VOL 37 NO 37 | SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 37 NO 37 SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 FREE 36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Toshikazu Okamoto has passed the torch Celebration of life on September 22

Photo courtesy of Shane Sato

By Jessica Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Toshikazu Okamoto

A builder, survivor, mentor, and friend. On May 19, 2018, Seattle lost a vital member of the community, someone who cared for the city’s residents, especially its Japanese American residents, for more than four decades. A devoted family man, father, and husband. Toshikazu Okamoto, known as “Tosh,” was living in Kent when the U.S. government sent him and his family to an internment camp. Soon after, in 1945, at the age of 18, Tosh was drafted into the United States Army. Tosh’s wife, Toshiko Okamoto (“Toshi”), marveled at a system that could imprison a person and then send him to war. “How could they have drafted the boys from the camps?” she wondered. “They put

them in the camps. Then they took them away from their families.” Yet Tosh didn’t seem to hold any hard feelings from this wartime experience, even when, upon his return from military service, he struggled to find work in an environment of continuing discrimination. Told by the union that there “weren’t any openings,” when in fact there were (just not for a Japanese American), Tosh eventually gained employment with the local fire department, becoming the first minority to work there. Tosh’s son, John Okamoto, explained how his father’s internment camp experience came across to Tosh’s family. “He never talked about his camp experience until the reparation hearings. I heard him testify. I heard things I had never see TOSH on 16

SEARCHING A movie starring John Cho »7

CHRISTINE JOHNSON “Iron Fist” star on Seattle » 8

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The owners of Kau Kau Barbeque Restaurant are ﬁghting back against the City of Seattle. The restaurant was assessed a Notice of Violation by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) for alleged illegal dumping of materials in an alley adjacent to their restaurant this past July. Richard Chang, who owns the restaurant along with his wife, Lynn Eng-Chang, claims

that the violation was due to inaction by the city and their need to remediate a situation. They both expressed frustration with the city and the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Association (CIDBIA) when talking about their $2,000 ﬁne for alleged dumping. Earlier this summer, Chang, along with customers, noticed a horrible smell emanating see KAU KAU on 16

Photo by Jason Cruz

Dumpster violation spurs ire of Kau Kau TAYLOR RAPP Rising UW football star » 9

Judge: Japanese American group can’t block WWII camp land sale Photo credit wikipedia

By Staﬀ NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

■

A California federal judge has denied a bid from a nonproﬁt group, representing descendants of Japanese Americans interned in camps during World War II, to temporarily bar the sale of a parcel of land. The Tule Lake Committee wants to stop the city of Tulelake, Calif. from selling 358 acres to the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma for $17,500, even though the committee itself had oﬀered to buy the land for $40,000. On Aug. 27, U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller denied

without prejudice a motion for a temporary restraining order. “The committee has not identiﬁed a single Modoc Tribe plan that poses a threat to the [Tule Lake Segregation Center], explained why concrete plans are not needed for the court to evaluate harm, or done more than speculate that the tribe is immune from [the California Environmental Quality Act] and all other regulations that govern its conduct,” Mueller said. In its complaint, the Tule Lake Committee said, “By transferring away the historic site for no consideration or grossly inadequate consideration, by acting in secret in see TULE LAKE on 13

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asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Seattle Channel wins Government Programming Awards

Shannon Gee

Randy Eng

Seattle Channel won 20 Government Programming Awards, including 10 first-place wins, from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors at the group’s annual meeting in Philadelphia last month. The first place AAPI winners include: Susan Han, senior producer of City Inside/Out in the

Norm Ohashi

Eric Liu

Devon de Leña

Public Aﬀairs category; Shannon Gee, executive producer in the Interview/Talk Show category; Randy Eng, photographer and editor for his work on CityStream in the Special Audience and Public Health categories; and Norm Ohashi, senior producer of CityStream in the Magazine Format series category.

Other AAPI winners include: Eric Liu, the host and producer of Citizen University TV in the Public Education category; Devon de Leña, producer, editor, and student facilitator of Community Stories in the Student/Intern category; and Josephine Cheng, producer and reporter of CityStream in the Documentary category. 

Governor Jay Inslee recently announced the following Boards and Commissions appointments Here are the AAPI appointments: Carrie Huie-Pascua as commissioner of the Washington State Commission on Asian Paciﬁc American Aﬀairs (CAPAA). She is the former director at Yakima Valley System of Care. HuiePascua has a master’s degree from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s from Central Washington University. Abhishake Banda to the Dental Quality Assurance Commission. Banda is a dual-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who earned his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He is a member of the Washington State Dental Association, Seattle King County Den-

Carrie Huie-Pascua

Abhishake Banda

tal Society, and Washington State Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Angel Fettig to the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families. Fettig has worked with young children and their families for more

Josephine Cheng

PAX West 2018 PAX West 2018 was held on Aug. 31– Sep. 3 at the Washington State Convention Center. PAX is a series of gaming conventions held in Seattle, and across the nation. Founded by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, authors of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade, each PAX is a show dedicated to supporting and celebrating video and tabletop gaming. 

Angel Fettig

than a decade. Fettig received her doctorate in special education with a concentration in early childhood from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. 

Photo by John Liu

Susan Han

Cosplayer AzaleaLura dressed as Mystic Lux.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Samsung to pay $29M for priceﬁxing scheme

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Sept. 4 that Samsung, a multinational electronics company, will pay $29 million to Washington consumers. Under the consent decree filed in King County Superior Court, Samsung will pay $29 million to resolve the Attorney General’s price-fixing claims, concluding a lawsuit against seven companies. The lawsuit alleges Samsung and other CRT manufacturers, including LG, Panasonic, Hitachi, Chungwha, Toshiba, and Philips, engaged in a price-fixing scheme to drive up the cost of CRTs from 1995 to 2007. During those 12 years, the price-fixing conspiracy caused millions of Washington consumers to be overcharged for their CRT televisions and computer monitors. The seven companies involved in the conspiracy are paying Washington a total of $39.65 million. “When powerful interests illegally conspire behind closed doors to drive up the cost of their products, Washingtonians lose out,” Ferguson said. “We are returning the money back where it belongs: the pockets of Washingtonians.” Until the late 2000s, CRTs were the primary technology for television screens and computer monitors. In 1999, CRT monitors accounted for over 90 percent of the retail market for computer

monitors in North America. The technology has largely fallen out of use in recent years, superseded by LCD screens. Samsung no longer produces CRTs. If you lived in Washington from 1995 to 2007 and bought a CRT screen from a retailer, you may be eligible for a refund. Ferguson expects to hire a claims administrator within the next several months, who will begin distributing funds in early 2019. All claims ﬁled before then will be forwarded to the claims administrator, who may contact consumers for additional information.  For questions about the claims process, email crtclaims@atg.wa.gov or call (206) 332-7080.

ID homicide investigation SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police oﬃcers say the investigation into the death of a 56-year-old man is being treated as a homicide. On Sept. 1st, at approximately 2:30 p.m., oﬃcers responded to a report of a man bleeding from the leg near 10th Avenue South and South Dearborn Street in the International District. He was unresponsive and later pronounced dead.

Det. Mark Jamieson says the medical examiner is determining the case of the man’s death and oﬃcers were following up on leads, but declined to disclose if oﬃcers were looking a particular suspect.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Seattle Police at (206) 233-5000.

