VOL 38 NO 42 | OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

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VOL 38 NO 42 OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

FREE 37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Phnom Penh Noodle House reopening

Photo by George Liu

Photo provided by Leslie Lum

New location in Thai Binh building

Phnom Penh Noodle House owner Sam Ung (center white) with his family including wife Karen (left from center) and daughters (from left) Darlene, Diane, and Dawn.

Brandon Ting (right), founder of Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya

By Leslie Lum NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY When Brandon Ting, founder of Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya, a growing international chain of ramen restaurants, first arrived at Bellevue College, he was placed into English Level 2 for nonEnglish speakers.

“They felt sorry for me,” remembers Ting. “I should have been placed in English Level 0 because I couldn’t speak a word of the language.”

Through an incredible amount of determination and hard work, Ting

graduated from Bellevue College with high grades and was admitted to the University of Washington (UW) Foster School of Business, one of the top-ranked business schools in the country.

Determination and hard work are traits that Ting had carried throughout his career, but he also had the uncanny ability to seize opportunity. A classmate at Bellevue College recommended that Ting travel up to Vancouver, B.C. to try ramen.

He did and fell in love with the food genre.

Later, another Bellevue College classmate see TING on 12

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The family behind Phnom Penh Noodle House is preparing to reopen this coming winter in a new location.

“We are very excited. It’s been quite the journey getting us to this point,” Diane Le told the Northwest Asian Weekly. see PHNOM PENH NOODLE on 16

Pushing limits and possibilities Lt. Gov. Habib summited Kilimanjaro

Photo provided by Lt. Gov Habib’s office.

China won’t show LakersNets games to punish NBA commissioner

Kristina Brown (left) and Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib on top of Uhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets

By ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league was not apologizing for Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s since-deleted tweet showing support for anti-government

■

protesters in Hong Kong, even after China’s state broadcaster canceled plans to show a pair of preseason games in the country later this week.

Silver, speaking at an Oct. 8 news see NBA on 12

Because it’s there. You don’t necessarily need to see it to know it’s there—the highest mountain in Africa —Mount Kilimanjaro.

In early September, Washington’s Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib summited the 19,341 feet Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The climb was a fundraiser launch

for Boundless Washington, a new outdoor leadership program for youth with disabilities. Habib’s office and the Association of Washington Generals (AWG), a service organization comprised of distinguished Washingtonians, partnered to create the program, offering students six outdoor expeditions throughout the state each year. see HABIB on 12

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Teresita Batayola, president and CEO of International Community Health Services (ICHS), will receive an award as one of the most influential Filipina women in the world from the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN).

Batayola, who had led ICHS since 2005, will be honored under the Teresita Batayola “Builder” award category.

“Builders” have demonstrated exceptional organizational impact at a large workplace environment; displaying deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with institutions, corporations or nonprofit organizations.

Nominees undergo a rigorous vetting process conducted by previous global awardees. FWN recognizes women of Philippine ancestry who are changing the face of leadership in the global workplace. 

More than 100 people attended the first ever “Voice of Aegis”—a Chinese singing competition, held by Aegis Gardens Newcastle on Sept. 28.

The Rong Rong Chinese Folk Choir of Seattle, Seattle Chinese Chorus, Seattle Chinese Arts Group, and Hwa Sheng Chinese Opera Club, along with local soloists and opera singers, formed four teams for the competition.

Each team performed an original 12-minute program.

The Most Memorable Award was given to the Eagle team, the Most Inspirational Award to the Koi Fish team, the Most Creative Award to the Elephant team, and the Most Popular Award to the Dragon team.

This year’s event was such a hit, Aegis Gardens says it plans to establish an annual tradition. 

South Korea. The Global Award winners will receive a free trip to Seoul.

A global educational company, Eye Level has been recognizing the writing and illustrative talents of children around the world over the past two decades. 

ACRS annual benefit dinner

Redmond students win national competition From left: Justice Mary Yu, ACRS Executive Director Michael Byun, and emcee Mimi Jung.

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Redmond students Parth Shakya of Alcott Elementary and Ananya Gupta of Audubon Elementary were recently awarded silver and bronze, respectively, for their illustrated writing submissions in the annual Eye Level Literary Award.

This year’s topic was “If I could change one thing in the world…”

Shakya and Gupta were among 10 people to receive the national level awards. These 10 national winning submissions will be sent for the Global Judging in Seoul,

Members and friends of the Seattle Chinese Chorus

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699 120th AVE NE / BELLEVUE Mimi Jung of KING 5 emceed the event, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, and Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu gave the keynore speech. ACRS said it raised more than $400,000. 

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS New app for teens, young adults who vape OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health announced a new smartphone app on Sept. 30 to help teens and young adults quit vaping.

Developed collaboratively with 2Morrow Inc., the app is available for free to Washingtonians at doh.wa.gov/ quit and is accessible via smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop computer.

The self-guided program includes 10 short lessons, advanced messaging protocols, and customized tips.

Participants learn how to deal with unhelpful thoughts, urges and cravings, and practice moving toward their goal of reducing or quitting vaping. Along the way, they

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receive daily text-based messages and have the ability to track their progress.

According to the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, approximately 30 percent of high school seniors used vapor products in 2018. Many teens don’t perceive health risks from vaping, nor the difficulty of quitting once addicted.

“This app is a promising resource to help tackle the youth vaping epidemic in our state,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer. “By making tools to quit accessible via smartphone and computer, our hope is that more young people feel empowered to quit vaping.” 

Elaine Chao announces a $2.8m grant to Auburn Municipal Airport WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced on Sept. 30 that the Department will award $157 million in airport infrastructure grants to 34 airports in 19 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Auburn Municipal Airport in Auburn, Wash. will receive $2,858,343 to fund the extension of Runway 16/34.

Elaine L. Chao

This is the sixth allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program funding for airports across the United States.

According to the FAA’s most recent economic analysis, U.S. civil aviation accounts for $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs. 

Image from doh.wa.gov

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

SAM’s Asian Art Woman helps Japanese World War II Museum to reopen in Feb. 2020 diary find way home

By RON DEVLIN THE READING EAGLE DOUGLASSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Judy Reitz was making turkey suppers in the kitchen at St. Paul’s UCC in Amityville when she got a call on her cellphone a couple months ago.

Not recognizing the number, she hesitated to answer.

She’s not sure why, but something made her take the call.

“I have good news for you,’’ the voice on the other end said. “We found the grandson of the soldier.’’

No further explanation was needed.

The news: a Japanese soldier’s diary her father brought back from World War II had made its way back to the soldier’s family in Japan.

Indeed, the tiny black book was in the possession of Toshie Nagasawa, the soldier’s grandson, who lives in Fukushima Prefecture.

The news was the fulfillment of hopes Reitz had when, in spring of 2018, she sent the diary to the Obon Society in Oregon.

A nonprofit founded by Rex and Keiko Ziak, the society seeks to heal wartime wounds by returning Japanese flags and other materials to families in Japan.

