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PUBLISHER’S BLOG What’s next for Martha Choe? » P. 10

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

“Yellowface” controversy over the “The Mikado” Gilbert & Sullivan opera incites protest

By Zachariah Bryan Northwest Asian Weekly

{see THE MIKADO cont’d on page 15}

Photo by Roger Tang

On Sunday, July 20, while standing outside the Seattle Repertory Theatre to protest the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s latest production of the comedic opera, “The Mikado,” Civil Rights Lawyer Laurie Shiratori was called “silly” by a passerby.

Shiratori was wearing a sign that said: “Not Asian or Asian American? Instead of assuming or justifying that humor at the expense of people like me is not harming, ask me how it feels. Let’s talk.” She wasn’t chanting or yelling. At this point, she wasn’t even trying to initiate a conversation.

“They almost think it’s alright to do a caricature of Japanese or Asian culture because they think it’s funny,” she said. “Asian culture is quiet. Because we’re submissive, it’s OK to do what you want?”

Written in 1895, “The Mikado” is the most performed Protestors at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Front kneeling: Christina Seong. Middle row: Lizzie Lin, Iris Carrera, Diane Laguerta, Sonia Huang, Gei Chan, Iris Parker Pavitt, Laurie Shiratori. Back row: Bif Brigman, Rachel Johnston, Michael Johnston, and Brian Bartlett.

Chen trial set Downtown will get a streetcar for August 11th

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly

Jeffrey Chen’s long wait for his retrial to determine whether he was the victim of racial discrimination will soon come to an end when his lawsuit against the City of Medina goes to trial August 11th. Chen, the former police chief of Medina, filed a lawsuit on December 16, 2011 against Jeffrey Chen the City of Medina and City Manager Donna Hanson claiming that he was ousted from his position due to his race.

Chen, who is Chinese American, was employed by the City of Medina Police Department from June 1, 2001 to April 27, 2011. He claims that he was subjected to racial slurs while employed by the City of Medina. Specifically, it is claimed that there is direct evidence of City Manager Donna Hanson’s racially insensitive comments including, “I thought you Chinese people were supposed to be more patient than this!” and “Do you people celebrate Thanksgiving?” He was also referred to as a “Chinaman.” {see CHEN cont’d on page 12}

The Seattle City Council decided that First Avenue will have the first streetcar route during the July 21 council meeting. City Council will seek $75 million in federal money for the $110 million project.

The vote was 8-1, with councilmember Nick Licata voting no on this resolution. “There’s no plan to get $40

{see PICTORIAL on page 7}

Chinatown Seafair Parade engages neighborhood and visitors The Inside Story

NAMES People in the news » P. 2

■

POLITICS Vote Aug. 5! » P. 3

SPORTS Seong: Match, play, win » P. 5

COMMENTARY Mikado controversy continues » P. 11

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Photo by George Liu/NWAW

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly

million,” Licata said. He cited that since Metro buses are already being cut, there is no funding available. Licata suggested looking into trolleybuses.

Councilmember Bruce Harrell along with Chinatown/ International District neighborhood supporters said that the neighborhood deserves the streetcar, which will boost the neighborhood’s economy.

The streetcar capacity would be 150 people and would have its own transit lanes. 

asianweekly northwest

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JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Dr. Kimo leaving International District

the Ramada Inn Hotel in Tukwila. There were workshops about healthcare insurance, utility savings, legal and accounting advice, website creation, and others. Close to 100 people attended the event. The KACC of Washington is a nonprofit organization that represents Korean American businesses and helps put on events for the community. 

Director of LIHI selected for program with Harvard University

Dr. Kimo Hirayama

Dr. Kimo Hirayama, known as just Dr. Kimo to the International District community, is heading north to Shoreline to direct medical services at a brand new International District Community Health Services (ICHS) Shoreline branch medical-dental clinic, which will be opening in August. Dr. Kimo said leaving was a hard decision to make and decided to leave based on two reasons: being closer to his home in North Seattle and to face a new challenge. Dr. Kimo attended Oberlin College for undergrad and University of Pittsburgh for medical school.