Northwest writer receives NEA Fellowship for translation of TibetanChinese writer’s poetry San Juan Islands, Wash. —The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced on Aug. 30 that Ian Boyden, of Friday Harbor, will receive an NEA Literature Translation Fellowship. The fellowship is being awarded to support the translation from Chinese into English of the poetry collection Minority by renowned Tibetan poet Tsering Woeser. see BOYDEN on 13

Ian Boyden

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

36 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

Nissan launches Chinafocused electric car

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — Nissan’s first electric sedan designed for China began production on Aug. 27 at the start of a wave of dozens of planned lower-cost electrics being created by global automakers for their biggest market. Manufacturers including General Motors and Volkswagen are poised this year to launch a flood of electric sedans, minivans and SUVs designed for Chinese tastes and budgets. Nissan, Tesla, GM and others sell imports or electrified versions of models made by Chinese partners, but the market is dominated by low-cost local rivals including BYD Auto. China’s government sees electric cars as a promising industry and a way to clean up its smog-choked cities. Government subsidies have built China into the biggest market for electrics, but Beijing is shifting the burden to automakers with sales quotas and tougher fuel efficiency standards. The Sylphy Zero Emission, based on Nissan’s Leaf, is being produced by Nissan

Motor Co. and a Chinese partner, Dongfeng Motor group. The Sylphy costs $25,850 after government subsidies, or just over half the

“We’re confident that the Sylphy Zero Emission rolling off the production line today will become a main player in the EV market,’’ said Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa. “We’re going to roll out a range of EVs that will appeal to customers within all market segments.’’ Sales quotas that take effect next year require every brand to sell electrics or buy credits from competitors that do. That puts pressure on automakers to create affordable models Chinese consumers want. China accounted for half of global electric car sales last year, but almost all were Chinese models that start as low as $22,000. BYD Auto, the biggest global brand by number sold, said its first-half 2018 sales doubled from a year earlier to 71,000. “Basically, all these international giants are testing the water. They have not really launched their heavyweight models in

sticker price of the Chinese version of the Leaf sold by Nissan and Dongfeng’s joint venture Venucia brand. Nissan says the Sylphy can go 210 miles on a charge.

see NISSAN on 11

LinkedIn Malaysian Muslim lesbian couple says it’s caned in public punishment working to combat Chinese spy accounts By The Associated Press LinkedIn says it’s working to combat Chinese espionage activity targeting users of the online career network. The Microsoft-owned service said on Aug. 31 that is is partnering with U.S. law enforcement agencies after uncovering fake LinkedIn proﬁles and other fraudulent activity. Reuters reported that William Evanina, who directs the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, says the U.S. government informed LinkedIn about China’s “super aggressive’’ eﬀorts to contact members on the site, apparently for the purpose of spy recruitment. LinkedIn said earlier in August it found accounts were being misused to connect with LinkedIn members who work at political organizations. The company then said in a blog post it has reason to believe “nation-state actors’’ were creating fake accounts. China’s foreign ministry told Reuters it disputes Evanina’s allegations. 

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“Caning is a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and may amount to torture. People should not live in fear because they are attracted to people of the same sex. The Malaysian authorities must immediately repeal repressive laws, outlaw torturous punishments and ratify the U.N. Convention Against Torture.’’ — Amnesty International Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two Malaysian Muslim women convicted under Islamic laws of attempting to have sex were caned on Sept. 3 in a rare public whipping that was slammed by lawmakers and rights activists as a form of torture. Lawyers and activists said the women, aged 22 and 32, were seated on stools facing the judges and given six strokes from a light rattan cane on their backs by female prison oﬃcers. More than 100 people witnessed the caning in a Shariah

courtroom in northeast Terengganu state, they said. Muslim Lawyers’ Association deputy president Abdul Rahim Sinwan said unlike caning under civil laws, the punishment under Islamic laws isn’t painful or harsh and was meant to educate the women so they will repent. The women, dressed in white headscarves and clothing, didn’t cry or scream but “showed remorse,’’ he said. see CANING on 14

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YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Trump administration backs Asian Americans in Harvard case By MARIA DANILOVA, COLLIN BINKLEY and ERIC TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department sided with Asian American students suing Harvard University over the Ivy League school’s consideration of race in its admissions policy, the latest step in the Trump administration’s effort to encourage race-neutral admissions practices. The Justice Department said in a court filing on Aug. 30 that the school has failed to demonstrate that it does not discriminate on the basis of race and cited what it described as “substantial evidence that Harvard is engaging in outright racial balancing.’’ The department’s “statement of interest’’ was in a case filed in 2014 by Students For Fair Admission, which argues that one of

the world’s most prestigious universities discriminates against academically strong Asian American applicants. Harvard fired back, saying that it does not discriminate and will fight to defend its right to use race as a factor in admissions. The Supreme Court permits colleges and universities to consider race in admissions decisions, but says it must be done in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity and should be limited in time. Universities also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate. But in Harvard’s case, Justice Department officials said, the university hasn’t explained how it uses race in admissions and has not adopted meaningful criteria to limit the use of race. see HARVARD on 12

Nevada candidates step up courting of Asian American voters By MICHELLE L. PRICE ASSOCIATED PRESS LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dozens of Republicans and Democrats in east Las Vegas pitched themselves to members of the state’s growing Asian American and Paciﬁc Islander community last week, with the hope that those voters will swing tight races in the battleground state. The bipartisan meet-thecandidates event, which took place just beyond the city’s Chinatown district dotted with bus signs, billboards and businesses advertising in Chinese, Korean

and other languages, is part of a growing political activism in the diverse community. Sonny Vinuya, the president of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, said candidates are realizing that Asian Americans are becoming more involved and should be courted. About 9 percent of Nevada’s population is solely Asian American and about 1 percent is solely native Hawaiian or Paciﬁc Islander. But the community hasn’t been as active or organized as other ethnic groups in the state like Latinos. “We are so content with doing

well for ourselves pretty much. We don’t think about really going out there politically,’’ said Vinuya, who was born in the Philippines. Culturally, many Asian Americans have roots in countries with less of a democratic tradition and governments that may discourage or depress political participation, he said. “A lot of us come from diﬀerent countries. Some of the countries that we come from, you’re silent. You’re not allowed to speak up,’’ Vinuya said. This year, he and others are making sure the community in

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01251C18, Tukwila International Blvd Transit Station – Comfort Station Addition; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on September 11, 2018. Late bids will not be accepted. The work under this contract consists of the construction of a new 126 gsf single unit comfort station facility on the ground level station platform area by the bus lanes and attached to the existing building structure adjacent to the janitorial closet. Estimated contract price: $250,000 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, speciﬁcations, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

Nevada is speaking up — and candidates are listening. Candidates are “really realizing that this is a constituency that they need to understand,’’ said Pauline Ng Lee, the president of the Nevada Republican Men’s Club. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat running for governor who was among the candidates attending the event, had Chinese language campaign signs at his booth and pledged to the audience to work on getting a police station in the city’s Chinatown with oﬃcers who speak the local languages “to make sure that you have the same kind of

protection that everybody else in the valley has.’’ In 2016, presidential candidates coming through the state made similar eﬀorts to court Asian Americans, particularly Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Both major political parties this year have made it a point to have a presence at Asian American and Paciﬁc Islander community events. Exit polls since the 1990s have found Asian Americans have see NEVADA CANDIDATES on 11

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

36 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEP 7

PING PONG TOURNAMENTS SUMMER 2018 Hing Hay Park Register onsite at 1 p.m. JACL BANQUET: FOOD & SOCIAL JUSTICE Bell Harbor International Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way Pier 66, Seattle 6 p.m.

8 C-ID NIGHT MARKET Seattle’s C-ID 4 p.m. WEST SEATTLE & BALLARD LINK EXTENSIONS NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM AND OPEN HOUSE: WEST SEATTLE Seattle Lutheran High School Gym 4100 S.W. Genesee St., Seattle 9 a.m. RSVP at wsblink.participate. online soundtransit.org 2018 CIE/USA ANNUAL CONVENTION Bellevue Westin Hotel 1-9:30 p.m. Register at wang0213@gmail.com LIFETIME PUBLIC SERVICE LEGACY HONORING EDWIN MAH “ED” LEE, 43RD MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO Westin Bellevue 6-9 p.m. cie-sea.org

WE ARE HISTORY KEEPERS, FREE WORKSHOP ON PRESERVING THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RECORDS APCC, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. rsvp@ethnicheritagecouncil. org

9 LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center 11 a.m.-7 p.m. seattlelivealohafestival.com BEYOND RECONCILIATION: CELEBRATE JAPAN-US ALLIANCE AND HONOR NISEI VETERANS NVC Memorial Hall 1212 S. King St., Seattle 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. jassw.info

11 BEACON HILL MEANINGFUL MOVIES El Centro de la Raza Centilia 1660 Roberto Maestas Festival Street, Seattle 6:30 p.m. meaningfulmovies.org WEST SEATTLE & BALLARD LINK EXTENSIONS NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM AND OPEN HOUSE: DOWNTOWN (INCLUDES C-ID) Union Station, Ruth Fisher Boardroom 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle 5:30 p.m. RSVP at wsblink.participate. online soundtransit.org

13 RACING TO THE TOP: ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY IN GLOBAL TRADE UW’s Foster School of Business 6 p.m.