“I had high hopes it would make its way back to his family,’’ said Reitz, 76, a retired first-grade teacher. “I felt his name might be somewhere in the writing.’’

WORLD WAR II RELIC

Seaman Merle K. Bock of Earlville was with the Navy Seabees on the island of Tinian in the Pacific Ocean, clearing jungle for a runway that would figure in the end of World War II. It was from Tinian that the Enola Gay departed, carrying an atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. Japan surrendered three days later, after a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

Resistance to American forces was strong, and Japanese troops were dug in, inhabiting caves on the island. In one of those caves, Bock removed the diary from a deceased Japanese soldier.

It wasn’t until Bock’s death in 1986 that Reitz, his daughter, got the diary. When

attempts to have its printed characters translated failed, she tucked it away in a Tupperware sandwich container.

Then, early last year, she read a story in Reader’s Digest about an Oregon group that returned battlefield souvenirs to Japan.

She wasted no time in rushing to the Douglassville post office and mailing the treasured artifact to the Obon Society.

A year and a day later, Reitz received confirmation that the society had found the soldier’s grandson.

“It is our pleasure to report that we have found the family in Japan that belongs to your diary,’’ the society reported in an email dated April 6. “The Japanese family is eager to receive these remains.’’

Included was the name of the soldier, Kiyoshichi Nagasawa, who died at Tinian Island on Aug. 2, 1944.

A RESONANT MESSAGE

Of the 2 million Japanese soldiers who died in the war, Rex Ziak says, 1.1 million were declared missing in action.

So when diaries, Japanese flags or officers’ swords make their way back to Japan, still grief-stricken families rejoice.

Nearly 74 years after the war ended in September 1945, emotional wounds have yet to heal.

“These items are the first and only trace of their loved one that these families have gotten,’’ Ziak says. “It is their only spiritual connection to them.’’

In a letter to Toshie Nagasawa, Reitz told the story of how her father discovered the diary while on a mission to search caves on the island.

“We always wondered how to get it back to his family,’’ wrote Reitz, who sent photos of her father and family.

“My family and I are so happy that your grandfather’s diary is now in your hands.’’  Ziak founded the Obon Society with his wife, Keiko, a native of Japan. They work through a network of more than 500 scholars and volunteers in Japan to reunite families with wartime artifacts.

The Oregon-based society can be reached at contact@obonsociety.org or obonsociety.org.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) announced on Oct. 1 that the Seattle Asian Art Museum will reopen to the public on Feb. 8, 2020, following a 24-month-long renovation and expansion.

The museum’s 1933 building closed to the public in February 2017 for the $56 million project that has modernized and preserved the historic building, expanded exhibition and education space, and established a better connection to the surrounding Volunteer Park.

Highlights include a new glass-enclosed park lobby on the east side of the building, new gallery, education studio, conservation center, and community meeting room, and cleaning of the façade’s Art Deco metalwork and reglazing of the glass.

The project was funded by a mixture of

public and private funds.

“This is a pivotal moment for SAM and for the city of Seattle,” says Amada Cruz, the newly appointed Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO of SAM. “With the completion of this project, we unveil new spaces to connect the museum’s extraordinary collection of Asian art to our lives and experiences.”

A free community celebration will welcome visitors to the museum on Feb. 8 and 9, 2020. Free tickets will be available to reserve in early December.

One of only a few art museums in North America dedicated exclusively to Asian art, the Asian Art Museum maintains an important collection of art from China, Korea, Japan, India, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. 

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

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Director promises dank thrills in Thai cave boys rescue saga

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and JERRY HARMER ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — Their story gripped the world: determined divers racing against time and water to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped for more than two weeks in a flooded cave deep inside a northern Thai mountain.

The ordeal in late June and early July 2018 had barely ended when filmmakers began their own race to get the nail-biting drama onto cinema screens. The first of those projects premiered at the Busan Film Festival in South Korea.

“The Cave’’ was shot over three months earlier this year and has been in post-production since then. The 45-year-old Thai-born, British-raised filmmaker said the epic tale of the Wild Boars football team was a story he simply had to tell.

The boys and their coach entered the Tham Luang cave complex after soccer practice and were quickly trapped inside by rising floodwater. Despite a massive search, the boys spent nine nights lost in the cave before they were spotted by an expert diver. It would take another eight days before they were all safe.

Tom Waller was visiting his father in Ireland when he saw television news accounts of the drama.

“I thought this would be an amazing story to tell on screen,’’ he said.

But putting the parts together after their dramatic rescue proved to be a

Tom Waller

challenge. Thailand’s government, at the time led by a military junta, became very protective of the story, barring unauthorized access to the Wild Boars or their parents. Waller often feared his production might be shut down.

His good fortune was that the events at the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province had multiple angles and interesting characters. Especially compelling were the stories of the rescuers, particularly the expert divers who rallied from around the world. He decided to make a film “about the volunteer spirit of the rescue.’’

Other people proposed telling the story from the point of view of the boys, and Netflix nailed down those rights in a deal brokered by the Thai government.

“I took the view that this was going to be a story about the people we didn’t know about, about the cave divers who came all the way from across the planet,’’ Waller said. “They literally dropped everything to go and help, and I just felt that that was more of an exciting story to tell, to find out how these boys were brought out and

what they did to get them out.’’

Waller even had more than a dozen key rescue personnel play themselves.

Waller said they were natural actors, blending in almost seamlessly with the professionals around them, and helped by the accuracy of the settings and the production’s close attention to detail.

“What you are really doing is asking them to remember what they did and to show us what they were doing and what they were feeling like at the time,’’ he said. “That was really very emotional for some of them because it was absolutely real.’’

Waller said his film is likely to have a visceral effect on some viewers, evoking a measure of claustrophobia.

“It’s a sort of immersive experience with the sound of the environment, you know, the fact that is very dark and murky, that the water is not clear,’’ he said.

“In Hollywood films, when they do underwater scenes, everything is crystal clear. But in this film it’s murky and I think that’s the big difference. This film lends itself to being more of a realistic portrayal of what happened.’’

Some scenes were filmed on location at the entrance to the actual Tham Luang cave, but most of the action was shot elsewhere, Waller said.

“We filmed in real water caves that were flooded, all year-round,’’ he said. “It is very authentic in terms of real caves, real flooded tunnels, real divers and real creepy-crawlies in there. So it was no mean feat trying to get a crew to go and film in these caves.’’

“The Cave’’ goes on general release in Thailand on Nov. 28. 

Yoshino wins Nobel for lithiumion battery breakthrough STOCKHOLM (AP) — If you’re reading this on a cellphone or laptop computer, you might thank this year’s three winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their work on lithium-ion batteries.

The prize announced on Oct. 9 went to John B. Goodenough, 97, an American engineering professor at the University of Texas; Akira Yoshino, 71, of chemicals company Asahi Kasei Corp. and Meijo University in Japan; and M. Stanley Whittingham, 77, a British-American chemistry professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

The three scientists were honored for a truly transformative technology that has permeated billions of lives across the planet, including anyone who uses cellphones, computers, pacemakers, electric cars and beyond.

