PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 35 NO 11
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
NEW FACE OF SCOTUS? Potential court nominee Jacqueline Nguyen inspired by her family
kickass API women Actors to debut in “Star Wars” film and upcoming TV shows. » see 8–9
What is Success? Publisher Ng mulls over the definition of success and how she measures it, in her blog » see 10
A Legend rises Life of martial arts master Feihung Wong depicted in “Rise of the Legend.” See how we rated the movie. » see 7
Maid IN Japan Japanese rock group Band-Maid to debut overseas at Sakura-Con
By Emiri Aoki Northwest Asian Weekly During an hour-long break, five tired-looking Japanese girls logged onto Skype because they had a press interview with Northwest Asian Weekly. Despite their fatigue, they answered many questions in Japanese, patiently and sincerely, with smiles. Their soft, kind attitudes during the in-
terview would have made anyone wonder if they are really the members of a hard rock band — one whose members dress as maids.
A unique band of five unique girls Lead singer Miku Kobato has liked singing since she was little see MAID on 16
Don’t scapegoat Sister of Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the senior pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, says he’s not to blame. » see 5 Jacqueline Nguyen
By Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jacqueline Nguyen knows adversity. She, her siblings, and their parents fled Vietnam, and the 10-yearold Nguyen spent her first days in the United States in 1975 in a refugee tent city at Camp Pendleton in California. Nguyen, 50, says her parents’ perseverance to provide for their six children and start a new life in a foreign country has inspired her to seize opportunities even when they may be difficult or new. Now a federal appeals court judge, Nguyen may need to summon that inspiration again if President Barack see NGUYEN on 14
Obituary Tek Hong Wong, a quiet pioneer in the local Asian Community, passed away on Feb. 5. » see 3
Another Stadium? Our editorial on the proposed SoDo arena and how it could affect Chinatown/International District businesses » see 11
Community » 2 Calendar » 6 Sudoku » 6 Astrology » 13
Chamber sues over Seattle law letting Uber drivers unionize By Phuong Le Associated Press
Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on March 3, sued the city of Seattle over a new law that allows drivers of ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to unionize over pay and working conditions. The “unprecedented” ordinance violates federal antitrust law and is pre-empted by federal law, the lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle argues. It also says the ordinance illegally allows for-hire drivers to get together and set rates and restricts the freedom of independent contractors. The law “will burden innovation, increase prices, and reduce see UBER on 11 On March 3, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sued the City of Seattle over a new law that allows drivers of ridehailing companies to unionize over pay and working conditions. Many of these drivers are immigrants.
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■ names in the news U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Jiang
LIHI’s Sharon Lee explores homelessness solutions in Hawaii
Seattle’s Aaron Balagtas receives Navy’s Sailor of the Day award
Aaron Balagtas (left) and Capt. Gregory Huffman
Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute executive director, with Honolulu City Councilmember Joey Manahan (left) and Hawaii Gov. David Ige.
Vandana Shiva keynotes resilience symposium On Feb. 25 and 26, scholars and thought leaders from a broad range of disciplines gathered at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) to explore the concept of “resilience” during the seventh biennial annual Wang Center Symposium, titled “The Countenance of Hope: Towards an Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Understanding of Resilience.” The two-day conference was keynoted by award-winning scholar, anti-globalization author, and environmental activist Vandana Shiva. The Wang Center for Global Education, made possible by a gift from Grace and Peter Wang, is an academic support unit dedicated to providing faculty, students, and staff with the resources necessary to a just, healthy, sustainable and peaceful world at home and abroad. Photo from PLU
Last month, Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) executive director, was invited by Joey Manahan of the Honolulu City Council to explore solutions to the homelessness crisis in Honolulu, including Chinatown and areas around Waikiki.
Religious Program Specialist 3rd Class Aaron Balagtas, from Seattle, received the Sailor of the Day award from Capt. Gregory Huffman, commanding officer of the USS John C. Stennis. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Stennis is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th fleet deployment.
Touring cargo containers that were converted into transitional housing at Sand Island in Honolulu, from left: Honolulu City Councilmember Carol Fukunaga, Sharon Lee, Kimo Carvalho, and City Councilmember Joey Manahan.
Lee also met with Gov. David Ige who had declared a state of emergency due to the large numbers of homeless people in the Hawaii. There are many homeless families and individuals coming from Micronesia who end up in shelters. Many homeless people also set up tents or build sheds in parks, beaches, fields, and under freeways. Lee met with elected city, county and state officials and Waikiki tourism and trade leaders who were interested in LIHI’s experience with offering hygiene services at the Urban Rest Stops, building permanent supportive housing for homeless people, and Seattle’s effort to create legal tent encampment and tiny houses.
Obama nominates Sharon Yuan to key administration post On Feb. 12, President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Sharon Yuan as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes. Yuan is a principal with The Asia Group, LLC, a position she has held since 2015. She served as deputy assistant secretary for Trade and Investment Policy in the Office of International Markets and Development at the Department of the Treasury from 2009 to 2015, and Sharon Yuan concurrently served as executive secretary and senior coordinator for China Affairs and the Strategic and Economic Dialogue from 2012 to 2015.
Bharti Kirchner releases new novel, “Goddess of Fire” Bharti Kirchner’s sixth novel, “Goddess of Fire,” a literary history, is now out in hardcover. Kirchner is also the author of four cookbooks. Her second, Indian Inspired (Lowell House), was selected among top ten cookbooks of 1993 by USA Today and one of the best cookbooks of 1993 by Chicago Tribune. Prior to becoming a writer, Bharti worked as a systems engineer for IBM and as a systems manager for Bank of America, San Francisco. She has also worked in Europe and other continents as a computer systems consultant.
Bharti Kirchner
Robert Shimabukuro featured speaker for Day of Remembrance On Feb. 18, South Seattle College hosted noted author and historian Robert Shimabukuro as the featured speaker for the annual Day of Remembrance. This annual event marks the anniversary that President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the evacua- Robert Shimabukuro addresses the tion and incarceration of audience during his speech on Feb. 18, at South Seattle College’s Day of 120,000 persons of Japanese Remembrance ancestry, living on the West Coast, most of whom were U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The order, known as Executive Order 9066, was signed on Feb. 19, 1942. In Washington state alone, nearly 13,000 people of Japanese descent were sent to detention centers while Seattleites were sent to Camp Minidoka near Hunt, Idaho.
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
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■ IN MEMORY OF ... ■ world NEWS Tek Hong Wong Nod to India’s female (1921–2016)
Tek Hong Wong, a quiet pioneer in the local Asian Community, passed away on Feb. 5. A dedicated family man, decorated World War II veteran, and Seattle businessman, his legacy is evident in our community and through the many different people’s lives he touched. He is survived by his children Rick Wong Andy Wong, Phillip Wong, Ju- Tek Hong Wong lie Wong Yuen, and Linda Wong Abe; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife Lily Lee Wong and his daughter Barbara Wong. Born in China in 1921, Tek Wong emigrated to Seattle at the age of 17, where he worked with his father at a laundry business and later a neighborhood corner market purchased from Japanese Americans that were interned because of the war. He attended Broadway High School and graduated in 1943. In 1944, he was called to serve in the U.S. Army and, at boot camp, he met fellow soldier Wing Luke, who became a lifelong friend. Wong served in a heavy weapons regiment and earned a Purple Heart for a gunshot received in the effort to recapture the Philippines. He completed his service in Korea until the end of the war in 1945. Upon leaving the army, both Wong and Luke attended the University of Washington under the GI Bill.