14 & 15 RENTON MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL 9/14 at 6 p.m, Carco Theatre, 1717 S.E. Maple Valley Hwy., Renton 9/15 at 11 a.m., Renton Pavilion Event Center & Piazza Park, 233 Burnett Ave. S., Renton rentonwa.gov/rentonfestival

15 KIN ON’S 2018 ANNUAL SENIORS’ DAY Eastside Baha’i Center 16007 N.E. 8th St., Bellevue 9 a.m. kinon.org/seniors-day 206-556-2237

16 BUNKA GAKUEN FASHION SHOW FROM TOKYO, JAPAN Broadway Performance Hall 1625 Broadway, Seattle 1-3 p.m. RSVP for free tickets 425-483-5974

17 WEST SEATTLE & BALLARD LINK EXTENSIONS NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM

AND OPEN HOUSE: BALLARD INTERBAY Ballard Eagleson VFW 2812 N.W. Market St., Seattle 5:30 p.m. RSVP at wsblink.participate. online soundtransit.org

18-23 28TH JAPAN AMERICA GRASSROOTS SUMMIT Japan-America Society of the State of Washington, 3010 77th Ave. S.E., St. 102, Mercer Island 10 a.m.

19 SHARON H. CHANG & FRIENDS The Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 Tenth Ave., Seattle 7 p.m.

20 HAPPY HOUR FOOD WALK Seattle’s CID 4 p.m.

20-23 THE 4-DAY FREE HEALTH CLINIC Seattle Center 206-684-7200 skcclinic@seattlecenter.org

21 KKOCDOOSEH, FROM SIHEUNG, SOUTH KOREA Rialto Theatre Tacoma Free admission 253-383-3900

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22 MID-AUTUMN GALA & SINGING FUNDRAISER China Harbor Restaurant 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5 p.m. $60/ticket cisc-seattle.org 2ND KOREAN CHUSEOK FESTIVAL 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 12 p.m. apcc96.org JOHN OKADA, A CELEBRATION AND BOOK LAUNCH The Seattle Public Library 2 p.m. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE AND SEATTLE CENTER PRESENT 5TH ANNUAL SEATTLE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL Seattle Center 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 6TH ANNUAL WOMEN IN BUDDHISM CONFERENCE Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple 1417 S. Main St., Seattle 9:30 a.m. $45 seattlebetsuin.com

24 9TH ANNUAL ETHNIC MEDIA CANDIDATES MEET AND GREET Joyale Seafood Restaurant 900 S. Jackson St., Seattle 5 p.m. RSVP to juliephamnvn@gmail.com 206-334-5200

View the solution on page 14

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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 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

John Cho searches for his daughter in thrilling, innovative drama By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

9th Annual

Oh my God, John Cho should be in every movie because I would ruin my life by doing nothing besides watching movies all day, every day. “Searching” is a multi-dimensional dramathriller with twists and turns that seriously kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time — and I’m the sort of person that checks my phone a gazillion times during the typical ﬁlm because I get bored easily!

life via her social media accounts. (This ﬁlm tells its entire story through digital screens — through FaceTime, text messages, instant messages, video clips, photos, and more.) As David uncovers more and more about his daughter’s hidden life through her social media channels, he starts to question whether or not he really knew his daughter at all. He also appears to lose his grip on reality as his actions are driven by such grief. In these moments, the viewer starts to wonder if he is still helping or if he is hindering the police investigation into his daughter’s disappearance.

Film synopsis

Storytelling

“Searching” stars Cho as David Kim, a widowed father whose teenage daughter, Margot (Michelle La), suddenly goes missing. David calls the police as his worst fears play out in his head — and Cho is just amazingly convincing and aﬀecting in this role. Detective Vick (Debra Messing) helps David piece together the disparate parts of his daughter’s

What I really appreciated about “Searching” is that the storytelling quickly surpassed the novelty of the narrative vehicle. Watching a movie told purely over digital screens never felt contrived or forced or impersonal. In fact, there were moments that just gutted. see SEARCHING on 15

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1717 SE MAPLE VALLEY HWY, RENTON

Music • Dance Stories • Arts Play • Food • Fun & Community

11 aM – 3 PM

September 15 RENTON PAVILION EVENT CENTER & PIAZZA PARK 233 BURNETT AVE S, RENTON

rentonwa.gov/rentonfestival • #rentonfestival Made possible with support from City of Renton and Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Come From Away” to thrill 5th Avenue crowds

Photo by Bruce Johnson

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Christine Toy Johnson

Christine Toy Johnson, actor, singer, dancer, and writer, isn’t due back in Seattle for about a month, when she’ll star in the new stage musical “Come From Away.” But she’s happy to admit that she can’t wait. “I love Seattle!” enthused Johnson, who opens in the musical at the 5th Avenue Theater on Oct. 9. “I am especially looking forward to going back to Wild Ginger, Uptown Espresso, and Mod Pizza (I’m addicted to their Paleo-friendly pizza!), and of course Pike Place Market for their salmon jerky.” Johnson grew up just outside New York City. “I never wanted to do anything else,” she said about becoming a performer. By age 4, she was modeling for national commercial campaigns, pushing such products as Scotchgard stain repellent and Buster Brown shoes. She recalls trying to eat Rice Krispies with chopsticks. Growing up and working, she did not see very many Asians in theatre, ﬁlm, or television. But she recalled,

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ No. 1 for third week

The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The glitzy romance “Crazy Rich Asians” topped the North American box oﬃce over Labor Day weekend, its third consecutive weekend in the No. 1 spot. The Warner Bros. ﬁlm added $28.6 million over the four-day weekend, bringing its domestic grosses to $117.3 million. “Crazy Rich Asians” has now passed the lifetime domestic total of 2015’s “Trainwreck,” one of the last big studio

rom-com success stories. The shark thriller “The Meg” landed in second place in its fourth weekend, with $13.8 million, while “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” slid into third place with an additional $9.3 million, bumping it past the $200 million mark in its sixth weekend in theaters. “Operation Finale” starring Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley landed in fourth place with $6 million. And the John Cho-led computer screen see BOX OFFICE on 15

“One person who was out there dancing on Broadway since she was 5 was Baayork Lee, who was also in the original cast of ‘A Chorus Line.’ “I wrote to her when I was a student, asking to interview her for an essay I was writing, about role models, and I’ll never forget her generosity. To this day, she remains an inspiration, the picture of perseverance and professionalism, and a true champion for the Asian American community. I believe I learned the power of mentorship from Baayork and do my best to keep paying it forward.” Johnson earned her undergraduate degree from Sarah Lawrence College, and also studied Vocal Performance at the University of Southern California School of Music. She’s been a member of Actors’ Equity since the summer after graduating high school, and so far, she’s been in three Broadway musicals, and four national touring companies, including her “Come From Away” ensemble. The musical, written by the husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoﬀ and David Hein, takes its inspiration from a true story about the isolated community of Gander,

Newfoundland, which played host to the world quite unexpectedly. What started as an average day in a small town on Sept. 11, 2001, turned into an international sleep-over when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from across the globe, were diverted to Gander’s air space in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travelers with music, an open bar, and the spirit of humanity as a global family. The touring show opens in Seattle, because, in Johnson’s words, “One of our producers, Sue Frost, reminded me of the very special relationship and history that ‘Come From Away’ has with Seattle, since a pre-Broadway incarnation of the show had been done at Seattle Rep several years ago. They thought it would be a perfect place to launch the tour!” As thrilled as she is about the musical, Johnson confessed that she almost didn’t make the rehearsal. She’s been very busy shooting a new season of “Iron Fist,” the television see JOHNSON on 11

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

The Layup Drill

Taylor Rapp (Photo from Rapp’s Instagram)

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of the Layup Drill. In this edition, we take a look at the rising star of Washington football, Jordan Clarkson’s summer vacation, and a soccer star’s crucial game to determine his future.