Each man had unique breakthroughs that cumulatively

laid the foundation for the development of a commercial rechargeable battery to replace alkaline batteries containing lead, nickel or zinc that had their origins in the 19th century.

In his work, Whittingham harnessed the enormous tendency of lithium—the lightest metal—to Akira Yoshino give away its electrons to make a battery capable of generating just over two volts. Lithium, of all the elements, “is the one that most willingly releases electrons,” the committee said.

By 1980, building on Whittingham’s work, Goodenough had doubled the capacity of the battery to four volts by using cobalt oxide in the cathode—one of two electrodes,

along with the anode, that make up the ends of a battery.

But that battery remained too explosive for general commercial use. That’s where Yoshino’s work in the 1980s came in. He eliminated the volatile pure lithium from the battery, and instead opted for lithium ions that are safer.

Yoshino substituted petroleum coke, a carbon material, in the battery’s anode. This step paved the way for the first lightweight, safe, durable and rechargeable commercial batteries to be built and enter the market in 1991.

“We have gained access to a technical revolution,” said Sara Snogerup Linse of the Nobel committee for chemistry, alludingtotheenvironmentalbenefitsofthediscoveries.“The ability to store energy from renewable sources—the sun, the wind—opens up for sustainable energy consumption.” see YOSHINO on 16

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01392C19, Plumbing & Mechanical Work Order Services; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on October 22, 2019. Late bids will not be accepted.

Scope of Work: Perform Work Order Services on underground piping, plumbing and building mechanical systems primarily at King County Solid Waste Division Facilities including but not limited to transfer stations, landfill support facilities, and other properties such

as commercial warehouse, office buildings and residential property holdings.

Estimated contract price: $998,995.13 There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

37 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR OCT 11

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS HUB Lawn, UW Campus 4-7 p.m.

THRIVING FAMILIES: THE INTERSECTIONS OF RACE & DISABILITY Amara, 5907 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

14

KHMER NIGHT: ROLLER SK(H)ATING WITH THE HOMIES UW Ima Building 7-10 p.m.

AEGIS HEIRLOOM SESSION Aegis Gardens of Newcastle 10 a.m.-3 p.m. alicia.campolito@ aegisliving.com

10-13

15

MAPLE FESTIVAL Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle 10 a.m.-5 p.m. seattlejapanesegarden.org

CID PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM MEETING Bush Hotel Conference Room 3-4 p.m.

12 CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY InterIm Community Development Association, 310 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 5-8 p.m.

DENISE LOUIE EDUCATION CENTER’S 41ST ANNIVERSARY Sodo Park 5:30 p.m. deniselouie.org DIWALI BALL FUNDRAISER Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. seattleartmuseum.org

16 RVC ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE RVC, 1225 S. Weller St. #400, Seattle 4-6:30 p.m.

17 DISTRICT 2 - CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM Chinatown Community Center, 719 8th Ave. S., Seattle 6-8 p.m. brenna.clausen@seattle. gov 206-233-0042

■ OBITUARY

17-19

25

SAKAI JUKU UW, Meany Center for the Performing Arts meanycenter.org 206-543-4880

EAST SIDE DIWALI BALL 2019 Hilton, 300 112th Ave. SE, Bellevue 7:30-11:30 p.m.

201-993-7476

19 FILIPINO YOUTH ACTIVITIES DRILL TEAM 60TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30-11 p.m.

20

NWAW’S 2019 ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave., Seattle 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. apientrepreneurs.bpt.me

26 HELPING LINK’S ANNUAL GALA CELEBRATION Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island 6-8:30 p.m. $100 helpinglinkannualgala. brownpapertickets.com

SWEET TOOTH POP-UP Fremont Sunday Market, 3401 Evanston Ave. N., Seattle 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

22

TEA CEREMONY Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle 1-4 p.m. seattlejapanesegarden.org

ASK VU ANYTHING! AN AMA WITH RVC’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RVC, 1225 S. Weller St. #400, Seattle 12:30-1:30 p.m.

PEACETREES’ 24TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Four Seasons Hotel, 99 Union St., Seattle 11:30 a.m.

Suggested contribution minimum of $150 Register at 206-441-6136 info@peacetreesvietnam. org

INCLUSION FUSION 2019

BY EDI Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue 5-9 p.m. ediorg.ejoinme.org DIWALI: LIGHTS OF INDIA Seattle Center 12-6 p.m. vedicculturalcenter.org

Louise Kashino Takisaki

A memorial service for Louise Kashino-Takisaki will be held at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church on Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.

The community leader, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother— died surrounded by family on Aug. 20 after a sudden illness. She was 93.

Louise was born in Seattle on April 25, 1926 to Kakichi and Tamiye Tsuboi, the third-oldest of six siblings.

She and her family were incarcerated first at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, then at the Minidoka internment camp in Hunt, Idaho. While incarcerated, Louise met her future husband, Shiro Kashino. They were married 51 years before he died in 1997 — they had three daughters.

Louise was married to her second husband, Jiro Takisaki, for five years before his death in 2009.

She is survived by daughters Kris Hiraoka (Stan), Debbie Kashino (Bruce Inaba), and Bev Kashino (Doug Tsujii); granddaughters Kari Kanai (Randy), Traci Liu (Mike), Marisa Kashino (Nate Carlile), and Shina Kashino (Sarrah); brother Frank Tsuboi; and greatgrandchildren Lauren and Audrey Liu, and Matthew Kanai. 

View the solution on page 14

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The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

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YOUR VOICE

■ ON THE SHELF

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

asianweekly northwest

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Unlikely heroes and underdogs Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Unsung Heroine

By Sarah Kuhn DAW, 2019

As a fight trainer/bodyguard to Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka, the superheroines protecting San Francisco, Lucy Valdez is one of the toughest individuals in town without superpowers. But as tough as she may be, she still can’t confess her feelings to her longtime crush, Rose Rorick, head of the police department’s Demon Unit.

Lucy is also the undisputed karaoke queen at the local joint, The Gutter. So when a new karaoke star, Celine, shows up, Lucy’s confidence is a bit shaken. But then strange and seemingly supernatural happenings threaten Celine, as well as The Gutter itself. So all of a sudden, Lucy finds herself working alongside Rose as they investigate San Francisco’s newest demonic threat. She is forced to confront the threat, as well as her feelings for Rose.

“Unsung” is a novella in Kuhn’s Heroine Complex series, which features Asian American superheroines, though Lucy herself—a vital member of the Jupiter/ Tanaka team in all three previous stories — is Puerto Rican, Mexican, and English.

Kuhn finally gives us Lucy’s story as fans of the series will have seen her flirting and pining over Rose for years.

,1'2 &$1$',$1 $:$$= 381-$%, 1(:63$3(5

Lucy is a mix of tough and vulnerable.