He came over to the west coast and began his residency at the Group Health Cooperative and started volunteering at ICHS in 1987. He got hired by ICHS in 1989 and has been there ever since. Dr. Kimo said he believes that the new clinic in Shoreline will attract Korean American and Chinese American patients, along with students from Shoreline Community College. 

Sharon Lee, Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), was chosen to participate in NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program that is conducted with Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

This program spans for 18 months and is for executive directors and Sharon Lee other leaders of organizations that are helping better the community.

The program has three sessions at the Kennedy School of Government along with executive coaching, guidance from expert consultants and intensive peer learning. The program has graduated almost 300 executive directors, CEOs and other leaders across the country since 2002. 

as the new acting Human Services Department (HSD) head on July 23. Okamoto is replacing interim HSD director Catherine Lester.

From 2008-2012, Okamoto served as the Executive Director of the Washington Education Association.

He has held numerous leadership positions with Port of Seattle, the John Okamoto Washington State Department of Transportation among others.

Okamoto started his public service career as a summer youth worker at HSD and is now coming full circle by becoming the acting director. Murray said he wants Okamoto to refine the focus of the department, strengthen partnerships and lay the foundation for change for the next permanent director. 

Send your exciting news to editor@nwasianweekly.c om.

Lifetime achievement award given to King County Assessor

Chef’s Showcase

Tyler HeffordAnderson

Rachel Yang

Steven Ariel

Prometheus Brown and wife Chera Amlag

The Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA) will be hosting the AAJA Chefs’ Showcase benefit event at the Columbia Tower Club, on the 75th floor of Columbia Tower, 701 5th

Ave., Aug 4.

The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature demonstrations by Seattle celebrity chefs which include:  Lisa Nakamura, chef/owner of Allium and alumna of The French Laundry.  Rachel Yang, the James Beard-nominated chef and coowner of Joule and Revel.  Prometheus Brown (aka Geo of Blue Scholars) and Chera Amlag, the husband-and-wife team behind Food and Sh*t, a monthly pop-up at Inay’s.  Tyler Hefford-Anderson, executive chef at Columbia Tower Club, who also worked at Rainier Club and Meridian Valley Country Club and Steven Ariel, the executive chef for TRACE at W Seattle.

KING 5 Anchor Mimi Jung will host the demonstrations. 

Small business forum held in Tukwila

Members of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce

The Korean American Chamber of Commerce (KACC) held its first forum for small business owners on June 29, at

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara received the lifetime achievement award from the League of Women Voters on July 16 at the Seattle Westin Hotel.

Over 100 people were present. Hara has a long career in public service.

He served in the Army and retired from the Army Reserve with a Lt. Colonel ranking. At the age of 29 he became the youngest King County Auditor.

He was Seattle City Treasurer for four terms, from 1980-1992. Hara also was regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hara is seeking re-election for King County Assessor in 2015. 

John Okamoto announced as Human Services Department head Mayor Ed Murray announced John Okamoto

One man discovers America’s triumphs and confronts its failures.

Photos by Lia Chang

Lisa Nakamura

Joel de la Fuente as Gordon Hirabayashi

Bonus Event Aug 2

Conversation with playwright Jeanne Sakata

Jul 31–Aug 3 WITH SUPPORT BY

Buy tickets today or see it with an ACTPass!

(206) 292-7676 • acttheatre.org

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ politics

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

Ten API candidates to watch during primary elections on Aug. 5

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly Sarah Sanoy-Wright, Republican, is running for Representative position no. 2 in Legislative District no. 11. She is running against incumbent Steve Bergquist, who beat her during the last general election in 2012.

Sanoy-Wright and Bergquist are unopposed in the primary election.

Shari Song, Democrat, is running for State Senator in Legislative District no. 30 against Mark Miloscia. Song supports pro-choice, equal pay for women, helping veterans, and passing a transportation package. According to her campaign website, she currently works in real estate at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and is a board member on Children’s Campaign Fund. She has also received honors and awards, including the King County Recognition Award for Community Service in 2007. Song and Miloscia are unopposed in the primary election.