All-American Rapp leads Dawgs Secondary The University of Washington football team began its 2018 season this month and has lofty expectations of a national championship. If the Huskies meet their goals, safety Taylor Rapp will be one of the big reasons why. Rapp, a pre-season Associated Press and Sports Illustrated All-American, is likely a first-round pick in the NFL and is one of the pillars of the defense. Rapp grew up in Bellingham. His mother, who is Chinese, met his father while his dad was in Shanghai for work. The two moved to Toronto and then to Atlanta, where Rapp was born. They eventually moved to Bellingham, where Rapp and his brother were raised. His mother’s parents moved from China to live with the Rapps and helped raise him. That’s how he learned Mandarin. But in Bellingham, the Asian population is small. He claimed that aside from his brother, he was the only Asian at his high school. He and his brother played football for Sehome High School. Unlike most areas, Rapp’s high school did not embrace the “Friday Night Lights” of football, where the whole town comes to support the football team. Instead, Sehome football was a perennial loser and it was hard to field a football team due to the lack of interest. In addition, Rapp was taunted because of his race — he was called names and made fun of due to the shape of his eyes. A Chinese American in the NFL is very rare. Several years ago, Ed Wang, an offensive lineman out of Virginia Tech, was drafted by the Raiders. He was the first Chinese American ever to be drafted. Wang’s career was short-lived, although he is now the president of the Chinese Arena Football League. Wang recalls not seeing another Chinese face playing with him or across the line from him. Wang’s brother also played football at Virginia Tech, but did not go on to the NFL. As many Asian Americans that play

sports these days, one of Rapp’s role models while growing up is NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin. The Harvard-educated point guard, who became a literal overnight sensation when he burst on the scene while playing for the New York Knicks, is a revered star among Asian American youths. Lin, who now plays for the Atlanta Hawks, recalls how other players would look down on him and discount his ability. Rapp believes this happens with him all the time. At Washington, Rapp is one of the hardest hitting safeties in years. He was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year on Defense. In the Pac-12 Championship game, Rapp made two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. His play earned him MVP of the Pac 12 Championship Game. Not only is Rapp good on the field, he is doing well academically. In 2017, he gained acceptance into the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. Only a junior, it would be a surprise if Rapp returns for his senior year at the UW. His size and ability make him a prime candidate to play in the NFL. Some NFL talent evaluators believe he may be one of the first at his position to be drafted, and may be a first-round pick.

Jordan Clarkson reps the Philippines at Asian Games

Jordan Clarkson (Photo from Clarkson’s Instagram)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson was honored when he was asked to be the ﬂag bearer for the Philippines during the Asian Games opening ceremonies.

Clarkson, whose mother is Filipino, played for the national team in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Asian Games is similar to the Olympics — it is an exhibition of different sports amongst Asian countries. Like the Olympics, it occurs every four years. The 26-year-old compared being the flag bearer to the NBA Finals he played in this past June, when the Cavaliers came up short against the Golden State Warriors. “It was one of the happiest days I’ve had in my career, in my life,” Clarkson said in a recent interview. Clarkson was given a one-time exemption to play with the Philippines, thanks to the NBA and the International Basketball Federation. In general, current NBA players are not allowed to play. Initially, the NBA prevented Clarkson’s participation. There was social media pressure from Filipino fans who wanted him to play. Clarkson, who was traded to Cleveland from the Los Angeles Lakers last year, was the star for the Philippines National Basketball Team. He was a focal point for most countries that faced Team Philippines. Although Clarkson’s presence helped the team, they ended up finishing 5th in the men’s tournament and missed out on a medal. Nevertheless, Clarkson had the experience of a lifetime. The inclusion for Clarkson to play in the Asian Games was more than just an attempt to get a good player to bolster a country’s efforts to win. Clarkson has embraced the Filipino fans who have rallied around

him since he entered the NBA. When I interviewed him several years ago with the Lakers, Clarkson did not know too much about the rabid base of Filipino fans. He’s embraced them, as well as his Filipino culture. It’s a great testament to how sports can open up diﬀerent worlds for people.

Win and South Korean soccer star can forgo draft

Son Heung-min (Photo from Son’s Instagram)

As Jordan Clarkson enjoyed his experience at the Asian Games, South Korean soccer player Son Heung-min faced at choice: helping his team win the gold-medal match against Japan or head to the military. Son, who plays for the English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, may be required to serve two years of mandatory service in see SPORTS on 11

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

GOOD NEWS means no Trump news

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A few days of news, without President Trump in much of the headlines, are a good thing. The late Sen. John McCain stole the show. That must irk the hell out of Trump. There was other good news, too.

1. Yay, Seattle Storm!

characters are rich Singaporeans. Excuse me, do you go to see Mission Impossible with the expectation of relating to actor Tom Cruise? I vote favorably for a picture if it entertains, period. Does it make me laugh or cry, angry or joyful, thrilled or shivered, surprised or engaged? I don’t need a movie to lecture or educate me. The last thing I wish for is a boring story. If your criteria for good movies are based

didn’t buy a ticket. That’s real support when you spend money on it, he would say. I second that. Being a publisher of the Asian Weekly, I need to set an example, show action rather than lip service. To my surprise, I enjoyed the movie a lot when I went with my family. Some Asian fans went to the show as many as six times. Now, that’s truly “Crazy Asians.” (My son went twice.) The astonishing thing is, a couple of white guys even shared with me that they cried at the cinema. I couldn’t believe it.

keep pushing to remove hurdles, no matter how tough the struggles are, and never give up.

5. Colin Kaepernick’s new deal with Nike

4. Crazy Rich Asians opened doors for us

Photo from Seattle Storm’s Instagram

For years, Asian Americans have preached to their kids, “Don’t jump into entertainment industries, you won’t make it and won’t make money. Why not try engineering and computer science?” Secondly, there aren’t too many opportunities for Asians unless you don’t mind the stereotypical roles. Thirdly, no one wants to see Asian Americans in lead roles, it’s still a white America. Wrong on all assumptions! With many Asian American pioneer actors paving the way, America is receptive to diversity in ﬁlm-making, including Asian American actors, directors, producers, screen writers, ﬁlm editors, cinematographers, and more. As Asian Americans, we just have to

Remember football star Colin Kaepernick, who protested against police violence against Blacks by kneeling during the national anthem? Other players followed suit. President Trump accused them of disrespecting the ﬂag. He said those protestors should be ﬁred. Kaepernick’s career plummeted since then. Many thought his career was over. Nike thinks otherwise. It picked see BLOG on 15

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Sue Bird

It doesn’t matter that Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird had a broken nose. She scored 22 points in the semi-ﬁnal. With a full house, the WNBA Storm beat Phoenix in a 94-84 victory, and advances to the ﬁnal. They will play against the Washington Mystics in Virginia on Sept. 7, 9, 12, and 14. What? Seattle playing Washington?! Well, the better Washington, of course. If you missed the game on Sept. 4, no sweat. Just go to YouTube and you will see the highlights.

2. Crazy Rich Asians wins three weeks consecutively

For three weeks in a row, Crazy Rich Asians was No. 1 at the box oﬃce in America. The movie, adapted from Kevin Kwan’s novel, has grossed $117 million. Some naysayers criticized that they couldn’t relate to the movie because the

on facts and accuracy, teachable themes, relatable identities, please go watch a documentary.