After college graduation in 1949, Wong became partners in a small grocery store in Queen Anne and later married in 1951. His care for the Chinatown community was evident in his ensuing business ventures, which included the Gim Ling Restaurant, the co-founding of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and his assistance to Chinese Family Associations. He had other real estate and business ventures in Renton, as well as volunteered at the Renton Senior Activity Center. He considered his greatest attachment the Chinatown community. Wong attended Kent Chinese Alliance regularly and was baptized at the age of 86. After moving to Merrill Gardens Retirement Community on Mercer Island, he became a member at Marketplace Church in Bellevue. Over the last two years, Wong had multiple health challenges, but consistent with every chapter of his life, Wong was a real fighter. He maintained a smile that spoke to his optimism, his love for his family, and a care for the community around him. A private memorial service will be held March 19 at Faith Bible Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Tek may be given to the Marketplace Church in Bellevue. (marketplacechurch. onthecity.org/give)
lawmakers highlights how few there are By Ashok Sharma Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — What was meant as a gesture of respect toward women ended up reminding India that it needed to improve female representation in politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for only female lawmakers to address
the Indian parliament on International Women’s Day included silence — because there weren’t enough women to speak. Of 543 elected members in the lower house, only 62 are women — or just 12 percent. The global average is 22 percent for women in parliament, according to the see LAWMAKERS on 15
Japan study: 1/3 of working women were sexually harassed By Yuri Kageyama Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government study has found nearly a third of working women who responded to a survey reported being sexually harassed on the job, such as being subjected to unwanted physical contact or degrading comments. The study, released March 1 and the first
of its kind, examined responses from more than 9,600 women employees, submitted by mail or online. The response rate was 18 percent. It did not give a margin of error. Of the respondents, 29 percent said they had suffered sexual harassment. The most common type of harassment was having their appearance or age become the focus see WOMEN on 15
asianweekly northwest
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
■ national news
Former U.S. Rep. Teen from India who Joseph Cao enters survived acid attack Louisiana Senate race finds new life in Ohio By Kevin McGill Associated Press
ist in the Vietnamese community of eastern New Orleans as the area struggled to recover after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In a hurricanedelayed election in 2008, he defeated Jefferson, who would Former U.S. Rep. Joseph later go to prison for Cao corruption. Cao’s defeat of the once-powerful Jefferson in a strongly Democratic district made him a rising star in the GOP. So did his compelling life story: As a child, he fled Vietnam with family members ahead of the fall of Saigon. He broke with the party at times to vote with President Barack Obama. But his votes against the 2009 economic stimulus bill and his eventual vote against Obama’s health care legislation didn’t play well in the district. Richmond, then a state legislator, defeated him in 2010 to return the seat to the Democrats. Cao’s news release said he is running “because he believes Louisiana deserves a Senator who puts delivering for Louisiana ahead of party politics or political gain.”
CINCINNATI (AP) — A woman from India maimed by an acid attack as a 13-year-old found both medical treatment and a new family in Ohio. The 2011 crime in Prerna Gandhi’s hometown of Rohtak in the Indian state of Haryana left severe burns over 40 percent of her body, including the right side of her face. Gandhi, 18, eventually was accepted for treatment at Cincinnati’s Shriners Hospital for Children, a facility whose specialties include helping burn victims. During Gandhi’s stay with a host family, she met a down-the-street neighbor, Graci Doll, a teen who became her friend and later persuaded Mount Notre Dame High School to allow Gandhi to audit classes. When Gandhi’s host family moved out of state, Doll insisted she live with her and
Asian American jab at Oscars reveals deeper diversity woes
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie nominated his pick to fill a longstanding vacancy on the state Supreme Court on Feb. 28, tapping a jurist he nominated four years ago who never received a confirmation hearing. Christie announced Superior Court Judge David Bauman’s nomination at a statehouse news conference. He praised Bauman as the best of a number of judges interviewed for the vacancy and said he would be the first Asian American appointed to the state’s high court, if confirmed by the state Senate.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Another Republican is joining the U.S. Senate race in Louisiana. Former U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao announced his candidacy March 1 in a news release. Cao became the nation’s first Vietnamese American congressman with his unexpected defeated of a scandal-plagued incumbent Democrat, William Jefferson, in 2008. Two years later, he lost the New Orleans-based seat to another Democrat, Cedric Richmond. Four other Republicans have announced plans to compete for the seat on the November ballot: U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, U.S. Rep. John Fleming, state Treasurer John Kennedy, and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness. A Democrat, New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, announced her candidacy a month ago. Another Democrat, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, has not made a formal announcement but has begun telling news outlets that he will be a candidate. The seat is being vacated by David Vitter, who announced he would not seek re-election after losing last year’s governor’s race. Cao, a soft-spoken attorney, first became known in the New Orleans area as an activ-
By Lynn Elber Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat” creator Nahnatchka Khan was reveling in Oscar host Chris Rock’s deft comedic assault on white-fixated Hollywood. Then three Asian American kids were brought onstage for a gag mocking them as ethnic stereotypes. “It’s like going on a road trip with your fun friend, and halfway to Vegas he pulls over and shoots you in the leg,” Khan said, recalling her reaction to last weekend’s ceremony. “It was completely shocking and just so unnecessary.” Rock’s skit ignited an outcry from Asian Americans and others angered by its stereotyping and, more broadly, frustrated by how non-black minorities are portrayed — or ignored — by Hollywood, especially movie studios. The response also has illuminated the gap between Black Americans, who have made some on-screen gains, and the lagging progress by other minorities, including Asian American, Latinos, and American Indians. Phil Yu, who observes Hollywood as part of his Angry Asian Man blog, said he welcomed the #OscarsSoWhite protest against this year’s all-white slate of acting nominees. But, as in years past, Yu said he
Chris Rock
Nahnatchka Khan
was struck anew by the greater challenge Asian Americans face. “When I watch the Oscars as an Asian American, I think, ‘It must be kind of nice to be disappointed that there were roles to be overlooked.’ I wonder what that feeling is like, because I can name no Asian Americans that were in contention,” he said. That perception is borne out by a comprehensive study released last month by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. At least half of all TV or streamed projects from September 2014 to August 2015 and of the 2014 films studied lacked even one speaking or named Asian or Asian American character, the study found. By comparison, 22 percent didn’t include any such roles for Black characters. Of lead characters that see OSCARS on 13
her parents, Scott and Melissa Doll, who took Gandhi in to allow her to continue her treatments in Cincinnati. “She’s a gift,” Scott Doll told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We look at her as a blessing. We have learned things about the world that we could never have known without her.” Acid attacks are common in India, often aimed at women when men feel jilted or to settle family disputes. The day of the attack, Gandhi had persuaded a friend to let her drive her friend’s scooter home from a tutoring class with her on the back. As they were stopped in traffic, two older boys approached on a motorcycle and the acid was thrown. The crime mystified authorities and see ACID on 12
