Dot Cafe

Simply Thai

Szechuan Noodle Bowl

Tai Tung Restaurant

真川味牛肉麵大王 206-623-4198

大同酒家 206-622-7372

T&T Seafood Restaurant

663 Bistro

巧巧燒臘 206-682-4006 Phnom Penh Purple Cafe NoodleDot House

皇上皇燒臘 206-622-2828

綠島餐廳金邊潮州粿條 206-622-0288 206-427-0113

綠島餐廳 206-622-0288

The Dolar Shop

Ton Kiang Barbeque

豆撈坊 425-390-8888

東江燒臘 206-622-3388

君悅海鮮酒家 425-378-8009

206-575-8777

(Southcenter, Burien, Renton)

Tsukushinbo

206-467-4004

小肥羊星都海鮮酒家 206-623-6700 (西雅圖) 206-623-1670 425-653-1625 (表爾威)

好世界海鮮酒家 (425) 776-3832

金邊潮州粿條金豐海鮮酒家 206-427-0113 206-623-1670

663小館

206-667-8760

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