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3. Why Crazy Rich Asians won

I guess Asian Americans finally came together. Initially, I wasn’t planning to watch the all Asian-cast film. I thought about waiting for its DVD release, so I can check it out from the public library. My son was relentless, though, just like he convinced me to start watching the television sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat.” “Mom, you need to support Asian America motion pictures,” he said. I guess

I support the ﬁlm by giving it coverage. The Asian Weekly wrote seven stories (quite a lot for a small Asian publication), including an editorial, preview, reviews, updates, and stories like my blog. Still, it’s unacceptable to my son that I

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ EDITORIAL Support the fight against discriminatory admissions practices The Department of Justice (DOJ) offered a public show of support last week for Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) in its lawsuit against Harvard for what SFFA calls anti-Asian discrimination. A filing in the ongoing Massachusetts case is the Trump administration’s most significant entry into the debate over affirmative action and sets up a fight on the diversity policy that could have wide implications for higher education. In the filing on Aug. 30, known as a statement of interest, the DOJ said Harvard’s race-based admissions process significantly disadvantages Asian American applicants compared to applicants of other racial groups. The DOJ also alleged that Harvard has failed to prove that it does not unlawfully discriminate against Asian Americans. DOJ officials said the government has a legal interest in the case because Harvard accepts millions of dollars each year in federal funding. Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) hailed the DOJ’s filing as a responsible government move to provide equal protection of the laws to Asian American

children. Last November, the DOJ started to investigate Harvard’s admissions practices as a direct result of the AACE-led civil rights complaint against Harvard in May 2015. “The DOJ’s timely weigh-in on SFFA’s lawsuit demonstrates the federal government’s willingness to redress Harvard’s civil rights violations in the form of racial discrimination against Asian Americans, under the pretense of campus diversity. The DOJ has showcased true leadership and stewardship in justice and equity for all Americans,” said AACE in a statement. According to a 2016 Gallup Poll, two-third of Americans oppose race-based college admissions. AACE president, Mr. Yukong Zhao, said, “History is on our side! More and more Asian Americans have woken up and will no longer tolerate such blatant discrimination.” We wholeheartedly agree. We urge all colleges that adopt Harvard admissions model to stop their discriminatory practices. Rather than unlawful racial balancing, we can achieve racial diversity on college campuses through

JOHNSON from 8

to come back in so that Julie Schubert, the casting director, could give me some additional context for the character. I found out I got the job four days later. It was the best early Christmas present ever!” When asked about how the casting of Asians in American entertainment has changed over her lifetime, Johnson allowed that she’s seen a fair amount of progress, but emphasized that much more remains to be done. “In general, actors of color and actors with disabilities are still not being routinely cast in leading roles and are still vastly underrepresented,” she said. “The rumor that I want to dispel the most is that there aren’t enough parts or scripts for us being written. That isn’t true! There aren’t enough being produced! And this needs to be addressed. “I think that television is ahead of the movies in terms

show, in which she plays Sherry Yang. The popular show operates under a thick veil of secrecy, to keep spoilers from reaching the general public. After being asked to audition, Johnson explained, “I was sent a non-disclosure agreement that said I would not reveal the content of the material I had been given, two days ahead of time. All of the characters’ names (including mine) in the audition scene were fake, so as not to reveal their identities. “I worked on the scene as I usually do, trying to identify the objectives and obstacles of the character in the given circumstances of the scene, trying to assess what drives her, and trying to ﬁgure out the tone of the show, all from the clues written on the page… The next day, I was asked

SPORTS from 9

NISSAN from 4

South Korea’s military. South Korean males must serve 21 months in the military before the age of 30. The 26-year-old cannot delay his service beyond the age of 27. However, the law also allows athletes to discount their time from service if they bring home top prizes at international sports competitions. Exemptions are given for winning any medal at the Olympics or a gold at the Asian Games. With a win against Japan, Son will be able to complete his service to the military in a relative short span with just a month of basic military training and then community service. The draft does not discriminate even if you are a high-level athlete. UFC fighter Chan Sung Jung had to depart his career to serve in the military for two years. Jung returned to action after his two years away and won his first fight back. However, Jung was away from the sport of mixed martial arts for almost three years in the prime of his career. Son’s fans have lobbied the South Korean government to ease the draft commitment for him. One fan went so much as to volunteer himself to serve in Son’s place. That is a very dedicated fan. From an outsider’s perspective, the South Korean law seems to be a remnant of the Cold War to keep its country ready in the event of international or domestic conflict. It does build pride in the country, but also disrupts young people in the midst of their careers. 

China yet,’’ said industry analyst Yale Zhang of Automotive Foresight. “By the end of this year, things will be different,’’ Zhang said. “We really will see the market become more competitive and consumers will have more to choose.’’ Sales of pure-electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in the first half of 2018 rose 111.5 percent over a year earlier to 412,000. Total electric sales last year were 770,000. Government plans call for total annual sales of 2 million electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles by 2020. Despite official support, electrics still are a fraction of Chinese passenger vehicle sales, which totaled 11.8 million in the first half of 2019, up 4.6 percent from a year earlier. Nissan and Dongfeng announced plans in February to develop 20 electric models as part of a $10 billion, five-year investment program. They said that would include three models this year and three “affordable EV’’

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

NEVADA CANDIDATES from 5 increasingly voted for Democrats during presidential elections. They split evenly in the 2014 midterms between Democrats and Republicans. Lee said that while Asian Americans seem to have become more Democratic but in recent years, she has seen more joining the GOP. There is in general much more political participation across the board, she said.

GOT A TIP?

editor@nwasianweekly.com

Derek Uehara, a Las Vegas ﬁnancial planner who ran as a Republican for state treasurer this year, said events like last week’s forum will encourage more people in the community to get involved. “We’re saying, listen, as you get more and more invested in the community,’’ said Uehara, who is of Japanese and Chinese descent. “You want to make sure your voice is heard, and it’s important to be a part of the process.’’ 

making improvements in K-12 education in minority communities. 

of numbers of actors of color being cast and the diversity of roles available — but this may also be because of the sheer amount of content being created now in television. Also, a large majority of television shows take place in contemporary, urban American settings, so it’s become increasingly more diﬃcult to ignore the fact that we exist in these worlds, and need to be portrayed in them. Still, we can do better … There has been positive change, especially in the past 10 years or so, but there certainly is a lot more room to grow!”  Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

compacts in 2019. GM says it will roll out 10 electric and hybrid models in China from 2016 to 2020. It says by 2025, all its Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet models in China will offer hybrid or pure-electric versions. Tesla says China is its second-largest market. But a high sticker price has limited sales by other foreign brands to a few hundred vehicles. Beijing announced in April it would end restrictions on foreign ownership of electric vehicle manufacturers this year in an effort to promote development. Producers had been reluctant to transfer manufacturing to China due to the requirement to share technology with Chinese partners that might become rivals. Freed of that requirement, Tesla Inc. announced in July it would build its first factory outside the United States in Shanghai, becoming the first wholly foreign-owned automaker in China. Other automakers are working through ventures with Chinese partners, hoping to take advantage of their experience in developing lower-cost vehicles. 

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

36 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

China’s JD.com: founder returns to Beijing after US arrest BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese e-commerce giant says its billionaire founder, Liu Qiangdong, has returned to China after his arrest in the U.S. on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct. Zhang Shuhan, a JD.com oﬃcial, said on Sept. 3 by phone that “Liu Qiangdong has been released without charges and he is now back Richard Liu in China.’’ Also known as Richard Liu, the founder of the Beijingbased e-commerce site was arrested in Minneapolis on Aug. 31 on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, according to Hennepin County Jail records. Liu, 45, was released the following day pending possible criminal charges. The jail records don’t provide details of

the alleged incident. Liu’s attorneys in Minneapolis, Earl Gray and Joseph Friedberg, told the Wall Street Journal that they don’t have specific knowledge of the complaint against Liu, but said their client is innocent. Gray said he and Friedberg would represent Liu if charges are filed, but called that prospect “a very remote possibility.’’ Minnesota law defines five degrees of criminal sexual misconduct, ranging from a gross misdemeanor to felonies, covering a broad array of conduct ranging from nonconsensual touching to violent assaults with injuries. The jail records for Liu don’t indicate a degree. A spokeswoman for the University of Minnesota said Liu, who is enrolled as a student with the Carlson School of Management’s doctor of business administration China program, was in Minneapolis to attend a weeklong residency, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 1. China’s foreign ministry said that the Chinese Consulate in Chicago is looking into the circumstances surrounding

Liu’s arrest. Nasdaq-listed JD.com said in a statement on Sept. 2 that Liu was falsely accused while in the U.S. on a business trip, and that police investigators found no misconduct and he would continue his journey as planned. The $45 billion company, the main rival to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, said it would take legal action against “false reporting or rumors.’’ Liu recently tried to distance himself from sexual assault allegations against a guest at a 2015 party at his penthouse in Australia. Liu was not charged or accused of wrongdoing, but Australian media reported he tried unsuccessfully to get a court to prevent the release of his name in that case. The guest was convicted. JD.com is 10 percent owned by Walmart, while Chinese internet ﬁrm Tencent owns 18 percent. Liu, who is worth an estimated $7.3 billion, owns 16 percent of the company and has vast control over major business decisions. 