Gov. Christie nominates Japanese American judge for state Supreme Court By Michael Catalini Associated Press
Christie called Bauman “exceptionally qualified.” Baumann, 59, serves as a judge with superior court in Monmouth County. He said he was “truly honored” by the nomination. The nomination comes as the Republicanled U.S. Senate has vowed not to consider a U.S. Supreme Court nominee from President Barack Obama. Christie, whose nominee faces vetting by a Democrat-led state Senate, directly addressed the comparison, saying U.S. lawmakers should do the “right thing” and consider a nominee. “It’s the right time for us to move forward see CHRISTIE on 12
34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ WORLD NEWS
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
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American tests positive for Zika virus after Philippine trip
Photo by James Gathany/CDC
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — An American woman who visited the Philippines in January has tested positive for the Zika virus in the United States, the Philippines’ top health official said March 6. Health Secretary Janette Garin said her department was coordinating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get more information about the woman and find out where she stayed during her Jan. 2–28 visit to the Philippines. The health department’s spokesman, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, said that the
Sister says don’t make missing Flight 370 pilot the fall guy By Eileen Ng Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Time has not eased the pain for the family of Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the senior pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Nearly two years after the plane disappeared, they must cope not only with his loss but with the theory that he was to blame. Allegations that he was a jihadist, or suicidal over a marital breakup, or that he doomed the aircraft in a political protest do not square with his family’s memories of a kind, generous and happy man, his eldest sister said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. The “rogue pilot” theory has been a focus of investigations after the Malaysian government said the plane was deliberately steered off course, but authorities have found no evidence linking Zaharie or his co-pilot, Fariq Abdul Hamid, to any wrongdoing. “When the search [for the plane] revealed nothing, they came back to this theory, but it’s only a theory,” said Zaharie’s sister Sakinab Shah. “If you have nothing tangible and nothing by way of evidence, it’s tantamount to predicting he is guilty until proven innocent. This sets us back in the Dark Ages.” She said it was “very convenient” to make Zaharie the scapegoat to absolve the airline from claims or protect the Malaysian government from possible cover-ups and U.S. airline manufacturer Boeing from losing business. “Please do not judge him based on theories. … don’t blame him unless there is evidence. I want to say that [he’s] innocent until proven guilty. That is the mantra of modern civilization,” she said. Zaharie was 53 when the Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777 jet he was piloting disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. A detailed report by an independent
investigation team released a year after the plane vanished affirmed the family’s assertion that Zaharie had no known history of apathy, anxiety, or irritability. The report said there were no significant changes in his lifestyle or family stresses. Zaharie has several bank accounts, two national trust funds, two houses and three vehicles but no record of him having a life insurance policy, it said. An ongoing search for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean, where it was believed to have crashed, has turned up nothing so far. A flaperon wing part was found washed ashore on France’s Reunion Island last July, and American, Australian. and Malaysian officials said on March 2 that a piece of aircraft debris that washed ashore in Mozambique also appears to belong to a 777. Sakinab said she was excited by the new finding but didn’t want to give herself false hope. She noted there was some skepticism about the latest find, in part because the piece was not encrusted in barnacles as the flaperon was. “I am not 100 percent convinced, but I am hopeful,” she said. Sakinab, 72, said in an earlier interview that her family has come to terms with her brother’s death. Still, one of her sisters had to be hospitalized last month after reading a hoax report that Zaharie had been found and was being treated in a Taiwan hospital. “It is a sadness that we have learned to endure. It is the not knowing that has inflicted us with pain and with misery,” Sakinab said. “All along, my siblings and I have had the notion that he would always be there to care for us in our old age. … now two years have gone … we want closure. We need closure. We seek and we cry for closure.” Sitting on a patchwork rug in the middle of the living hall at her home in a suburb outside Kuala Lumpur, Sakinab paused often and spoke haltingly as she tried to hold back tears. She hadn’t talked to a see FLIGHT on 12
woman was apparently exhibiting the symptoms of Zika in the final days of her stay in the Philippines, but that she was not diagnosed with the virus until she returned to the U.S. Garin said that if it is determined that the woman was infected in the Philippines, it would be only the second Zika case to be reported in the country, and stressed that there have been no reports of an outbreak. She said the public should not be alarmed but should take steps to prevent infection, including by destroying all breeding places of mosquitoes, which
can spread Zika, dengue and other tropical diseases. A 15-year-old boy got infected in Cebu city in the central Philippines in 2012, but recovered fully after three weeks of rest and treatment, according to the health department. Philippine health officials have advised pregnant women to consider deferring nonessential travel to Zikahit countries and worked to raise public awareness on how to fight infections, including by using insect repellents and wearing protective clothing.
asianweekly northwest
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■ COMMUNITY calendar MARCH 10 12 14
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Screening and talk with “Joy of Man’s Desiring” director Masakazu Sugita SIFF Center, Seattle 12 and 6 p.m. Free Tax Help Chinese Baptist Church, Seattle 10 a.m. –3 p.m. 206-725-6363 Forum, Seattle Colleges Chancellor Search: Meet Shouan Pan Seattle Central College, Siegal Center, Broadway Performance Hall Boardroom 10:15 a.m. seattlecolleges.edu Forum, Seattle Colleges Chancellor Search: Meet Shouan Pan North Seattle College, Health Sciences & Student Resources Building, Room 2634A 8:30 a.m. seattlecolleges.edu Forum, Seattle Colleges Chancellor Search: Meet Shouan Pan South Seattle College, Olympic Hall, Room 120 1:30 p.m. seattlecolleges.edu Webinar: Develop your English for a career in government 3–4 p.m. www.ehlsprogram.org
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Community meeting: On naming of International Children’s Park after Donnie Chin Bush Hotel Community Hall, 409 Maynard Ave S, Suite P6 6:30–8 p.m. Vietnamese Friendship Association 2016 Benefit Dinner Saint Demetrios Hall, Seattle 6 p.m. Kristina.ong@vfaseattle.org “Virtuosity of the Soloist in Performance,” featuring Wu Han, Benjamin Beilman, Kristin Lee, Sean Lee, Richard O’Neill, and Nicholas Canellakis Meany Hall, UW of Seattle Campus 7:30 p.m. $40–$45 206-543-4880, uwworldseries.org Class: Planting Windswept/Cascading Bonsais Oriental Garden Center, 30650 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way 10 a.m. $75 253-839-1639, orientalgardencenter.net APIA Scholarship Fund Jump Start College Tour University of Washington Bothell 8:15 a.m. –3 p.m. www.apiasf.org/JumpStart
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Awareness Enabled Life Positioning Workshop Nalanda West, 3902 Woodland Park Ave. N., Seattle 3/19 at 9:30 a.m. –12:15 p.m. 3/20 at 2–5 p.m. nalandawest.org/events/ awareness-enabled-life 8th Annual Tomodachi Luncheon Fundraising Event Seattle University, Campion Ballroom 12–1:30 p.m. $150/person, $300/couple tomodachirsvp@jcccw.org, 206-568-7114, jcccw.org/ tomodachi-luncheon-2016