Despite not having superpowers, she can fight right alongside her superheroine friends, but is hesitant to show Rose her real self for fear of rejection. And while she may be a martial arts and weapons expert, she also loves vintage fashion. All of these facets form a complex, three-dimensional character, showing readers women and people of color can be more than one thing.

One of the things I really appreciated about “Unsung” was the fact that while Lucy and Celine were very competitive

with each other on stage, they also supported each other. Kuhn left out the usual cattiness that can often show up when women are pitted against each other. This is such a common portrayal of women and it was refreshing to not find it in the story.

Not Your Backup

By C.B. Lee Interlude Press, 2019

The Sidekick Squad is back and this time, it’s Emma Robledo’s story.

“Backup” picks up where the previous story left off, with the Resistance continuing their efforts to take down the corrupt Heroes League of Heroes. But Emma, a high school senior who has left school, thinks they’re not doing enough. As the unofficial leader of the fractured Resistance movement, everyone turns to her for the plans. However, she is the only one without superpowers. So when the adults show up to help the group of teens, Emma is taken see SHELF on 14

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

37 YEARS

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Ang Lee’s “Gemini Man” doubles up the action and the emotion

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures, Skydance, and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Will Smith meets with local middle and high school students during an Oct. 3 visit to Microsoft’s Redmond campus to promote Gemini Man.

From left: Will Smith, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and director Ang Lee at the Gemini Man outside-in fireside chat at Micrsoft’s Redmond campus on Oct. 3.

From “Sense and Sensibility” to “Crouching Tiger,

Hidden Dragon,” Taiwanese director Ang Lee’s choice of movie genres runs the gamut, yet what makes him successful is his ability to probe deep emotions—and his insistence upon stunning visuals. Both of these are present in Lee’s latest endeavor, “Gemini Man,” starring Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Clive Owen.

For “Gemini Man,” Lee teamed up again with Bill Westenhofer, the man who brought us the CG tiger in “Life of Pi,” and a team of several hundred artists, to explore the concept of cloning and create a computerized “clone.” In the movie, hitman Henry Brogan, played by Smith, finds himself on the other end of the gun—and the person sent to kill him is his younger self. As the

villain Clay Verris, played by Owen, says, this clone has all of Henry’s good traits, and none of the bad. Henry, on the other hand, is appalled, not to mention worried for his life. This kid, called “Junior,” is as good as him— and Henry’s the best. Henry and his friends and fellow assassins, including a resourceful character played by Benedict Wong—who conjures up an airplane—rally to figure everything out.

What’s getting the most hype surrounding the movie is the technology. So much so that, somewhat unusually, Lee and Smith have been promoting the film at tech venues, such as TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, and what was touted as an “outside-in fireside chat” at our very own Microsoft campus in Redmond. The attention-getter is the clone. see GEMINI MAN on 13

Community Employees Integrity Service What we’ve been banking on for 35 years.

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YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

9

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

A Cat Beckons, 2018 — Julian Pena Studio Photos provided by Julian Peña

“When I was younger, I had a difficult time understanding what it means to be happa (half and half). What made me Japanese, and what made me Dominican?

What does being American mean for a person such as myself? When my parents separated, my mother (Japanese) got custody of me, which is why I’ve spent most of my life exposed to Japanese culture. It wasn’t until later in life where I started to learn about Dominican culture through my Dad’s side in the Bronx, New York…

“Even in Japan during school as a child, I would get bullied for being mixed.

Being exposed to ‘Japanese things’ when growing up with my mother, it’s no surprise that it strongly influences my body of work. Before I left Japan, I remember my mother told me we were going to a sento (a Japanese bath house)…

Instead, we ended up at the airport to fly to the United States to start a new life.

That road to learning about what my identity means, has been a source of my artistic expression.”

That’s Seattle artist Julian Peña, a painter, whose exhibit of new work

features at the grand opening of the ELBO Room on Oct. 12. Pena spent most of his growing up in Tacoma, though he was born in Japan and holds fond memories of Japanese summers— “the scorching sun and cicadas chatting in the background.” see PEÑA on 13

Julian Peña in front of a gallery wall featuring his art

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10

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

37 YEARS

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“You have nice skin, what cosmetics brand do you use?” many women asked me.

Well, ladies, that’s the wrong question to ask. You should focus on what we put in our body. We are what we eat.

The other reason is, I have stories to share that cosmetics can hurt you sometimes, if you choose the wrong kind.

Some women assume that the more expensive the cosmetics, the better it is.

However, it doesn’t work for me. When I saw my former part-time employee last year, it was a transformation. Instead of acne and rough patches on her skin, her complexion is flawless. She applies both Korean and Japanese cosmetics. Korean skin care products, one of the finest in the world, are high-end. I just don’t want to pay that much for cosmetics. I told her I would try the Japanese brand.

But my skin is sensitive and stubborn. It doesn’t matter how good they are, I am picky about cream. At first, my skin felt smooth. But after a year, it rejected those creams and began to act up with allergies. It was the same old story for me for decades. Naturally, I went back to the cheapest and practical moisturizer, thick and greasy jelly Vaseline, highly recommended by my dermatologist.

Then, my skin cooperates after that. I tried different products from, including American, French, and Italian products and they all failed me.

What I haven’t changed is my diet. I choose food carefully, not for aesthetics, but to feel good physically and mentally. I pray every day, “Please don’t let me get sick.” Here is my list of food to raise my energy and immunity.

The King County Charter Review Commission My food list also provides me with invites you to provide input on changes to the good nutrition and fine skin.

• Eat watermelon year round, even King County Charter that they are recommending in winter. to the King County Council. The King County • Have an egg every day.

• Vitamin C is necessary for good Charter is similar to the constitution for King skin. It’s important to include fruits and County government. Visit kingcounty.gov/charter vegetables in every meal.

• Almond is the best nut to enhance for more information. skin texture. I find that almonds are hard to chew. Instead, I buy almond powder from Asian grocery stories.

Once a while, I drink water mixed with sition. ty Sheriff to an appointed po almond powder. ✓ Returning the King Coun ed • Limit your white sugar intake as ers and honorably discharg ✓ Protecting family care giv mination. much as possible. It sags your skin. military veterans from discri • Restrict the amount of daily elected officials who viding a removal process for Pro ✓ carbohydrates. I stopped eating white . engage in improper behavior rice years ago. Quinoa is what I eat now gh the inquest ilie orneys to fam s going throu att ing vid Pro ✓ in place of rice for dinner. process.

• Avoid greasy foods, especially r to the Office of Law ✓ Providing subpoena powe deep-fried stuff. An oily diet can give body that investigates Enforcement Oversight, the you pimples and oily skin. ty Sheriff’s Office. misconduct in the King Coun • Have fewer chocolates. I have a hard time with this as I enjoy dark chocolate. I never exceed three pieces.

Eating too much chocolate can cause acne.

• Drink less caffeine. I limit myself to one cup of tea in the morning. I need 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m. some caffeine in the morning to jump start my energy.