6 Asians receive Ramon Magsaysay Awards for accomplishments MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Six people were honored on Aug. 31 as this year’s winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, known as Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, including a Cambodian genocide survivor who helped document the Khmer Rouge atrocities and an Indian psychiatrist who led the rescue of thousands of mentally ill street paupers. The others who received the prize at a ceremony in Manila were a Filipino who led peace talks with communist insurgents, a polio-stricken Vietnamese who fought

HARVARD from 5 Attorney General Jeff Sessions said, “No American should be denied admission to school because of their race.’’ Harvard said it was disappointed by the Justice Department’s “recycling the same misleading and hollow arguments that prove nothing more than the emptiness of the case against Harvard.’’ “Harvard does not discriminate against applicants from any group, and will continue to vigorously defend the legal right of every college and university to consider race as one factor among many in college admissions, which the Supreme Court has consistently upheld for more than 40 years,’’ the university said in a statement. “Colleges and universities must have the freedom and flexibility to create the diverse communities that are vital to the learning experience of every student.’’ Sessions argued the school’s use of a “personal rating,’’ which includes highly subjective factors such as being a “good person’’ or “likeability,’’ may be biased against Asian Americans. Sessions said the school admits that it scores Asian American applicants lower on personal rating than other students. Sessions also argued that Harvard admissions officers monitor and manipulate the racial makeup of incoming classes. Edward Blum, president of SFFA, hailed the administration’s action. “We look forward to having the gravely troubling evidence that Harvard continues to keep

discrimination against the disabled, an East Timorese who built care centers for the poor amid civil strife and an Indian who tutored village students to help them pass exams. The awards are named after a Philippine president who died in a 1957 plane crash. “All this eﬀort that I have been trying for so many decades is not in vain, it’s been recognized,’’ said Youk Chhang, who lost his father, ﬁve of his siblings and nearly 60 of his relatives during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime and subsequent civil war in the 1970s. He escaped

redacted disclosed to the American public in the near future,’’ he said. The Justice Department’s court filing opposes Harvard’s request to dismiss the lawsuit before trial. “Harvard’s failure to provide meaningful criteria to cabin its voluntary use of race, its use of a personal rating that significantly harms Asian American applicants’ chances of admission and may be infected with racial bias, and the substantial evidence that Harvard is engaging in outright racial balancing each warrant denial of Harvard’s Motion for Summary Judgment,’’ the department said in the filing. The department is separately investigating Harvard’s admissions policies, a probe that could also result in a lawsuit. The filing follows a July decision by the Justice and Education departments to abandon Obama-era guidelines that instructed universities to consider race in their admissions process to make the student body more diverse. Democrats criticized the decision, saying that the Trump administration was taking away protections for minorities. Civil rights advocates blasted the administration’s filing. “The Trump administration again put itself on the wrong side of history ... contrasting its positions with more than four decades of clear and consistent Supreme Court precedent,’’ said Catherine Lhamon, the top civil rights official at the Education Department under the Obama administration. 

as a refugee to the United States before returning home to head a center that documented the horriﬁc violence in aid of Cambodian war crimes trials. Youk Chhang said in an interview that his recognition is also “a message to other institutions, to other countries around the world that learning from the past mistakes is signiﬁcant, is important even though Cambodia has a long way to go.’’ see RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS on 15

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01274C18, On-Call Hazardous Materials Inspection, Testing and Abatement Work Order 2018; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on September 13, 2018. Late bids will not be accepted. The work under this Contract consists of furnishing all tools, equipment, materials, incidentals, superintendents, subcontractor coordination and overhead to perform for testing, monitoring, inspection and abatement of hazardous materials at a speciﬁc site in the Wastewater Treatment Division. This on-call contract shall be used in response to emergency and non-emergency situations and for testing, monitoring and abatement as part of a construction project or a stand-alone work order. Estimated contract price: $100,000.00 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, speciﬁcations, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

■ ASTROLOGY

Predictions and advice for the week of September 8–14, 2018 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — While letting go could be a tad diﬃcult for you, making room for something new will be well worth it.

Dragon — You have long realized that you do not have time to do it all. Prioritize that which means the most to you.

Monkey — Are you hoping to win over an important client? You have a good start, just don’t forget to end on a high note as well.

Ox — Are you trying to maintain control of a changing situation? The tighter your hold, the weaker your grasp will eventually become.

Snake — No matter how strongly you feel about a certain topic, it is a useful exercise to try and see things from your opponent’s perspective.

Rooster — Do you suddenly want something that wasn’t on your radar at all before? Give it some time, as it is likely just a passing fancy.

Tiger — There are many stories to be told, but you have the ability to share the ones that are the most important to you.

Horse — Just as opposites can attract, similarities can also repel. Despite your initial reaction, your overall impressions could change drastically.

Dog — Your search will yield what you seek, as well as a few other things. Surprisingly, the latter could prove more desirable.

Rabbit — Don’t discount the value of little gifts and gestures. While each may be small, they add up to something much bigger.

Goat — A guess based on a guess is far from fact. It is wise to avoid acting on speculation, especially when actual details are scarce.

Pig — You would prefer to see what’s around the bend, rather than being caught by surprise. That’s partly what keeps you one step ahead of the pack.

What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

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

BOYDEN from 3 Woeser is considered one of China’s most respected living Tibetan writers. Her Tibetan heritage is central to her work, whose themes include alienation due to the ongoing and often violent erosion of Tibetan culture. Minority is a 120-page collection comprising roughly 35 poems. Ian Boyden is a translator, writer, artist, and curator. His translations of Woeser’s work have been published on leading human rights and Tibetan cultural websites, including Radio Free Asia, Invisible Tibet, and High Peaks Pure Earth. Boyden said his friendship with Woeser started in an unusual way. “Several years ago, I carved a huge self-portrait out of wood,

TULE LAKE from 1 derogation of California law, by pre-deciding the recipient, and by ignoring or deliberately frustrating the committee’s interest, the city and the city council deprived the committee of its liberty interest without due process.” The land, which has been used for decades as part of a local airport, was sold to the Modoc Tribe despite fraud claims against its online lending business, the committee said.

湖景墓園

and when I was finished carving it, I lit it on fire, thinking I was making a statement about forest fires here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Boyden. “Instead, what I saw burning before me was a statement about self-immolation.” He wrote to Woeser, who had written a book titled Tibet on Fire, about the huge number of self-immolations across Tibet in recent years, in protest against the Chinese occupation of that 自1872年起服務西北岸社區 country. “To my amazement, she wrote back to me,” said Woeser. Boyden called非營利獨立協會 Woeser’s voice “incredibly important, unique, prescient. There is an urgency in translating her work. As a poet and humanist, I take great pleasure in translating Woeser’s complex poetry and making her spirit and voice come alive in another language.” 

Lake View Cemetery

☆西雅圖首創墓園☆

The Tule Lake Committee is looking for support from the legal community in submitting legal briefs advocating for the protection of the Tule Lake site. ‧陵墓地下室 ‧骨灰靈位 The committee is developing a fund to help pay for continuing litigation-related expenses. ‧土葬福地 ‧墓碑、紀念碑

傳統式紀念碑

206-322-1582

You can donate at tulelake.org, or send a check to the Tule Lake Committee, P.O. Box 179141, San Francisco, CA 94117.

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

CANING from 4 “Repentance is the ultimate aim for their sin,’’ he said. Human rights groups slammed the punishment as a setback for human rights and said it could worsen discrimination against people in Malaysia’s lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community. “Caning is a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and may amount to torture,’’ Amnesty International Malaysia said in a statement. “People should not live in fear because they are attracted to people of the same sex. The Malaysian authorities must immediately repeal repressive laws, outlaw torturous punishments and ratify the U.N. Convention Against Torture.’’ Malaysia follows a dual-track justice system. Nearly twothirds of Malaysia’s 31 million people are Muslims, who are governed by Islamic courts in family, marriage and personal issues. The two unidentified women were discovered by Islamic officials in April and sentenced last month by a Shariah court to six strokes of a cane and a fine after pleading guilty. Thilaga Sulathireh, from the group Justice for Sisters who witnessed the caning, said she was shocked by the public spectacle. She said Malaysian laws were inconsistent because civil laws prohibit corporal punishment against female

prisoners. “It’s a regression of human rights in Malaysia. It’s not about the severity of the caning. Corporal punishment is a form of torture regardless of your intention,’’ she said. Lawmakers also joined in the chorus of condemnation against the public caning. “Islam teaches us to look after the dignity of every human being. And that mercy is preferable to punishment,’’ opposition lawmaker Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted. Lawmaker Charles Santiago said the government must repeal all laws that criminalize homosexuality. “And this is because we really need to make sure that no one is publicly caned let alone because of their sexuality,’’ he said. Malaysia is seen as a moderate and stable Muslim-majority country, but Islamic conservatism is on the rise. The caning occurred amid a climate of fear and discrimination against Malaysia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. A few weeks ago, authorities removed the portraits of two LGBT rights activists from a public exhibition. Malaysia religious minister Mujahid Yusuf later said the government doesn’t support the promotion of LGBT culture. A transgender woman was also beaten up by a group of people in a southern state this month. 