Incumbent Cindy Ryu, Democrat, is running for Representative position no. 1 in Legislative District no. 32. She has no opponent and has won this spot in the past two elections. According to Ryu’s campaign website, she “is a strong advocate for the small business owner, public transportation, environmental and consumer protection, and public safety.” While in office, Ryu has sponsored bills that protected consumers, dealt with insurance reform, and encouraged economic revitalization.

SeaTac Mayor Mia Su-Ling Gregerson, Democrat, is running for Representative Position no.

2 in Legislative District no. 33 against Jeanette Burrage and Les Thomas. According to her campaign website, Gregerson wants to improve transportation, close tax loopholes, protect the environment, make healthcare affordable, and ensure fiscal responsibility.

Pramila Jayapal, Democrat, is running for State Senator in Legislative District no. 37.

Jayapal is running against five others, including Claude Burfect, John Stafford, Sheley Secrest, Louis Watanabe, and Rowland Martin. Jayapal is a founder of OneAmerica, an immigrant rights group and was the CEO of it for 11 years.

Currently, she is working for the Center for Community Change. She supports income tax for the rich and a higher minimum wage.

Louis Watanabe, Democrat, is running for State Senator in Legislative District no. 37.

Watanabe is running against five others: Pramila Jayapal, Claude Burfect, John Stafford, Sheley Secrest and Rowland Martin. Watanabe is a professor of statistics and business at Bellevue College. According to his website, his main issues are education, jobs, crime and zoning. District no. 37 is one of the most diverse districts, with over 80 languages spoken there. There is a high crime rate and not many jobs which Watanabe wants to put a stop to.

Jessica Spear, Socialist Alternative, is running for Representative Position no. 2 in Legislative District no. 43 against incumbent Frank Chopp.

Spear helped lead the $15 minimum wage movement alongside Kshama Sawant, who also is a supporter of Spear. Spear is fighting for housing, including rent control, workers’ rights, the environment and education funding. According to her campaign website, Spear is a climate scientist that “understand the crisis humanity faces in the coming decades with extreme weather, rising sea levels, and heat waves” and wants to better the environment by starting renewable technology projects.

Incumbent Cyrus Habib, Democrat, is running for State Senator in Legislative District no.

48 against Michelle Darnell. Habib has served on the Business and Financial Services committee, Technology and Economic Development {see CANDIDATES cont’d on page 14}

Sarah Sanoy-Wright

Shari Song

Cindy Ryu

Mia Su-Ling Gregerson

Pramila Jayapal

Louis Watanabe

Jessica Spear

Cyrus Habib

Sharon Tomiko Santos

Marcus Naylor

3

asianweekly northwest

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JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

■ world news

As Vietnam’s women go abroad, dads tend the home VU HOI, Vietnam (AP) — When his wife moved to Taiwan nine years ago to work as a maid — earning far more than she could in the rice paddies of this northern Vietnamese hamlet — Pham Duc Viet took over the household chores and raised their two children on top of his regular work as a farmer and carpenter.

Now, the double duty is second nature for Viet, 48, along with many of his male neighbors. Hundreds of women have left the village of Vu Hoi, 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Hanoi, to take better paying jobs in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. They send money home, part of a wider migration of female labor from Vietnam over the past 15 years.``Not a big deal,’’ Viet said of the extra chores. ``I’m willing to sacrifice so that my kids can have a better life.’’ His wife’s earnings are covering university tuition for their two children and paid for a furniture workshop next to their house.

As more women leave the country, Vietnam is following a trend seen in other Asian nations, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, where women make up at least two-thirds of workers who leave the country. Vietnamese women accounted for about a third of migrant workers in 2011, according to the United Nations.

Working as maids or nurses overseas, women can often earn more than men doing manual labor, such as construction or farming.

The trend has left behind legions of what experts call ``father-carers,’’ many of them in countries with previously well-defined gender roles regarding housework and childrearing.