Bellevue City Council Chambers Shoreline City Council Chambers • Drink lots of water and soups to 450 110th Ave NE 17500 Midvale Ave N eliminate dehydration.

Bellevue, WA 98004 Shoreline, WA 98133 • Find healthy snacks so you don’t stuff yourself with the wrong foods.

• Eat less spicy foods. This doesn’t work for everyone. Some people have great-looking skin, and yet eat lots of spicy foods. You just have to experiment with different kinds of food.

7:00 p.m.

TBD - check website • Make it an adventure to discover what foods work well for your skin.

Federal Way City Council Chambers Location TBD • Finally, stay away from the sun.

33325 8th Ave S Please check website Wear a hat like I do. 

You’re invited to a

Town Hall Meeting to talk about the

King County Charter

Le t’s ta lk ab ou t.. .

Bellevue

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Shoreline

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Federal Way

Seattle

Federal Way, WA 98003

Seattle, WA

Thursday, Oct. 17

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

11

Harvard admissions

A group that opposes affirmative action said it would appeal an Oct. 1 ruling in which U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs concluded that Harvard’s “holistic” admissions policy does not violate the Constitution by giving Blacks and Hispanics what the university terms a “plus factor” advantage denied to Asian Americans and whites.

Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) filed a notice on Oct. 4 with the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. The group says it will appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

Affirmative action is a remedy to decades of systemic and pervasive racist policies and practices against Blacks in colleges and the workplace. Affirmative action was later expanded to include other groups that have faced historic and persistent discrimination.

Meghan Liu, a 2019 graduate of Harvard Law School, wrote that Burroughs’ decision is not a loss for Asian Americans.

“It may be tempting for many Asian Americans, and others, to dismiss this lawsuit as ‘a hullabaloo by salty people who didn’t get into Harvard,’ to quote an Asian American friend,” wrote Liu in a commentary to the Washington Post.

“But we need to see the bigger picture. This lawsuit is symptomatic of larger questions that Asian Americans cannot continue avoiding, such as what it means to be Asian American, how to be allies for racial justice, assimilation versus representation, and the widening socioeconomic gap within our communities.”

Six years of Harvard admissions data show that, based on grades, test scores, and other factors, Asian American

applicants with a 25 percent chance of admission would have a 35 percent chance if they’re white, 75 percent chance if they’re Latino, and 95 percent chance if they’re Black.

Can you imagine the outrage if it were the inverse? If Blacks had only a 25 percent chance to get in and Asian Americans had a 95 percent chance?

SFFA will likely get its wish. The next stop for this case is likely the U.S. Supreme Court, where four of the nine justices are graduates of Harvard Law School— and about the same number have previously expressed concerns about affirmative action.

Expect to see high drama over this case in the nation’s highest court. 

■ COMMENTARY

ACRS – 46TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: Keynote speech

by Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu on October 5, 2019

Dear Friends, thank you for the invitation to share a few words.

We are here tonight to celebrate the good services that Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) offers to our community.

ACRS is unique in its commitment to providing those services in a culturally appropriate manner; the staff and board deserve our thanks!

While we’re here to celebrate the delivery of those services, we are also here tonight because of the underlying mission of ACRS —and that mission (as noted on their web page) is to promote social justice; to promote the wellbeing and empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and other underserved communities, including immigrants, and refugees and I might add regardless of their legal status.

We gather tonight to be reminded that we are one family; one human family. Our connections to each other may be our countries of origin, our language, our culture, or our neighborhood. But maybe our best connection to one another is our common dream and vision for an open and free democracy, a society governed by the rule of law where everyone gets a shot at success; our connection to one another may be indeed our desire for a community that reflects the underlying values of tolerance, respect, and simple human decency.

Today’s political climate is challenging. I think you would agree with me that there seems to be a conscious cultivation of mistrust and negativity that invites us to pit neighbor against neighbor. But as you also know, this isn’t new for us.

Our community, in particular, has travelled this path before and our story tells the world about survival and the ability to thrive in the midst of such challenges.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the

Chinese Exclusion Act was the law of this land; or when we (the so called yellow race) were expelled from the cities of Tacoma and Seattle; or when Executive Order 9066 was signed and Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes to be imprisoned in detention camps; or when we as a race were not allowed to practice law much less occupy a seat on the State Supreme Court.

The truth is that the politics of hate and mistrust is not new.

And yet as you also know, as evidenced by our presence here—we survived and we thrived in spite of those obstacles. We did so because of our resilience and active resistance to the idea that we were less than equal under law. We have been blessed by leaders in our community who have the courage to call us to do more and to stand in the public square for what is right—leaders like Ron Chew, Cindy Domingo, Frankie

Irigon, Michael Woo, Al Sugiyama, Bob Santos, Ruth Woo, Diana Narasaki, Sharon Santos . . . and the list could go on and on.

Dear Friends, it is our optimism and commitment to promoting the dignity of the human person that brings us to this place today and to this moment in our history.

And because of our history, I believe you and I are now called upon in a unique way, to step forward and to speak the truth.

In a time of division where other groups are being targeted, or deprived the protections of the rule of law, it is imperative that we double-down in making our values publicly known. We must lend our active and public voice to the call for civility and unity, and for the protection of those in our society that are most vulnerable.

Our community is a respected and powerful community and we can help fill a void in the public arena; we can fill

Justice Mary Yu

that space with a message of tolerance, of compassion, of welcome. Our ties to one another and our commitment to fostering a kinder, gentler community that cares for the newcomer, the elderly, and the underserved will speak volumes to others. I am confident that despite these dark moments, we will have a brighter future because of you and the strength of our common connections.

I invite you to think about your role in preserving this democracy and the rule of law; to ask yourself, what would you do if you came to the conclusion that our democracy was truly at risk? What would you do?

I dare you to bless the lives of your children and their children, by giving them a better world to live in.

Please speak now, for their sake. 

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

TING from 1 he visited in Shanghai recommended that Ting try a new restaurant chain. It was ramen.

Along with some classmates from UW Foster, Ting decided to explore the idea of a ramen startup in 2010.

While holding a full-time job, he spent all of his spare time studying restaurants, estimating sales, trying to discern costs, and evaluating service. He compiled over 200 restaurants in Excel spreadsheets.

But the difficult part was the high art of ramen. Complexly flavored, the perfect bowl of ramen combines clear broth with the right combination of noodles, meat, seafood, and vegetables. A Japanese cult favorite movie, “Tanpopo,” describes how difficult it is to develop the aromatic stock which contains up to 50 ingredients and is simmered for hours. There are tens of thousands of ramen shops in Japan, and no one wanted to share the secrets of their ramen.

Ting was determined to serve only authentic Japanese

NBA from 1 conference in Tokyo before a preseason game between the Rockets and NBA champion Toronto Raptors, went so far as to say that he and the league were “apologetic” that so many Chinese officials and fans were upset by Morey’s tweet and comments that followed—but insisted that Morey had the right to freedom of expression.