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12th Annual Seattle– Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist, live auditions Jazz Alley, Seattle 6:30–9:30 p.m. $15/adults, $10/students & seniors 206-441-9729, jazzalley. com Author Bharti Kirchner discusses “Goddess of Fire” Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle 7–8:30 p.m. 206-386-4636 Webinar: Develop your English for a career in government 12–1 p.m. www.ehlsprogram.org
(LAST DAY)
“Imprint: Identity Through Art” exhibition The Wing Luke Museum, Seattle Wingluke.org 3/26 “Identity Through Art,” the Wing’s 2016 Dinner and Auction The Westin Seattle 5 p.m $200 wingluke.org/2016auction, 206-623-5124, ext. 106 Navruz 2016: Central Asian Spring Festival North Seattle College 4:45–8 p.m. $25/adult, $15/student, $5/5+ years, free/kids under 5 seattle-tashkent.org
APRIL 1
(THROUGH APRIL 3)
Japanese literature public reading, “People Sitting in Darkness” University of Washington, Penthouse Theatre, Seattle Fri–Sat, 7:30 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m. $8–$10 206-543-4880 drama.uw.edu/performances
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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
■ at the movies
Martial arts legends shine on big screen By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly
You may not know the name Fei-hung Wong (1847–1924), but if you’re into martial arts movies, you’ve probably seen some semblance of the legendary hero onscreen. His story of strength, steadfastness, and loyalty provided the backbone for Jackie Chan’s two well-known “Drunken Master” films and also the “Once Upon a Time in China” film series, starring Jet Li. Between Hong Kong and mainland China, more than 100 film and TV titles have featured master Wong, some fairly close to his real life. “Rise of the Legend,” directed by Roy Chow, isn’t a straight autobiography, but it emphasizes Wong’s dedication to those around him, which was something Wong exemplified. Within this story, Wong (played by Eddie Peng) emerges from the corrupt scene along the docks, circa 1868, in China’s busy port city of Guangzhou. He demonstrates such ferocity and inventiveness in battle that he’s summoned before the terrifying Master Lui (Sammo Hung), leader of the Black Tiger gang. Lui wants Wong on his side. But Wong’s playing a game behind the scenes, a long con so complicated that he can’t trust anyone with all the details. Eddie Peng, a native of Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei, began film acting in his early 20s. He’s played both martial arts heroes and romantic leading men. “Rise of the Legend” allows him to combine the two — appropriately enough, since Wong, in this film, is many things to many people and must always be sure to present the right face for the right occasion. He’s caught between two lovers (played by
Screencap from the "Rise of the Legend" trailer
trained with Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao at the legendary China Drama Academy, a school for Peking Opera skills presided over by Yu Jim Yuen. He began appearing in films at age 9 and has had more than 75 starring roles — plus directing, producing (he’s a co-producer on “Rise”), running his own film production company, and starring in his own American TV series, “Martial Law.” He’s known for being slightly overweight, but until heart surgery in 2009, that didn’t slow him down on screen. After leaving the hospital, Hung’s spent more time behind the camera and often contented himself with smaller parts in front of it. Here, though, Hung renders Master Lui with a deft combination of fancy fighting skills (bolstered here and there with CGI effects) and cold determination. He knows everything there is to know about the anthill of humanity, enough to always come out on top. Or so he believes. Of course, things don’t run smoothly on either side. This is the collapsing Qing Dynasty, and nothing stays stable for long. Lui believes he can definitively eliminate all of his competition, so long as he’s willing to spill unlimited blood. Wong, the ying to Lui’s yang, wants all corruption
Angelababy and Luodan Wang). He must juggle his Black Tiger loyalties with his multiple secret missions, always keeping the ultimate purpose in mind. Peng comes off as charming, ferocious when necessary, and, except in battle, just slightly nervous. A deft touch. Martial arts fans will of course know Sammo Hung, who
see LEGEND on 12
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
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Academy Awards!
And Asian American newcomers on the big and small screens!
By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly
tweet about it on your phone that was also made by these kids.” And rage-tweet people did. People were upset that one of the only mentions of Asians in the entire show came in the form of an overplayed stereotype on being a model minority and a casual remark about child labor. To add insult to injury, these ‘jokes’ came immediately after two South Asians, in succession, won Oscars in the documentary categories. Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won the award for best documentary (short subject) for “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,” while Asif Kapadia, co-director of “Amy,” won the best documentary (feature) category. Additionally, actors Priyanka Chopra, Lee Byung-hun, and Dev Patel were presenters during the evening. One could argue that Rock was being “equal opportunity” with his ribbing — he did roast fellow Black celebrities as well. But with so much of Rock’s race conversation skewed toward the Black experience, the lack of representation from Asians and Latinos in Hollywood went largely overlooked and this joke made Asians seem like a cheap prop. What purpose did the joke even serve in the greater dialogue of diversity? The whole bit seriously felt like several steps in the wrong direction.
With February coming to a close, we’ve finally reached the holiest of award shows: the Oscars. Read on to see what the Academy Awards meant to Asians and other news in Hollywood this past month.
Asians: the butt of the joke Even if you didn’t catch the Academy Awards, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard about the racist jokes that went down at this year’s Oscars. For the annual broadcast, which aired on Feb. 28, Black comedian Chris Rock served as host. Rock had the difficult job of not only hosting, but also addressing the ongoing controversy of how people of color were not represented in any of the major award categories this year. Famous Black celebrities had boycotted the Oscars in response. Rock talked a lot about diversity (or the lack of it) in Hollywood, but ironically, with little mention of Asians or Latinos. There was, however, one exception during the evening — when Rock brought three Asian children onto the stage that were posing as “bankers” from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the auditing firm that certifies all Oscar votes. “They sent us their most dedicated, accurate, and hard working representatives,” said Rock. “Please welcome Ming Zhu, Bao Ling, and David Moskowitz.” He followed this bit with, “If anybody’s upset about that joke, just
Kelly Marie Tran cast in next “Star Wars” film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was one of 2015’s biggest smash hits and has become one of the highest grossing films in history. Even though “The Force Awakens” is still in theaters, the production team is already hard at work on the franchise’s next installment.
“
Even though ‘The Force Awakens’ is still in theaters, the production team is already hard at work on the franchise’s next installment. Several new key cast additions were recently announced, including that of newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.”
Several new key cast additions were recently announced, including that of newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. This is a huge deal. It’ll be amazing to see an Asian American face on the silver screen in one of the most profitable and popular franchises ever. Little is known about Tran at the moment except that she is active in the improv comedy scene in Southern California. Her current credits include appearances in numerous CollegeHumor digital shorts as well as small roles on television shows including “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The franchise’s next film, “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” is scheduled for release December 2017. No word yet on who or what Tran will play. So, stay tuned!