■ national news

Photo by Mike Ives

By Mike Ives The Associated Press

Pham Duc Viet stands at home in Vu Hoi, Vietnam. When his wife moved to Taiwan nine years ago to work as a maid, he took over the household chores and raised their two children on top of his regular work as a farmer and carpenter. The double duty is second nature for him, as it is with many male neighbors.

The changes have contributed to some social problems in Vietnam. Domestic media reports have portrayed Vu Hoi as a village where many ``left-behind’’ fathers have turned to drugs, alcohol, and prostitutes.

Fathers interviewed in the village and in nearby Vu Tien said that while that may be true in some cases, the reports were exaggerated. Most men were willing to take on the additional work to support their families. Preparing meals was a challenge, some said, but never an insurmountable one. ``In a farming family like ours, dinners are pretty simple anyway,’’ said Vu Duc Hang, whose two children helped with the cleaning and cooking when they were at home. Now, they too have been able to attend college.

There are few comprehensive studies on father-carers, and scholars say the social and psychological effects of female labor migration on Asian societies are still far from clear.

Some migration studies of Southeast Asian communities have found that female relatives typically took over child-rearing responsibilities when mothers left for jobs abroad.

But a 2008 survey that tracked about 1,100 migrant-mother households in Vietnam and Indonesia reported that more than two-thirds of primary caregivers were fathers — a sharp contrast to earlier findings in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, where as few as a quarter of dads played a similar role. Related research on households in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines found that Vietnam was the only country in which grandfathers — especially paternal ones — often played a key role in household decisions.While there were some cases of adultery, divorce, and drug abuse, the Vietnam survey results in particular appeared to challenge the notion that female labor migration leads to broken families, said Lan Anh Hoang, a lecturer in development studies at the University of Melbourne who conducted interviews in several Vietnamese villages for the survey. Vu Hoi and Vu Tien were part of the Vietnam sample, which covered the northern provinces of Thai Binh and Hai Duong.

Vietnamese men in rural areas ``actually don’t mind doing household chores,’’ Hoang said. ``They have always been involved in domestic work, so it’s not a big issue now that their wives are away.’’

One possible explanation is that the country’s communist government has long promoted gender equality, she said.

A Vu Hoi village official, Pham Ngoc Thuy, agreed. ``Of course there are positive and negative aspects of labor migration, but the media always focuses on the negative ones,’’ he said. ``In Vietnam, we pride ourselves on gender {see VIETNAM cont’d on page 12}

Asian American unemployment rises according to study

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly The United States Department of Labor provides some disturbing data on Asian American unemployment among young people. In its recent release, which covers July 2007 through 2010, the number of Asian-Americans between the ages of 1624 years old unable to find work has grown since 2007.

The unemployment rates for young Asian Americans have grown from slightly over 6% in 2007 to 21.6% in July 2010. Blacks (33.4%) and Latinos (22.1%) had higher unemployment rates in July 2010, but in general Asians are more likely to have a college degree than Blacks, Hispanics or Whites.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Asian American college graduates are more likely than white college graduates to be unemployed and that is also true for those with some college. In contrast, Asian-Americans who are high school graduates and those who are high school drop-outs are less likely than their whites to be unemployed. Although not necessarily surprising, the highest rate of unemployment of Asian Americans between the ages of 16-24 are those that have dropped out of high school.

The statistics also show that rates of unemployment for adult Asian American men and adult Asian-American women were similar in 2007-2008 but as the recession continued, Asian- American men found it harder to find a job.

Another key note from the numbers

is that Asian American teens defined as ages 16-19 have much higher unemployment rates than do adults. This may be due in part to teens in school and being less likely to either work or look for a job. In fact, the data suggests that Asian Americans ages 20 to 24 have decided to stay in school and not look for a job.

The highest unemployment rates per state were dependent on where the largest numbers of Asian Americans reside. Overall in 2010, California had the most unemployed Asian Americans with

222,000 followed by New York at 34,000. Washington State had 22,000 unemployed Asian-Americans which equated to a 7.9% unemployment rate per the 2010 average.