“Daryl Morey, as general manager of the Houston Rockets, enjoys that right as one of our employees,” Silver said. “What I also tried to suggest is that I understand there are consequences from his freedom of speech and we will have to live with those consequences.”

Among those consequences: CCTV said it would not show the games between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, who were scheduled to play on Oct. 10 in Shanghai and Oct. 12 in Shenzhen. Basketball is wildly popular in China and those two teams—largely because of LeBron James starring for the Lakers and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s co-founder Joe Tsai now owning the Nets—would have almost certainly been a huge television draw.

“We’re strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver’s claim to support Morey’s right to freedom of expression,” CCTV said in a statement. “We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech.”

The broadcaster is also reviewing all its cooperation and exchanges involving the NBA, said the statement posted to CCTV Sports’ official social media account.

Silver said he hoped to meet with officials in Shanghai and some of the league’s business partners there in an effort to find some sort of common ground. He said he hoped Chinese officials and fans looked at the totality of

HABIB from 1 “It was an amazing experience,” Habib said of his climb.

“It was really difficult…but an amazing experience.”

Every year, over 50,000 trekkers attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. Only 65 percent of them ever reach the top.

Habib prepared himself physically by doing more day hikes and walking on the treadmill on maximum incline.

He said the route to Uhuru Peak wasn’t technical, but it did get quite cold. He didn’t need to learn to use an ice axe or crampons. There were sections of scrambling, but it’s not icy; trekkers needn’t be roped-up.

Habib traveled to Africa with Kristina Brown, executive director of his office. Several others from the AWG also joined the six-day trek. Both Habib and Brown used personal funds for the trip.

“I ended up getting bronchitis. It started with a cold the second day on the mountain,” Habib said. “I tried antibiotics. I tried cold medicine, but it wasn’t getting better.”

Up until reaching 17,000 feet, Habib had no trouble with the high altitude. It was a different story beyond that. The combination of bronchitis, low-oxygen, and the lack of sleep made the last few hours of the summit “absolutely miserable” for Habib.

“My heart was just racing so fast.”

“It started out like every 10 minutes, I would need to stop to catch my breath. Then it was every 5 minutes… then every two minutes,” Habib recalled. “When it got very close to the summit, it was like…every 15 steps I would need to stop.”

“I just became concerned. You know, like am I going to have a heart attack? What’s going to happen here…”

37 YEARS

ramen, so he traveled to Japan and contacted all the ramen chains in Japan to inquire if they would be willing to partner with him. Only one chain replied. Next, Ting had to work on the red tape to bring in the ingredients of the broth, some of which the Food and Drug Administration had never heard of.

If that wasn’t enough to keep him up at nights, Ting thought long and hard about the debt he would have assumed to get his startup off the ground. He calculated that if his venture failed, it would take him 15 years of work to repay the debt.

It was with all this trepidation that Ting and his partners opened their first restaurant in Bellevue, working 90 hours a week to ensure that it was flawless. The result? Long lines formed at the restaurant almost immediately. It was a winning formula. Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya now has 13 locations in four U.S. states, and locations in Taiwan and Australia.

Ting continues to insist on the full Japanese experience,

flying in a designer from Japan to create the atmosphere of a Japanese ramen shop with open kitchen and caring customer service. Even with 700 employees, he has continued to support his alma mater Bellevue College by hiring current students as servers and alumni as managers.

Just recently, Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya made the exponential leap to the next level by hiring top management from Starbucks and Tesla for operations and construction.

Ting has assembled a team that has experience with sales in the billions.

Are there more secrets to his incredible success? What mistakes did he learn from? Find out more at the Northwest Asian Weekly’s API Entrepreneurs Roundtable, “What Asian American entrepreneurs are afraid to ask—and how it stops them from succeeding,” on Oct. 25 at China Harbor Restaurant starting at 11 a.m. 

the impact of the three-decade-plus relationship between the league and the country, and urged them to see his response while acknowledging there were political differences between the countries.

“I’m sympathetic to our interests here and our partners that are upset,” Silver said. “I don’t think it’s inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles.”

Silver said the NBA did not expect CCTV to cancel plans to show the Lakers-Nets games. “But if those are the consequences of us adhering to our values,” he said, “I still feel it’s very, very important to adhere to those values.”

This rift between China and the NBA started when Morey tweeted a now-deleted image that read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” in reference to months of pro-democracy demonstrations in the semiautonomous Chinese territory, which has been mired in escalating violence between protesters and law enforcement.

Efforts were quickly made to defuse the impact; Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said Morey did not speak for the Rockets, and Morey returned to Twitter on Oct. 7 in an effort to clarify his meaning. But damage was clearly done: At least one Chinese sporting goods company said it was no longer cooperating with the Rockets, NBA streaming partner Tencent—which has a $1.5-billion contract with the league over the next five seasons—said it would not show Rockets games, and a sports news website in China said it was no longer covering the team.

Further complicating the matter: China’s best-known basketball player is Hall of Famer Yao Ming, who spent his NBA career with the Rockets. Yao is now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, which has said it

is suspending its relationship with the Rockets as part of the response to Morey’s tweet. The CBA also canceled plans to have the G League affiliates from Houston and Dallas play preseason games in China later this month.

“I’m hoping that together Yao Ming and I can find an accommodation,” Silver said. “But he is extremely hot at the moment, and I understand it.”

A ceremonial NBA Cares event for an educational center in Shanghai with the Nets was canceled on Oct. 8, though the Nets participated in other events as scheduled.

Silver said NBA Cares would still honor its bigger mission surrounding that event, including providing a gift of new computers.

“How can it be possible to carry out exchanges and cooperation with China without knowing China’s public opinion?” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said. “NBA’s cooperation with China has been going on for quite a long time, so for what should be said and what should be done, they know best.”

Silver also released a statement prior to his news conference, saying, “Those who question our motivation” should know that the NBA’s stance is about more than business. Many U.S. lawmakers have called for the league to take action—some even suggesting the games in China should be canceled by the NBA. “We are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression,” Silver said. “I regret—again, having communicated directly with many friends in China—that so many people are upset, including millions and millions of our fans. At the end of the day, we come with basketball as an opportunity to sell dreams, sell hopes. ... That we are causing disruption in people’s lives and that we are causing disharmony, that’s something I regret.” 

“In my mind, I sensed that I’ve told everybody that I was doing this. I would be so humiliated if I don’t make it,” Habib said. Pride and vanity got to him.

“I just kept pushing.”

And he didn’t want pity.

What Habib wanted was to share experiences of people challenging and pushing themselves to overcome obstacles as motivation for youth with disabilities.

“It excites me to be able to use these experiences to get them to see their full potential, not just in the outdoors, but in academics or in their professional and personal lives,” Habib said.

He downplayed his own climb, his job as Lieutenant Governor, or any of his achievements. Instead, Habib turned the attention to Erik Weihenmayer, an author, a world-class athlete, and the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. Weihenmayer was also the first blind mountaineer to complete the Seven Summits—the seven highest mountains in the seven continents.