Television castings for next season Actor and comedian Elizabeth Ho has been cast as one of the leads in an untitled NBC comedy pilot from the executive producers of “30 Rock” and “Parks & Recreation.” Ho is best known for appearances on the shows “Melissa & Joey” and “Rake.” Loosely based on “30 Rock” producer Matt Hubbard’s life, this untitled NBC project revolves around Andrew
and Josie — a happily married interracial couple whose lives take a turn when they move closer to Josie’s family in Missouri. Ho will play a “hardchanging woman who has never failed at anything” opposite actor Chris Smith, who will play Andrew, a white and “likeable nerd lawyer,” according to an online article from Deadline. Since Josie’s family sounds like they will play a significant role in the show, this sounds like a great opportunity for Asian American series regulars or guest starring roles in the coming future. Meanwhile, actor, writer, and comedian Ali Wong has been cast as a series regular in the ABC comedy pilot “The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport.” Wong will play Doris, a responsible and hands-on mother who doesn’t fit in with the other moms on the show. Wong is currently a staff writer on “Fresh Off the Boat.” She also has a one-hour stand-up comedy special coming out soon on Netflix. If you weren’t previously familiar with Wong, get acquainted with the name now — it sounds like she’s about to take Hollywood by storm. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
OPINION
How do you
Define
Success? Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW
By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly
“H
ow did you become successful in the newspaper business?” asked Sarah Lubitz, a Bellevue College student who interviewed me for a class project. To be honest, I don’t consider my business successful. The more I think about it, the more I feel like I have failed. I flunk the vision test not just a little — but a lot — I have been completely off base. In my early publishing days, I was not convinced that the internet would one day rule the world. You could defend me by pointing out that I don’t have a technology background. But the truth is, my drive is stronger than my longterm planning skills. Running a newspaper business is demanding on a daily basis. There is little time for developing strategic plans. One time, I was on a panel of news executives, discussing about the changing future of print media. An editor from the Oregonian, a pioneer in developing digital media in news, demonstrated how a news page worked and looked on a computer. “It looks great on the computer screen, but can you take the computer to the toilet?” I recall stupidly saying. At the time, few knew that wireless “You can’t say you was the answer. So why do students believe that the Northwest are successful Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post are sucunless it has been cessful papers? A reader once said, “You can’t say you are sucvalidated [by cessful unless it has been validated [by others].” That implies that you can’t declare yourself a sucothers].” cess, only others can — through recognizing that you have climbed impossible mountains where others could not. Master John Leong of Seattle Kung Fu Club said to me, “You are the only papers [not funded by government] that have their own building.” Another friend said, “You have no bad debt.” We own all of our equipments free and clear. A banker taught me that financing your own is an efficient way to save money, rather than paying loan interest. Also, we have never filed chapter 11. Why have none of these aspects of success made me feel that I have ‘arrived’? Instead, small things have made an impact on my emotions. Recently in the Chinatown/International District library’s small conference room, I saw a man reading the Seattle Chinese Post attentively, behind a closed door. Why didn’t he just sit in the open lobby like the other visitors? see BLOG on 15
34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
11
OPINION
■ editorial
Make your voice heard regarding proposed SoDo Arena at public hearing March 15! Next Tuesday, March 15, there will be a public meeting at 5:30 at Seattle City Hall for citizens to chime in on how they feel about the proposed SoDo Arena, a stadium from San Francisco developer (but Rainier Valley-raised) Chris Hansen. The much-delayed stadium project, sometimes dubbed the “Sonics Arena” has been in the works for a number of years and is part of a larger plan to return an NBA franchise to Seattle. (A reason cited for the Sonics relocation to Oklahoma City was that the KeyArena was too small and lacked the proper amenities for the Sonics.) The SoDo Arena would be built near the International District (ID). (Two blocks of Occidental, south of the Safeco Field parking garage, would be vacated.) We fear that construction of the stadium
■ LETTER
Stereotypes during Oscars hardly reflect Asian Americans Dear Northwest Asian Weekly, I read your editorial [last week] regarding the Oscar joke portraying kids as Asian accountants [at PricewaterhouseCoopers]. I did work at PricewaterhouseCoopers. When I started with the firm a while ago, there were only two Asians, including me, in the Seattle office of more than 100 staffs. I was hardly smarter or more hardworking than other staff. So, this stereotype is completely wrong. I believe we, as a community, need to voice our opinion on this. — David Chan, Seattle
would disrupt ID businesses, resulting in significant losses to the local community, the effects of which would be long-felt and far-reaching. Already, the ID is a ghost town on game days because street parking is very hard to come by. The results of a Port of Seattle survey has been circulating, which states that 75 percent of Seattle voters oppose city support for the SoDo Arena. According to the Port, opposition to the SoDo Arena was consistent across all geographic areas of the city and across all demographic groups. For us, this is a familiar issue. In 1972, Seattle Asian Americans loudly protested the construction of another stadium — the Kingdome — over fears that game traffic
and rising property values would drive out what made the International District unique, it’s residents. This was after the residents protested the construction of the freeway, which split the neighborhood in two. Over the last few years, local businesses also bore financial losses because of the dragging streetcar construction in Chinatown, with some businesses stating that it was some of the worst years they’ve had. We urge the developers to consider this neighborhood in their plans, to protect it and help ensure its cultural significance is not diminished. It’s important for you, our readers, to go to the public hearing next Tuesday and articulate your opinions regarding this arena loudly. It’s important to be heard.
UBER from 1 quality and services for consumers,” said the chamber, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents more than 3 million businesses. In December, Seattle became the first city in the U.S. to allow drivers of taxis, for-hire transportation companies and app-based ride-hailing services to bargain with their employers, if a majority shows they want to be represented by a union. Drivers would be represented by nonprofit organizations certified by the city. A spokeswoman for the Seattle City Attorney said March 3 that the office is reviewing the complaint and will file a response with the court. The bill’s main sponsor, Councilman Mike O’Brien, had said he wanted to make sure workers had access to good-paying jobs. He noted that many drivers in Seattle are immigrants who depend on full-time work, but some make less than minimum wage and lack basic worker rights, such as sick leave and protection from retaliation. The bill passed on an 8–0 vote, and it became law despite the mayor declining to sign it. There’s good reason that none of the thousands of other municipalities have tried to authorize collective bargaining by independent contractors, the chamber said about its lawsuit, arguing that the ordinance violates the National Labor Relations Act and
TAITUNG
“
This ordinance threatens the ability not just of Seattle, but of every community across the country, to grow with and benefit from our evolving economy.” — Amanda Eversole
federal anti-trust laws, among others. “This ordinance threatens the ability not just of Seattle, but of every community across the country, to grow with and benefit from our evolving economy,” Amanda Eversole, who is president of the group’s Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, said in a written statement. San Francisco-based Lyft and others had urged the mayor and council to reconsider the measure and listen to those who seek the flexible economic opportunity the company offers. An Uber spokeswoman said in a statement that the group’s lawsuit “raised serious questions not only about whether the city has run afoul of federal laws, but also about the impact on drivers who rely on ridesharing to earn flexible income.”
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ACID from 4 Gandhi’s family until eventually police learned Gandhi’s friend — who was supposed to be driving the scooter — was the intended target. Two men were sentenced to life in prison; a female relative of Gandhi’s friend who hired them was sentenced to a year behind bars. In India, Gandhi underwent more than two dozen skin graft surgeries. At the hospital in Cincinnati, she has gone through several additional procedures, including surgeries to reduce rigid neck scarring, construction of a new eyebrow and laser treatment to smooth burn scars. “She has matured a lot just in the short time I’ve known her,” said pediatric plastic surgeon Ann Schwentker. “She’s older than her years. She seems very quiet, but she really has quite a voice. She has the potential to make quite a big difference in the world.” Graci Doll, also 18, said meeting Gandhi has changed her perspective on life. “Before I met her, I wasn’t really aware of what was going on in the world. I didn’t know about the hardship,” Doll said. “She
has opened my eyes. Now I want to do something to help the world.” Gandhi returned to India last summer to see her family for the first time in two years.
“
CHRISTIE from 4 on this,” Christie said. “It’s the right time to set an example for Washington, D.C.” But whether Bauman will get a hearing in New Jersey is unclear. A spokesman for Senate President Steve Sweeney said he was unavailable for comment. Judiciary Committee chairman state Sen. Nicholas Scutari also declined to comment. The current makeup of the seven-member court includes two Democrat-nominated justices and four Republican-picked ones. Judge Mary Catherine Cuff has been serving temporarily since 2012. She was appointed to the bench by Gov. Tom Kean, a Republican.
LEGEND from 7 eliminated, so the people of the docks can start over fresh. Two tall orders. And no guarantee that either of them can be filled. But it’s fun, and even educational to watch the immense efforts of these two opposites.
She has matured a lot just in the short time I’ve known her. She’s older than her years. She seems very quiet, but she really has quite a voice. She has the potential to make quite a big difference in the world.” — Ann Schwentker
She returned to the U.S. in December on a student visa and began taking classes at the University of Cincinnati’s Blue Ash campus last month. “This attack has made me into the woman I am today, a strong, independent young woman who wants to make a difference,” she said at an August fundraiser for her tuition organized by Dr. Anisha Singh, a Cincinnati internist who has made acid attacks a personal cause.
Christie has clashed with Democrats over court nominations in the past. In 2014, Christie agreed to re-nominated Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, a Corzine administration appointee, in exchange for the Senate confirming Lee Solomon, whom the governor nominated. That deal left one vacancy, filled temporarily by Cuff. The nomination came just three days after Christie endorsed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who in recent days has sparred with reporters over the endorsement of white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Christie declined to answer any questions not related to the nomination.