SERVICE DIRECTORY CONTACT JOHN TO PLACE AN AD ON CLASSIFIED PAGE 206-223-5559 JOHN@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM

36 YEARS

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

My sinus allergy has stopped the last few days due to better air quality in Seattle. Yay, I can see the blue sky with wavering clouds. Let’s pray that we keep the clean air. Also, our weather is pleasant — not too hot or too cold. Seattle is lucky compared to other parts of the country. Thank you for the blessings.

BLOG from 10 Kaepernick for its “Just Do It” 30th anniversary campaign. The Nike ads feature Kaepernick’s photo with the slogan, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacriﬁcing everything.” To the world, Kaepernick is an inspiration, it has created a movement, according to Nike. Bravo Nike, for standing up for principles.

9. Housing prices cool

6. John McCain’s death overshadows Trump and more

For the past week, John McCain’s funeral news overshadowed Trump’s usual headlines. Often, on a daily basis, Trump has dominated the news, as well as front pages nationwide and across the globe. Many have complained that they shun news for a while because they are so sick and tired of Trump’s disgusting politics and unjustiﬁed policies, which often stirs John McCain distressful emotions. For the past few days, it’s been a breath of fresh air — we could read news with ease and peace. We watched Americans pay tribute to McCain, a senator, twotime presidential candidate, and an American hero, with the absence of Trump. Another person not present at the funeral was former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Those who gave tributes to McCain never mentioned her name. The media also chose to ignore her. She must be pretty fumed. I like it that way.

Rob, pleaded with the public not to exploit her death to foster racism. Even in grief and tragedy, he rose above bias and prejudice, was able to think straight, and urge others to do the right thing.

8. Clean air and nice weather

Good news for home buyers. According to data released last month by Zillow, it’s now becoming more common for Seattle-area home listings to cut their asking prices. The percentage of Seattle proper listings cutting their prices has more than doubled, jumping from 4.3 percent to 10.7 percent from June 2017 to June 2018. Inventory has also only gone up, giving buyers more homes to choose from. Real estate experts think one of the factors driving the cool-down is that rents have stabilized — putting less pressure on ﬁrst-time buyers to get out of their apartments.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

7. Don’t use the blame game

An illegal Mexican immigrant is a suspect in the murder of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts. Trump used the murder to blast illegal immigrants at rallies. But Tibbetts’ father,

SEARCHING from 7 In the opening sequences, the viewer gets a montage introducing us to the Kim family through their home videos. We meet David, his wife, Pamela (Sara Sohn), and we also watch Margot grow up from a baby to a young adult. “Searching” immediately feels intimate — even before we watch Pamela’s health degrade from cancer, even before we watch David and Margot grapple with the loss of her. The movie sets up the stakes really quickly and sells us on the years-deep relationships that these characters have together, which is a testament to the writing and also to the skill of the actors. I believed that David loved his wife, and I felt how her absence weighed on him. I saw the way this loss aﬀected David and Margot’s relationship and how they communicate with each other. I also never questioned this man’s devotion to his daughter as he searched for her.

Korean Americanness Besides Cho, La, and Sohn, “Searching” also features Korean American actor Joseph Lee as Cho’s character’s

Photo by Han Bui

brother. They have good chemistry together and offer up some of the movie’s lighter, laugh-out-loud moments — you know — before everything goes crazy and Margot disappears! So, it’s actually pretty nuts that the majority of the main characters in this movie are Korean American, yet the discussion around the Asian American casting of this movie is notably a lot quieter than the buzz around “Crazy Rich Asians.” “Searching” is actually really cute and clever in low-key owning its Korean Americanness. There’s not ever a moment that blares out THESE ARE ASIAN PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM, but this film also doesn’t feel distractingly and inauthentically color-blind either. The perfect middle area is a difficult and subtle note to hit, but “Searching” does a great job of inserting cultural identity here and there without making it feel contrived or in service of like, a white audience. (Notably, “Searching” was written and directed by Indian American Aneesh Chaganty.)

John Cho

from cool-guy high school-aged cipher in “Better Luck Tomorrow” to socially awkward stoner in the “Harold & Kumar” movies to Hikaru Sulu in the “Star Trek” series to this role in “Searching,” where he plays a father. In the past, Cho has talked about being a Korean American actor and the racism he has contended with throughout his career. He seems like a person who is deliberate and careful about the roles he chooses — going for “Harold & Kumar” because it pushed against model minority stereotypes, refusing to do an Asian accent early on in his career when all he had access to were bit parts, and being the ﬁrst Asian American to play a romantic lead on a U.S. TV series (“Selﬁe,” on ABC). It’s honestly so cool to watch Cho arrive at “Searching.” He carries this movie by himself because he is its main protagonist. This movie is so good because he is so compelling to watch.  Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

We’ve seen John Cho, the actor, grow and evolve,

BOX OFFICE from 8

RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS from 12

mystery “Searching’’ performed better than expected in its expansion to 1,200 screens, bringing in an estimated $5.7 million through Sept. 2 and rounding out the top five. The weekend closes out the fruitful 2018 summer movie season. Box office tracker comScore is projecting that the 2018 summer box office will net out with around $4.39 billion, up over 14 percent from last year when the summer didn’t even hit $4 billion. Year to date, the box office is up 9.9 percent. The success of “Crazy Rich Asians” also propelled an especially lucrative August, up almost 30 percent from last year. 

The massive scope of his group’s work included collecting more than a million documents, producing digital maps of more than 23,000 mass graves and excavating remains for forensic examination. Youk Chhang, 57, is currently involved in a project to develop a museum, archives and library and a graduate program on crimes against humanity. In India, where an estimated 400,000 homeless people struggle with mental illness, psychiatrist Bharat Vatwani started a mission in 1988 that by now has rescued, treated and reintegrated into their families more than 7,000 of them. Vatwani’s “healing compassion’’ aﬃrmed “the human dignity of even the most ostracized in our midst,’’ the award foundation said. “Nobody understands in India, or nobody understands in Asia, what exactly is the issue ... about mental illnesses,’’ Vatwani said. “That drew us to the cause and that has kept us moving forward and forward.’’

Among the other recipients are Filipino businessman Howard Dee, who served as a government negotiator in peace talks with communist rebels in the 1990s, and Vietnamese Vo Thi Hoang Yen, who contracted polio when she was 2 years old and helped found a nonprofit group in 2005 that has helped about 15,000 people with disabilities get jobs. Her showcase project involved a motorcycle taxi service designed for the disabled. Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz from East Timor was recognized for leading efforts to help the poor get access to health care, education, farming and livelihood in the midst of East Timor’s tumultuous transition to independence in 2001. Sonam Wangchuk, from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, was lauded for fighting discrimination against minorities and founding a movement in 1988 that pursued educational reforms and helped tutor poor village students so they could pass exams. 

THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING THIS NEWSPAPER!

asianweekly northwest

36 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Photos Courtesy of John Okamoto.

Tosh, with Toshi, receiveing the Order of the Rising Sun award in 2006.

Tosh celebrating his 90th birthday with his family in 2016.

Tosh, his son John, and Seahawks Vice President of Community Relations, Mike Flood.