Habib credited Weihenmayer, co-founder of Coloradobased No Barriers, for inspiring him. No Barriers, with a motto “What’s Within You is Stronger than What’s in Your Way,” is another partner of Boundless Washington.

Prior to Habib’s climb, Weihenmayer spent a day with Habib while visiting Washington state. The two hiked Mount Si together, with Weihenmayer giving Habib pointers in using the trekking poles and tips on scaling the mountain.

“Here’s this guy who didn’t just climb ‘Tiger Mountain,’ which might seem challenging enough to others because he’s blind. He climbed Everest!” Habib said of Weihenmayer. “It sent a message to me.”

He continued, “Never let other people or society’s assumption dictate what you think you can do. Always

To purchase tickets, go to https://apientrepreneurs.bpt.me.

have to have those dreams. And there’ll be obstacles in life.

You have to respect the challenge!”

Boundless Washington will be announcing its participantselection process in the coming weeks. The outreach is of utmost importance since the disability community is diverse and scattered throughout the state. Habib hopes to use the schools as a channel to promote this program. Parental fear will need to be alleviated, freeing the students to take risks and have fun in a safe environment.

“We are creating future leaders and strong advocates for the disability community. We are also showing all communities what is possible,” Habib said.

Habib inspires others to climb their mountains, not because he’s the Lieutenant Governor, nor because he’s blind. It’s because he is a boundless, passionate human being.  Becky can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of October 12–18, 2019

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Your efforts to improve are starting to yield positive results. Keep the trend going by resisting the urge to rest on your success.

Dragon — Even if you are reluctant to take someone else’s lead, there are times where it makes sense to follow.

Monkey — Showing the way to someone who needs direction should be gratifying, and they in turn could return the favor in the future.

Ox — If you open the door, be prepared for what comes in. It is up to you to set boundaries.

Snake — Don’t let your hard-earned skills get rusty from lack of use. You might need it to hit the ground running.

Rooster — It should not be difficult for you to think outside the box, which should come in handy for an unusual situation.

Tiger — An uncomfortable situation can be made less so, if you are willing to do something to break the ice.

Horse — Are you unsure how to handle an unexpected bonus? Hold on to it until cooler heads prevail.

Dog — You are able to follow the rules when necessary, but are most at ease when you are able to express yourself fully.

Rabbit — As much as you want to have your say, consider whether the impact of your words will help or hinder.

Goat — Your uncompromising style could cause some friction. You may have to bend a little to make progress.

Pig — There is no need to debate every topic.

Reserve your energy for the areas that really matter to you.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 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.

PEÑA from 9 Peña attended Spanaway Lake High School, near Tacoma, and after studying fashion design for some time, he started art classes at the University of Washington.

That’s where he discovered the work of Japanese painter Takhashi Murakami, whose bold colors, flat surfaces, and considerable influence from anime all fed into his own work.

He initially learned painting in oils, but decided, after some experimentation, that painting in acrylic suited his essential impatience better—acrylic dries much faster than oil paint.

“I wanted to be able to manipulate acrylic paint in a variety of ways, to ensure different decorative surfaces and color control,” Peña explained. “I do occasionally dabble in photography with my Canon EOS Mark 5D III. I recently discovered the joy of using gouache! I love the matte and opaque results when it comes to color.

“I also play with dry pigments and gold leaf. My early training in Nihonga painting (Japanese mineral pigment

GEMINI MAN from 8 “It’s not a ‘de-aged’ Will Smith,” enthused Smith at TechCrunch Disrupt. “It is actually a 100% digital character, and the possibilities of that got me really excited.” In an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly, Lee explained, “I was pursuing a new media.

To find an aesthetic of what I believe digital cinema can provide, and immerse it with clarity.”

It’s fitting that what you might call digital cloning technology was used for a movie about cloning—and Lee is not kidding about the clarity. The movie, intended for 3D viewing, is gorgeous visually. Lee and his team shot the film in ultrahigh resolution, with an ultrahigh frame rate. Under such camera conditions, anything out of place would stand out. They had to be sure the clone looked convincing. “The hardest thing is Junior,” said Lee. “Can you make it believable? Physically pretending something doesn’t satisfy such media. [Thus] search for digital help. So creating Junior from scratch, how do you apply true emotion? How do you wrap it with the story so people will buy into it? That’s a big step.”

It’s a mind-bending concept that physical reality does not look real enough when filming a movie, so we use technology to fill in the gaps. The effect in “Gemini Man” is beautiful, and not just the clone or the action scenes. Water vistas are breathtaking. Colors are crisp and clear. Everything is shiny like after a rain. In fact, there is a theme of reflection symbolized by water and ingenious use of mirrors. The clone is a mirror of Henry.

Henry doesn’t like to look in mirror because he sees all the killing he’s done. The characters gauge targets by

painting) has introduced me in the use of applying thin sheets of flatted gold. Now, I apply glitter, dry pigments, Mylar foils, and other metal leaves to surfaces of my paintings. I’ve always wanted to dive into the digital art realm someday.”

He’s shown his paintings at the OK Hotel & Gallery, the Tacoma Art Museum, and also as part of an all-queer art show, “Look How Far We’ve Come,” presented at the Columbia Center’s Sky View Observatory. But the ELBO Room, run by Andre Olivie not far from Pena’s home on Capitol Hill, is a new, small art space, ideal for hosting single-artist exhibits.

“You can expect lots of bright saturated colors, surreal narratives, Japanese motifs and decorative techniques, and insane avatars,” remarked the artist. “I’ve also included new works that explore a slightly different approach on how I utilize color relationships in my paintings. One of them, titled ‘Black John Doe,’ depicts a blurred image of an African American figure. The colors have literally been broken down to pixel squares —it’s a trip!

“After practicing art for the past 12 years, I’ve learned to harness Japanese motifs and decorative effects in a more refined way. I’m learning to take a step back here and there. It’s an ongoing learning experience for me.”

Asked about future plans, Peña mentioned staying the course on acrylics, plus a few new directions.

“I run a monthly art workshop at the Lab at Ada’s [on Capitol Hill] called ‘Acrylic Lab: Drink and Paint.’ It’s a lot of fun! I have been working on a few bodies of work and looking forward to exploring more art-community events. I’m also playing with illuminated wires for neonlike sculptures and digital art. I’m always posting events on my website!” 

looking in car mirrors. Mirrors are made by puddles on the street, reflecting the person chasing you.

A lot of these visual treats take place at high speed and during the fight scenes, which are just to my taste. I like to see what’s happening and this movie delivers. The fights, choreographed by Filipino American actor, stuntman, and fighter Jeremy Marinas, are very natural. You can identify every move, and yet this does not slow the fights down. Much is being made of Henry and Junior using their motorcycles as weapons, but the most impressive part to me is the hand-to-hand combat, which is flashy, gritty, and real. Marinas’ portfolio includes nominations for “The Wolverine” and “Captain America: Civil War.” The film’s producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, is also no stranger to action, with such blockbusters as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Bad Boys.”