“Rise of the Legend” opens Friday, March 11, at Seattle’s AMC Pacific Place 11 Theater, 600 Pine Street, Pacific Place Mall. For more information, check local listings or visit wellgousa.com/theatrical/ rise-of-the-legend. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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FLIGHT from 5 reporter for more than a year and a half. She shifted through a pile of old photographs of Zaharie as a teenager, a newly graduated pilot, a bridegroom. He was the second-youngest of nine siblings born to a poor family in northern Penang state. He had wanted to fly since childhood and after high school, he obtained a scholarship to pursue his dream, Sakinab said. After graduating from an aviation school in the Philippines, he joined Malaysia Airlines in 1981 and logged more than 18,000 flight hours. Sakinab said Zaharie was his normal, happy self when she last saw him at a family dinner two weeks before the flight. She said he was close to all his siblings and they often have boisterous gatherings at her house. “Zaharie was helpful, obliging, happygo-lucky, good-natured, generous, funloving and the list goes on,” she said. He often took his siblings to the park to watch him fly remote-controlled aircraft, she said. He also built a flight simulator for his home using three large computer monitors and other accessories, which had grabbed attention after the tragedy. Police seized the simulator for their investigation but reported nothing suspicious about it. “Possession of the simulator was linked to him as suicidal. That is crazy. It’s his passion for gadgets, and he has the means,” Sakinab said. She said Zaharie was an enthusiastic handyman who posted several YouTube videos on topics including how to make air conditioners more efficient, how to waterproof window panes and how to repair a refrigerator icemaker. He was also a competitive home cook who boasted of his ‘nasi briyani’, a rice-based dish prepared with spices, meat, eggs, and vegetables.
Sakinab said her brother was generous, often donating clothes and other goods to poor jungle villages. The two siblings, along with a few family members, had planned to go on a one-month road trip around Italy. “I want to tell the world that he is a good fellow. His life is surrounded by love and he has an unblemished flying record. He wouldn’t stoop so low as to murder more than 200 people,” Sakinab said. Zaharie was a member of the opposition party headed by jailed political leader Anwar Ibrahim. Sakinab said he was an ordinary member and accusations that he downed the plane to protest Anwar’s jailing for sodomy just a day before the flight were “ridiculous.” “For us, it is a double dose. On top of losing him, we have to defend him against all the accusations,” she said. Sakinab said she and her siblings find it hard to believe that investigators with sophisticated equipment have been able to find no trace of the plane. Flight 370 is believed to be in an area of the Indian Ocean where the sea floor is a few miles underwater, making the search effort especially challenging. “Nobody seems to know anything. This is just not possible … They have found water on Mars and yet they cannot locate this huge plane,” she said. The Australian-led search of the 120,000-square-kilometer (46,000-squaremile) area where the plane is believed to be is expected to be completed in the middle of the year. Authorities have said the search, which has cost about $130 million so far, will not be expanded in the absence of fresh leads. “Our biggest fear is that MH370 will go into oblivion, that it will remain a mystery forever and we will not get closure,” Sakinab said.
34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ astrology
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
13
Advice and predictions for the week of March 12–18 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Great results usually don’t just happen by themselves. It will likely require your input in some way.
Dragon — There are events swirling that are beyond your control. Acknowledge that basic truth and focus on how best to maneuver under the current circumstances.
Monkey — Is someone asking you to stretch yourself farther than you are willing to go? Be firm on what you are able to offer.
Ox — No matter how welcomed, big changes take time to get used to. You will reach a point of comfort, but it won’t be immediate.
Snake — An unpleasant reminder does not need to be kept in a visible place. Instead, surround yourself with items that prompts a more positive response.
Rooster — Avoid taking your old friends for granted in favor of paying more attention to your newest friends. Make an effort to schedule some time together.
Tiger — Fulfilling a simple wish may be the hardest one to come by. There are probably things you can put in motion now to make it a reality.
Horse — Although you pride yourself on being a good host, avoid bending over backwards to make an unwelcome visitor feel as though they can extend their stay.
Dog — Planning a short getaway in the near future? Beware of scheduling too many activities that you run out of time to actually relax.
Rabbit — Quick fixes by their very nature are temporary. Put some care into thinking of a long-term solution that fixes the problem.
Pig — As much as you would prefer to be at the wheel. There are advantages to letting someone else take the reins when appropriate.
Goat — Did an accidental discovery catch you by surprise recently? Now that things are out in the open, it might be an opportunity to start a dialogue on the issue.
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 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 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.
OSCARS from 4 were minorities in 100-plus movies, nearly 66 percent were black and 6.3 percent were Asian. In the U.S. population, Black Americans are a greater percentage, 12.3 percent, to about 5 percent for Asians. But Rock’s attack on the industry’s diversity failures was fully Black-centric, from one-liners to Black History Month skits. Then came the tuxedoed Asian American kids, whom Rock presented as the “dedicated, accurate” accounting team that tallied Oscar votes, adding, “If anybody’s upset about that joke, just tweet about it on your phone, which was also made by these kids.” Basketball player Jeremy Lin did just that. “Seriously though, when is this going to change?!? Tired of it being “cool” and “ok” to bash Asians,” he posted on his Twitter account. Rock declined a follow-up interview through his publicist. And the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as the ceremony’s producers, did not respond to requests for comment. Rock had company at the Oscars. Presenter Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as Ali G, made a sexually demeaning crack about “little yellow people.” Despite his pretense of talking about Minions, the cartoon characters, it was considered a slap at Asians. Such humor, especially from the host, made the evening’s
“relentlessly black and white” take on diversity even more disheartening, said Daniel Mayeda, co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition. To an extent, that dual focus parallels the movie industry itself. “There have been significant changes in television. Film is way behind,” said Mayeda, whose group is part of an umbrella organization, the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, that’s prodded the TV industry since 2000 to boost minority hiring and last month announced it was targeting movie studios to do likewise. He and other coalition leaders have said the quest for opportunity should not pit minorities against one another and that Hollywood must make room for all groups. But there are specific biases and challenges to overcome, said Nancy Wang Yuen, a Biola University sociology professor who conducted a wide range of interviews for her forthcoming book, “Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism.” “One casting director told me the industry perceives Asian American actors as inexpressive,” Yuen said. “If this is the kind of stereotyping against Asian Americans as a race, then that really disadvantages them from being cast.” Hollywood has a dismal track record in depicting Asians and Asian Americans that goes beyond invisibility. Actors have suffered the further indignity of losing major roles to white actors, including Luise Rainier as a Chinese peasant in 1937’s “The Good Earth” and Marlon Brando as a
Japanese interpreter in 1956’s “The Teahouse of the August Moon.” Rainier won an Oscar. And the practice hasn’t stopped. In last year’s “Aloha,” Emma Stone played the half-Asian character Allison Ng, a casting decision that drew howls of protest. Constance Yu, who achieved success starring in “Fresh Off the Boat,” an ABC immigrant family drama, doesn’t see deliberate discrimination. “The biggest roadblock I’ve found is not people with bad intentions,” Yu said. “It’s a lack of imagination about the type of roles that Asian Americans can play. They want to include them but they don’t know how, unless as a stereotype supporting a white man’s story” or an Asian foreigner. Jason Lew, whose “The Free People” premiered this year at the Sundance Film Festival, also called on the industry to expand its vision. “A lot of the stories I want to tell are about my people — the Asian American experience. And I constantly run into, ‘Well, who’s going to be in it?’ It’s a catch-22,” Lew said. “Who’s going to be in it is my amazing Asian American cast who are going to have big careers and make money for you guys, but you have to give them a chance. You have to start somewhere.” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.