People of Asian Indian descent were the most likely to be employed and people of Japanese descent were least likely to work according to the 2010 numbers from the Department of Labor. {see UNEMPLOYMENT cont’d on page 12}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

5

Medalist Seong rallies for match play win

By Associated Press DUPONT, Wash. (AP) _ Medalist Eun Jeong Seong rallied from four strokes down to beat Samantha Gotcher on the first extra hole in the first round of match play Wednesday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

The 14-year-old from South Korea, in match play for the first time, fell 2 down through the first three holes. Gotcher, of Clarksville, Tenn., who qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, extended her advantage to four holes at the turn of the 6,169-yard, par-72 Home Course.

But Seong began to drop her putts. She cut the deficit by one with an eagle at the par-5 10th. She was within one hole heading to the 18th. After Gotcher’s birdie attempt from off the back of the green trickled past the hole, Seong dropped a 30-foot putt to extend the match.

Another birdie from 15 feet at the par-4 first won it for Seong.

Eun Jeong Seong

``That was so hard,’’ Seong said. ``She wasn’t making putts on the front at all,’’ said

Gotcher, a rising sophomore at Middle Tennessee State. ``I was making putts, but she wasn’t. But on the back nine, the tables turned.’’

Seong will next face Grace Na, 21, of Alameda, Calif.

Na, who recently finished her college career at Pepperdine, advanced with a 19-hole win over Sydney Youngblood of Durant, Okla.

Lucy Li, the 11-year-old from Redwood Shores, Calif., who became the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Open history, lost in 19 holes to Alice Chen, 18, of Princeton, N.J. ``It was a battle back and forth all day,’’ said Chen, who clinched her match with a 7-foot birdie from the back of the green. ``She really kept me on my toes all round. Every shot, you could expect her to be really close. She was going right at pins.’’

Local favorite Katie Lee, 18, of Silverdale, Wash., rallied from 3 down to upset Curtis Cup Team member Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y., 1 up. 

LeBron James begins tour of China

By Associated Press BEIJING (AP) _ LeBron James began his tour of China on Monday by exchanging gifts with another former child prodigy.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ star was greeted by pianist Lang Lang at the

Wukesong Sports Center in Beijing in front of hundreds of basketball fans.

The two exchanged gifts, with Lang Lang receiving a pair of basketball shoes and James getting an album of Lang Lang’s music and a CD with the FIFA Brazil World Cup music.

The two stars also played the piano together _ a ``piano dunk’’ as Lang Lang called it. ``Every time I come here, the game of basketball grows more and more,’’ James told the crowd. ``It’s been great all the way from before I came to 2008 Beijing Olympics and all the way now for me to come back in 2014. The game continues to rise and I think that’s amazing.’’

The five-day trip is being sponsored

by Nike. James will also be visiting Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and two cities in Taiwan _ Kaohsiung and Taipei. ``I am very blessed and the game of basketball has given me everything and more than I can dream of to my family, myself and my friends,’’ James said. ``And that’s why for me, I always give everything I can to the game, when I am on the basketball floor, both on and off court, because it has given me so much things that

LeBron James

I never dreamed about. I always dreamed about being in the NBA and wearing an NBA uniform. But being known all over the world, I have never dreamed about that, but basketball has given me that and I don’t take it for granted.’’

Earlier this month, James left the Miami Heat after four seasons and four trips to the NBA Finals and re-signed with the Cavaliers, where his career began. 

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JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR FRI 7/25 WHAT: Yasujiro Ozu’s classic silent film comedy “The Lady & the Beard” WHERE: Volunteer Park Amphitheater, 1247 15th Ave. E., Seattle (rain site: Asian Art Museum auditorium) WHEN: 9 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: www.visitsam.org/deco WHAT: Seattle Goodwill Family Health & Safety Fair WHERE: Seattle Goodwill, 700 Dearborn Place S., Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

INFO: seattlegoodwill.org

SAT 7/26 WHAT: “Two Tickets to Paradise” recital, a brief journey to Guam and Hawaii WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 2:30 p.m.