It’s a winning team, and there’s a lot going on, visually, yet in typical Lee fashion, the emotional and philosophical layers of the movie are as challenging as the digital effects.

“I’ve been doing self-conflict, shadow self, fate…

When we see a clone, we ask the question, how real are we?” Lee told the Asian Weekly. “I was hoping for the pleasure to visualize the internal struggle that you could play out visually with a new media.” Nurture versus nature. The regrets we hold as we grow older. The desire to mentor the next generation. It’s all there.

We asked Lee what he would tell his younger self if he, like Henry, got the chance.

“It’s conflicting,” he replied. “In one way, I would ask him to be more grounded. I was a dreamer. I wasted a lot of time fantasizing. I wish I was more pragmatic, more

grounded. I could do better if I made more effort. On the other hand, I’m always worried, [so I would] just tell him, ‘You’re okay. Everybody is doing their best. We all struggle. You can do better. Don’t waste time.’”

The issue of cloning, while ever-present in the movie, is not fully flushed out. There’s a good argument in favor given by the villain, yet I got the impression that, since it’s the villain, we should write it off. Henry is obviously disgusted that he’s been cloned, and once he finds out, Junior is upset, but there are a lot more issues behind it that aren’t just about them. The preference of the good guys—that cloning is wrong—feels preachy. But this might have more to do with dialogue delivery, which is a bit wooden. Smith is his usual self, charming and funny, buckling down into the action when necessary, yet everyone else rotates stiffly around him.

What makes “Gemini Man” a breakthrough film, though, is that the sum of its parts is greater than each part alone. Knowing the painstaking level of effort that went into most of those parts makes it a worthwhile watch. While the movie covers familiar ground—the evil government, the desire to create a “super soldier” —the charisma of Smith, the gorgeous camera work and digital sorcery of Lee and team Westenhofer, and the leave-you-breathless fight choreography of Marinas, ensure you won’t feel time passing. “Gemini Man” is a fast, enjoyable, and thought-provoking ride. 

Julian Peña’s exhibit of new work opens on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the ELBO Room, 1633 Bellevue Ave. Suite C, on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. For more information, visit jpenastudio.com.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Gemini Man opens in theaters nationwide on October 11.

Kai can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

14

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

SHELF from 7 out of the action and relegated to chores and busy work.

Needless to say, she’s not happy about it. But that doesn’t stop her from participating.

Throughout Lee’s Sidekick Squad series, we have followed various characters as they have uncovered the truth about how the government controls society’s superheroes as a way to distract citizens from the nefarious deeds taking place abroad. What I love about the series, and “Backup” is no exception, is how diverse the characters are—not just in terms of cultural background, but also in terms of LGBTQ+ representation. For example, Emma’s parents are a lesbian couple and Emma figures out that she identifies as asexual.

And Lee does a great job of explaining the latter in a way that feels natural for the story. The characters’ sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions are just a part of who they are and it’s no big deal.

Emma’s story is my favorite in this series—she is a strong young woman who knows her own value, even if others don’t. While she initially allows others’ opinions about her to influence her, she eventually grows into her own and learns to take action. This is a great thing to see, especially in a book geared toward young adults.

The Fall of Io

By Wesley Chu Angry Robot, 2019 When Ella Patel’s mind was invaded by Io, a Quasing

alien, she was pulled into the ongoing war between the Prophus and Genjix. These are the two factions of an ancient alien race that have been using humans as hosts in order to accomplish what they want. The former is the peace-loving, but under-represented faction, while the latter is the savage and more powerful faction.

The Prophus were determined to train Ella as an agent, but were unsuccessful. Expelled from the academy, Ella is back to her former life of con artistry and bank robberies.

But now both sides are looking for her as the Genjix’s plans to contact their home world is reaching a critical stage and threatening life on Earth.

“Fall” takes place in the same universe as Chu’s Tao series, of which I have only read one book. This being said, I recognized Chu’s ability to balance the occupying Quasing’s personal mission with the relationship they share with their human host. The result is an unlikely, dysfunctional but functioning relationship between Ella and Io that is fun to read.

There is a lot going on in “Fall” and the story jumps from one character’s point of view to the next. While this may make it difficult to keep track of what is happening, Chu does a great job of reminding readers who these people are and their roles in the overall plot. He also ties things together nicely so readers can see how each character and plot point connects with the rest.

When I started “Fall,” I hadn’t realized it is actually the second book in Chu’s Io series. There are references to what happened in the previous book, but not so much

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that I felt like I missed some major plot points. If anything, it made me want to go back and find the first in the series. So you can probably look out for my thoughts on that book in a future column.  Samantha can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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Photos by George Liu

■ PICTORIAL

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 12 – OCTOBER 18, 2019

PHNOM PENH NOODLE from 1 Le, along with Dawn and Darlene Ung, daughters of Sam Ung, the original owner of the restaurant, are hoping for a January opening date in the new Thai Binh building on South Jackson Street.

The Chinatown fixture closed its doors in May 2018 after Dawn’s son, Devin, was severely injured in an automobile crash. His mother took time away from the restaurant to care for Devin, leaving Darlene to run and manage Phnom Penh all on her own. It became too much, so the family made the difficult decision to close.

Now, with the help of Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority — and financial help from the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development — the sisters are resurrecting the restaurant.

They still need help with construction costs, so the sisters have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 over the next month. Donors can choose from jars of spicy sate sauce

YOSHINO from 5 The trio will share a 9-million kronor ($918,000) cash award. Their gold medals and diplomas will be conferred in Stockholm on Dec. 10—the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.

Yoshino said lithium-ion batteries could have greater application in the ocean and space, but that further research and development are needed to adapt them to other gadgets and purposes. “Lithium-ion

37 YEARS

or tickets to the soft opening, or the big-ticket item: Sam, who returned to Cambodia after retirement, is making a special return visit to Seattle and will be cooking a tasting menu for one $10,000 donor (and 11 friends) at the new restaurant.

Dawn says the menu at the new location will be smaller, but have all the favorites — their dad’s original recipes, all from the original 1987 menu.

When asked about Devin’s condition, Le told the Northwest Asian Weekly that he is at home and doing better physically.

“He’s working on body strength and learning to stand again. Mentally, he’s still non-responsive and needs to be tube-fed and requires 24-hour care,” said Le. “Dawn’s working part-time, juggling being a single-parent... she has a dedicated caretaker for some hours during the week. She would love to get working full-time again as it’s been financially straining.”  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

itself is still full of unknowns,” he said.

The prize turned out to be a bit of a family affair among the researchers: Yoshino said he visits Goodenough nearly every year in Texas.

“For him, I’m like his son,” the Japanese laureate said. “He takes very good care of me.”

Goodenough, in his own way, seemed to return the favor, telling reporters in London that in all of his 97 years: “What am I most proud of? I don’t know, I would say all my friends.” 

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