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NGUYEN from 1 Obama names her as his pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, with a bruising partisan battle looming regardless of the nominee Obama sends to the U.S. Senate. The court is operating with only eight justices since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month. Senators confirmed her nomination by Obama to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2012 by a vote of 91–3, making her the first Asian American woman to serve as a federal appellate judge. But her record on the 9th Circuit, where she has sided with the circuit’s more liberal judges in several cases, would draw scrutiny from Republicans, said Arthur Hellman, a law professor at the University of
Pittsburgh and a scholar on the 9th Circuit. “There’s a very, very consistent pattern that does say where she stands,” Hellman said. For example, he cited a 6–5 ruling in 2015 that overturned the Bush administration’s decision to exempt the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from rules that limited road construction and timber harvesting in national forests. In another 6–5 ruling, Nguyen was among the judges who overturned an Arizona’s man death sentence in 2015 on the grounds that the state wrongly dismissed his posttraumatic stress disorder as a mitigating factor. The ruling said Arizona’s Supreme Court had been making the same underlying mistake for years, opening the door to many potential court challenges from Arizona in-
mates sent to death row between the late 1980s and 2006. The decision brought a sharp dissent from Judge Carlos Bea, who was appointed by President George W. Bush. Bea said the decision ignored 9th Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court precedents, brushed aside gruesome crimes and smeared the Arizona Supreme Court. Nguyen was a federal judge in California when Obama nominated her to the 9th Circuit. She had previously worked as a state judge and a federal prosecutor. But her work experience had more humble beginnings. Nguyen has talked about one of her mother’s first jobs peeling, cutting and packing apples and how she would help her with the work late into the night. Nguyen also worked at her family’s doughnut shop in Los Angeles.
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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
BLOG from 10 I was tempted to knock his door and ask, “What are you reading that demands your undivided attention?” At an event last week, Sandy Sun, owner of China Harbor, came to my seat in the restaurant, and said, “Good job on Facing East [restaurant story].” Yoshi Minegishi, a community leader, recently sent me a note, raving about a Northwest Asian Weekly editorial, underlining parts of it emphatically. I could give you a lot more examples that have brightened my day. Because I savor all these moments of joy, which so many of you have given me. Just last week, another community leader Joan Yoshitomi emailed me, “I loved the article in the Weekly about Denise Morighcui and Tomoko Moriguchi-Matsuno (‘Top women: Uwajimaya bosses on leadership’).” When readers say to me, “We trust your stories,” and “You have been fair and are objective,” and “The information really helps us,” these comments are worth more than gold to me. Why Lubitz picked us to interview is because she perceived us being successfully in more conventional terms. “You have lots of readers and customers,” she said. “Your papers are well known (according to her survey) and profitable.” I could argue against every point she made. We do have lots of readers, but compared to mainstream media, we are only a drop in the ocean. Many have never heard of us or know that we even exist. I don’t feel terrible when people say, “This is the first time I’ve heard about the Asian Weekly,” despite the fact that we have published for 34 years. Many have simply said, “I know about the papers, but I don’t read them.” This shows we have done a poor job of reaching out or that we don’t have a sufficient number of relevant stories that inspire certain people to pick up the Asian Weekly.
Two versions of success
Entrepreneurs and professionals should separate their personal successes from their career achievements. You
have probably heard that some successful people end up divorced. They could be lousy parents, drunks, or drug addicts — as it’s hard to handle the business stress. Please allow my self-indulgence for a moment. I consider my personal success to be greater than my company’s success. Despite my busy career, I have raise two wonderful, normal, and happy sons. It would make my life miserable if my kids suffer from depression, as I have seen what it does to my friends’ families. And yes, they enjoy working with tough women, a rare quality in many men. I don’t drive a fancy Mercedes or Lexus. I still love my messy, dirty Toyota, which I bought 12 years ago. Dressing in Gucci doesn’t make me feel special. Receiving second-hand clothes from my mother’s closet actually thrills me because no one can tell it’s old clothes. If I don’t take her clothes, she would likely give away her expensive stuff to someone else. So what are your criteria for personal success? The number one question is, are you happy with your life and what you do? If your answer is yes, you have achieved much personal success. Other people have added criteria such as, are you in good health? Do you feel you are constantly learning and being challenged in a positive manner? Do you have good friends and loved ones to share in your success and support you? Beyond those, having the ability to give back is key. After I graduated from the University of Washington (UW), I wanted to support my alma mater any way I could. I was fortunate to give back several times more than the scholarships I received in my junior and senior years at the UW. In addition, I have helped organize three scholarship endowments, two for the University of Washington and one for Seattle Colleges. I am so grateful and fortunate that I am in a position to support education for those in need. It is my business success that propels my personal success. Keeping the publications going is also my expression of gratitude to the community. Over the years, the community has supported the Asian Weekly through thick and thin. Not many realize my company’s role in nurturing youth and
MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
women of color. But we have over the past decades. Some of my young staff didn’t know much when they started working for me. Now, not only are they much smarter than me, they have wonderful jobs and careers in many fields. And all the young leaders we have trained through the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation’s 20-year-old Summer Youth Leadership Program are making their marks on the community. Many women of color in leadership have made their voices heard through our triannual Women of Color Empowered luncheons. For 20 years, we have opened doors for women of color. Despite the incredible amount of contributions we have made to the community over the years, we can’t avoid the fact that print media is dying. If I fail to secure a future for the Asian Weekly for the next decade, would anyone still consider me or the Asian Weekly to be successful? It may sound like I am sad. On the contrary — this is the irony. The more odds I am facing, the more fun I have. The freedom that my company provides, to live the life I want, is a sign of success for me. This freedom has granted me constant inspiration to do amazing things. In the meantime, I am enjoying the suspense and uncertainty in the process of finding solutions for both publications, just like a surfer waiting for the right wave before she can push herself up. The surfer might fall. That’s the risk she has and is willing to take. But the exhilaration to see that wave rushing in is exactly like the opportunities that my staff seek and fight for each week. It’s rewarding and interesting to watch. No one can accuse me of not trying. Although each week is getting harder and harder, miraculously, my people have often steered me toward uncovering opportunities and making the paper interesting to read. So we will expect the unexpected in this journey with patience, courage, and a purpose. As Nobel Prize winner Fritjof Nansen said, “The difficult is what takes a little time. The Impossible is what takes a little longer.” Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Comments about appearance or age Unwanted touching Sexually related questions Asked out for meals and dates
54% 40% 38% 27%
According to a survey, 29 percent of Japanese women said they have suffered sexual harassment at work.
Infographic by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW
WOMEN from 3 of conversation, at 54 percent. The next most common was unwanted touching at 40 percent, followed by sexually related questions at 38 percent. Twenty-seven percent were asked out for meals and dates. Japan trails much of the world in achieving gender equality, ranking 101st among 145 nations and economies in the World Economic Forum’s study on the “gender gap,” which measures how fairly women are treated based on economic, educational, health-based, and political indicators. Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made encouraging women to work and get promoted one of the pillars of his policies, progress has been gradual. One big reason behind that effort is that this nation’s society is aging and the workforce is rapidly shrinking.
LAWMAKERS from 3 Inter-Parliamentary Union The women who spoke in the assembly March 8 raised issues including allowing women’s entry into Hindu temples and better education for girls. They also demanded renewed effort in passing long-stalled legislation to require that 33 percent of lawmakers be women. “Surely, maximum governance also means giving us women our legitimate due, namely the much-awaited Women’s Reservation Bill,” opposition Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi said, chided her colleagues for failing to push it through since it was first floated in Parliament at least two decades ago. The legislation aims to correct some of the social imbalance between genders, but has been blocked by powerful socialist groups and political leaders worried that a female quota system would cost their male-dominated parties seats.