TOSH from 1

refuse, because they in turn have been scout masters, active parents, active in church. They did their share and they were very generous, so it was hard to say no ... He was there when help was needed.” Tosh’s family, too, remembered how busy Tosh kept himself. “He was a lifelong learner,” said John. “He was curious. He tried cooking, wood carving, golfing, wine making … He made Japanese pickles, fermented soybeans, ribs … [both children smiled and said “Yum.”] … He would try anything.” Over 40 years later, Tosh’s brain child is still a thriving senior citizen community. As friend Dale Kaku pointed out, “Keiro was the first big financial fundraising project for our community. Maybe the first community-wide Japanese American activity in the Seattle area, ever.” Kaku met Tosh while helping with a renovation of the original Keiro nursing home, then came to know Tosh better through the Nisei Veterans’ Committee (NVC), with whom Tosh was active and served a stint as Commander. Tosh did not forget his fellow soldiers. In addition to many other NVC activities, Tosh helped raise $2 million for a renovation for the NVC in the early 2000s. Kaku echoed Moriguchi’s sentiments that Tosh was not one of those people that you turned down. He described how he became a member of NVC. “I used to play basketball at the gym upstairs, until one day, Tosh came over and he said, ‘You’re a veteran. Why don’t you come down and join?’ I said to myself, ‘If Tosh asked me to join, then okay, I’m going to join.”’ There was nothing stopping Tosh from his goals. This revealed not only his love for his community, but also his faith. He knew the community could get things done. Daughter Sheila described her father and his friends as “courageous.” She said, “They had what it took to make something happen.

Nowadays, if someone said, you need to raise $2 million to build a nursing home, not too many people would do that. But [Tosh] was determined and committed.” Son John added, “He was a connector of ideas and visions about whatever would be good for the community.” Moriguchi said, “I’m glad somebody like Tosh was around when we were doing our projects. We could use a few more Tosh’s.” Tosh will be missed. Yet, when asked how the community will fare in Tosh’s absence, the response was optimistic. Kaku felt that the inclusive programs Tosh had encouraged at the NVC, such as joint activities with Jewish American or Black community members, would continue. “Tosh pushed NVC to work with many other diversified groups in the community, and we continue to work together.” John said confidently of his father, “He had an ability to see a community need and then create a response. I think others will step up to play that role now that Tosh is gone, and already have.” Without a doubt, Tosh’s shining example will light the way for others well into the future. Tosh received both a Congressional Medal from the U.S. government and the Rising Sun Order from the government of Japan. He is survived by his wife, Toshi, children John, Joyce, Susan, and Sheila, happy grandchildren, affectionate friends, and many appreciative community members. 

heard before. When Reagan signed the reparations bill [in 1988], he said, ‘I finally feel like I belong.’ He had little bitterness. He was gracious.” Nevertheless, Tosh’s daughter, Sheila Omoto, does feel that there was a struggle within Tosh, and probably many of those who were interned, to “prove” their “American-ness” and to “prove” their right to live and work in this country. “We had to prove we were more than worthy to be Americans,” Sheila explained. The internment camp experience might have been part of what drove Tosh to be the hard worker that he was. “He was never going to fail,” said Sheila. Holding no bitterness didn’t mean that Tosh didn’t care about what happened to Japanese Americans. Quite the opposite. Tosh was a champion for Japanese Americans. In the 1970s, Tosh became aware of a disservice being done to the older generation of Japanese Americans in Seattle (Issei). Particularly, he was offended by the treatment of “Gold Star Parents” — Issei whose children served in the military. In those days, there were few services available for Japanese Americans in Seattle as they grew older, and oftentimes, tales of mistreatment came back to relatives and friends. Tosh and a group of like-minded friends called the “Magnificent Seven,” with the help of Tosh’s daughter, Joyce, in San Francisco, and many others, set out to create a retirement home tailored to Japanese Americans — a place where Issei could grow old in a familiar environment, surrounded by others from their own culture, enjoying their own habits and even their own food. Thus, Keiro (now called Keiro Northwest) was born. Tomio Moriguchi was a participant in the project and a close friend. “People like [Tosh], when they ask for help, it’s hard to

A public celebration of Tosh’s life will be held on Sept. 22, at 2 p.m., at the Blaine Memorial Methodist Church, on 3001 24th Ave. S., in Seattle. In lieu of ﬂowers, gifts can be made to Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, Nisei Veterans’ Committee, and Keiro Northwest. Jessica Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

from the alleyway. “It was a combination of fish sauce and something that had died,” said Eng-Chang of the smell. The Changs contacted the CIDBIA, which is in charge of addressing these types of situations. But they did not come soon enough, as the restaurant continued to receive complaints. “We felt compelled to diffuse the smell,” stated Eng-Chang. Chang had the offending odor from the garbage can rinsed out with hot water to remediate the situation. However, their attempts to deal with the odor was the incorrect protocol, according to SPU. According to Kau Kau’s “Notice of Violation,” an “unknown community member stated that there was a sewer overflow in the alley near Maynard Avenue South and South King Street.” An inspector from the city received an email from a Seattle Clean Streets coordinator who witnessed Kau Kau employees cleaning a food waste container into a storm drain. Photos taken by the coordinator attest, “a person cleaning sludge from a food recycling bin by placing it into the storm drain inlet located in the alley.” Chang claims that the pictures tell only one side of the story. He explained that the storm drain inlet in the alley runs underneath the sidewalk through a pipe that empties out into the side street and runs down the street to a sewer at the corner, which empties out into the sewage system. Chang stated that he had his employees clean the debris before it got to the sewer on the street, which emptied out into the sewage system. But the SPU photos depict only the cleaning in the alley and not on the street. The Notice of Violation states that it was enforcing the “side sewer and stormwater codes and the discharge of the food waste was

Photos by Jason Cruz

KAU KAU from 1

Richard Chang showing the alley adjacent to his restaurant.

Storm drain

not permitted, the inlet and that the drain is to be used to convey stormwater from the alley, not wastewater or stormwater.” But Chang states that he believes that the oﬀending odors emanating from his garbage may be a result of illegal dumping. Although the garbage cans are maintained via chain locks, he says that the locks still allow for someone to easily pry them open. Chang also believes the change from metal cans to the plastic material may be a reason for the emanating odors, since they are not sealed. Inspectors from SPU met with Chang and explained the Notice of Violation process. As noted by the Changs, the report states the concern with the city for not maintaining the cleanliness of the alley and not addressing the problem quick enough. “Because of the nature of this district, there

are always ongoing issues with alley, street, and sidewalk cleanliness in the ChinatownInternational District. It is why we contract out cleaning services with Seattle Surface Cleaners to provide sidewalk litter pick up four days a week in Chinatown and Japantown and two days a week in Little Saigon,” stated Executive Director Jessa Timmer of the CIDBIA in an email. “We also have a working relationship with SPU, who manage waste issues, and Waste Management, who are responsible for picking up scatter in the alleyways. Scatter in the alleyways is picked up 2-3 times per day by Waste Management’s contractors, CanDo.” “Kau Kau believed there was a foul odor coming from one of its garbage cans and stated they reported it to CIDBIA. Typically, when there is an issue, we contact the appropriate

company, organization, or service provider to resolve the issue (SPU, Waste Management, General Biodiesel, etc),” explained Timmer. “We get a lot of calls about missed solid waste pick ups by Waste Management, calls from businesses about illegal dumping in their alleys, reports of grease and oil spills, and general district cleanliness.” Timmer stated that the CIDBIA works closely with the City of Seattle to ensure service providers “are providing the services they promised to the neighborhood.” The Seattle Clean Streets coordinator who reported the Kau Kau violation is no longer with CIDBIA, according to Timmer, as she had left the position to study abroad. A spokesperson for SPU indicated that the response time on reports of illegal dumping on public property averages four days. Ellen Pepin-Cato stated, “SPU does not have jurisdiction over issues of odor, though we do work with businesses from time to time to try and assist them in mitigating the impacts of consistently bad odor on the public.” Although there is a process explained by CIDBIA and SPU on addressing complaints, there are still concerned neighbors in the International District. “SPU really needs to do something about these alleys,” stated ID resident Nora Chen. “It smells so bad that they (SPU and CIDBIA) really need to do a better job.” She added, “They (the Changs) cleaned their garbage can and got into trouble.” At this point, Chang has retained an attorney to appeal the $2,000 ﬁne. According to Chang, a letter was sent to SPU and it is being reviewed by the deputy director.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.