Women now make up for about 8 percent of leadership positions in companies hiring 100 people or more. The March 1 study did not propose any specific measures for how the situation could be fixed, such as stiffer penalties for harassment or discrimination. In many Japanese companies, women are placed on a different career track from men. They often have parttime jobs, partly because many Japanese men rarely help out with housework. The so-called “M-curve” in employment that used to be so pronounced in the West for women some years ago, in which they drop out of the workforce to have children then rejoin later, is still prominent in Japan. The study also found many complaints of “maternity harassment,” in which women were bullied into quitting their jobs when they became pregnant, or were targeted with suggestions they do so.
Communist lawmaker K. Sreemathi Teacher sought to shame her male colleagues by noting that Afghanistan’s parliament is 28 percent female, even with the Taliban presenting a constant threat to women. Her colleague from West Bengal state’s Trinamool Congress party agreed. “We don’t want a separate seat in the bus. We want to drive that bus. We don’t want separate queues. I want to earn money and pay my taxes,” said Shatabdi Roy. Meanwhile, Bhavna Gawali from the Hindu nationalist group Shiv Sena party said male priests were being ridiculous in holding to the ancient, sexist practice of barring women from the inner sanctum of the Shani temple in the western state of Maharashtra. “While we talk of equality, we can’t go to temples,” she said. Not all of the women in the assembly were prepared to speak, but after all those who wanted to speak had taken their turns, there was enough time left for the Speaker to ask the men in the house for input on the day’s agenda.
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Sealed bids will be received for Contract #C01023C16, Roof Repair Work Order 2016-2018; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on March 17, 2016. Late bids will not be accepted. Brief Scope; Perform Roof Repairs in the Wastewater Treatment Division. May include, coating, caulking, cleaning, skylight replacement, flashing, 3-coursing, seam or tear repair, on single ply, hot mopped, torch down, cold applied, 3-tab, green roof, shake, metal and modified bitumen. Depending on the scope of work issued, associated subcontractors and simultaneous crews may be required. For some work orders, the Contractor will need to mobilize and perform small roof repairs on short notice (24 hours or less). Estimated contract price: $500,000 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
Solution
asianweekly northwest
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MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2016
and had wanted to pursue a music career. While she was working in Tokyo at a maid cafe, where waitresses wear maid outfits, she decided to start her own band. She asked her friend Kanami Touno, who plays the guitar, to join the band. Not only did Touno say yes, but she also found drummer Akane Hirose and bassist MISA (who does not reveal her full name professionally). The four girls formed BAND-MAID in July 2013 and another vocalist, Saiki Atsumi, joined after about a month because they thought “twin vocals (two vocalists in one band) would be cool,” said Kobato. In August 2013, the group performed for the first time as an opening act at a concert hosted by the music company they belonged to. “We were not nervous, but excited and full of adrenaline. It was so much fun,” Kobato said. Each member has her own persona and role in the group. Kobato is an idol, and she uses the phrase kuruppo, a grammar particle at the end of sentences, which makes her comments sound cute. In Japanese, the particle is an onomatopoeia of the way a pigeon cries, and she uses it because her last name means pigeon. Atsumi’s persona, on the other hand, is cool and aloof. “We thought that two vocalists who have opposite characteristics would make the group more interesting,” said Kobato. Drummer Hirose has really energetic and cheerful characteristics. Guitarist Touno is ditzy and clumsy. MISA is a drink-lover, and her stage drink is sometimes alcohol.
Why MAID? “I had already decided to make a band featuring a maid before I started looking for band members,” said Kobato. The members wear pretty maid outfits, which have different designs matching each member’s characteristics. Also, they call their male fans masters, female fans princesses, and their performances as serving. It may sound really odd, but “we found this really interesting, and this makes us unique from the other bands,” said Atsumi. Unlike in the United States, it is natural for bands to have their own concepts in Japan. For example, one of the most popular groups, AKB48, has the concept of ‘idols fans can meet,’ and the group actively creates opportunities where they are accessible to fans, which includes autograph and handshake events. However, even among numerous music groups in Japan, the concept of BANDMAID is especially unique and differentiates the girls from others. “We want a big gap between how we look and how we perform in order to be unique,” said Kobato. The band plays hard rock. Their strong vocals and powerful drumming contrast their sweet and cute appearance, which has attracted many fans. However, this contrast was not set at the beginning. “At first, we were more like a pop-rock music group,” said Kobato. “But when we recorded the song ‘Thrill’ from our first album, which is more like hard rock, we felt that this style would go best with us. We found a way to be unique.”
Using SNS to get fans around the world While they are now becoming popular, BAND-MAID started with just a few fans. They were especially discouraged by their first headlining concert in 2013. Because of the heaviest snowfall in years, even the number of fans they had at the time couldn’t make it to the concert hall. “It was kind of funny that we performed in an almost empty hall,” Kobato said, laughing. In order to gain fans both inside and outside of Japan, they have been actively using
Photo by Shigo Tamai
MAID from 1
BAND-MAID performs in Japan.
social networking services (SNS), such as Twitter and Facebook, to reach fans around the world. “We have been trying to tweet in English,” said Kobato. They also post their music videos on YouTube and Facebook as soon as possible, which has helped them get reactions and comments from people from many countries. Last year, after they posted the music video of “Thrill” on Facebook, the video earned more than 2 million plays in a week.
The controversial concept Although they have enthusiastic fans, their odd concept, unsurprisingly, has been controversial. Some people think that the members are dressed too sexually, that they portray overly sexualized young women. Others think that the members’ servile behaviors, including how they address their fans, are uncomfortable or even unacceptable. Thomas Fotheringham, an American college student, said, “It makes me think of a strange otaku (a zealous fan of anime or manga, usually male) who has a wall of manga and a wall of posters, who wants to be called a master.” When asked for more details, Fotheringham said, “It is kind of surprising that they are accepted by people in the U.S. Since we have history of slavery, I don’t think it is appropriate to call someone a master here.” Another American student, Taylor Allred, is also critical of the band’s concept. “BAND-MAID seems really ‘Japanese.’ I remember someone explaining maid cafes to me and [me] thinking, ‘What?’ It seems like there are a lot of people in Japan who find the whole maid thing to be really cute and attractive. I see why, but it is definitely weird and a little demeaning.” BAND-MAID’s fans, however, seem to enjoy their monikers. “Many fans become happy when we call them masters on SNS,” said Kobato. Some of the fans have left tweets saying that they are looking forward to hearing the word directly from the BAND-MAID members at Sakura-Con, an anime convention running March 25–27.
The best place to debut? Sakura-Con is an annual anime convention held in Seattle. It is the oldest and most well- attended anime convention in the Pacific Northwest. More than 23,000 individuals attended last year. “Last year at Sakura-Con, I ended up meeting many people from different places, including Colorado, Canada, and even Ja-
pan,” said Fotheringham. This year is its 19th year. There are a variety of amusements, including gaming, cosplay, cultural panels, dances, concerts, industry guests, anime theaters, and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibits hall. Sakura-Con is BAND-MAID’s very first concert outside of Japan. They are also planning to perform a headlining concert in London this May. They are excited to perform overseas. “We found that comments and tweets from foreign fans are more enthusiastic and high-tension compared to ones from Japa-
nese fans,” said Atsumi. Some of the members are into anime, so they are also excited about booths and panels at the convention. “Through this concert, we want to be bigger,” said Touno. “Our goal is to conquer the world.” For more information about Sakura-Con, visit sakuracon.org/ or e-mail info@ sakuracon.org. For more information on BAND-MAID, visit bandmaid.tokyo. Emiri Aoki can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.