COST: $15–$30 (under 4 free) INFO: 360-529-1793 WHAT: White River Bon Odori WHERE: Whiter River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Way N., Auburn

TUE 7/29 WHAT: Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra WHERE: S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, 200

University St., Seattle WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $19/general admission TICKETS: 206-215-4747, www. benaroyahall.org WHAT: API Community For a Fundraiser honoring State Senator Steve Hobbs WHERE: 466 Smith St., Seattle WHEN: 6-8 p.m.

RSVP: colin@electhobbs.com

WED 7/30 WHAT: Korean Traditional Hanji Paper Fashion Show WHERE: Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle WHEN: 7-9 p.m.

COST: $49/individual, $44/ members & students TICKETS: asiapacificculturalcenter.org INFO: 253-383-3900, asiapacificculturalcenter.org

FRI 8/1, SAT 8/2 & SUN 8/3 WHAT: Lakewood 2014 Asian Film Fest WHERE: Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. S.W., Lakewood WHEN: 8/1 and 8/2 at 7 p.m.; 8/3 at 2 p.m.

INFO: 253-588-0042, lakewoodplayhouse.org

FRI 8/1 WHAT: ACT Theatre & Wing Luke team up for a postplay discussion following a performance of “Hold These Truths” WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle TICKETS: ACT Theatre WHAT: Chinese-American Author Jennifer Chow coming to Seattle WHERE: Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E., Seattle WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m.

INFO: 925-451-6527, eric. chang@tap-seattle.org

SAT 8/2 WHAT: Korean Traditional Hanji Paper Fashion Show WHERE: Museum of Glass, 801 Dock St., Tacoma WHEN: 7-9 p.m.

COST: $49/individual, $44/ members and students TICKETS: asiapacificculturalcenter.org INFO: 253-383-3900, asiapacificculturalcenter.org WHAT: Tacoma Bon Odori WHERE: Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma WHEN: 5-9 p.m.

INFO: www.tacomabt.org WHAT: Sumi Landscapes WHERE: SAM, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle

WHEN: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

MON 8/4 WHAT: Demystification of the Asian Development Bank WHERE: K&L Gates LLP, 925 Fourth Ave. Ste. 2900, Seattle WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

COST: $65/person, $85/at the door INFO: www.klgates.com

2nd & 4th TUES OF MONTH WHAT: International District Special Review Board meeting WHERE: Bush Asia Center, 409 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 4:30 p.m.

INFO: 206-684-0226 www.

seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ preservation/historic_districts. htm

EVERY TUE WHAT: Asian Counseling and Referral Services Employment Program Orientation WHERE: ACRS, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 3–4:30 p.m.

INFO: 206-695-7527, employmentprogram@ acrs.org, acrs.org/services/ employmentandtraining

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ PICTORIAL

Chinatown Seafair Parade engages neighborhood and visitors

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

7

The Muckleshoot Indian Casino float.

By Jamie Sun Northwest Asian Weekly

Jamie Sun can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

Mayor Ed Murray and husband Michael Shiosaki greeting parade attendees.

Congressman Adam Smith, wife Sarah BickleEldridge, and supporters walking in parade.

Chief of Police, Kathleen O’Toole.

Female pirates in parade.

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

People from all over Seattle gathered in the International District July 20 to watch the annual Chinatown Seafair Parade.

During the parade, police officers helped block the transportation routes to King Street, so audiences could enjoy and concentrate on the parade without traffic.

Crowds started from the King Street Southern Baptist Center and continued to gather along the parade route which ended at 8th Avenue and S. Weller Street.

The parade included several costume shows, dragon dances, Tae Kwon Do performances, drill team dances, and more.

The performers in the parade engaged with the audiences on the street—spraying water on the crowds and handing out candy as well as waving to the residents who live in the buildings on King Street.

It was an evening that showcased diversity, culture, and camaraderie in the neighborhood. 

Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Washington walking in parade.

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JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

■ arts & entertainment

Fallen City: Zhao Qi discusses his documentary on the Sichuan earthquake

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest American Weekly Chinese director and producer Zhao Qi spent several years making “Fallen City,” a documentary about the devastating effects of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in China. The film premieres July 28 on PBS as part of the “POV” series.

NWAW: How did the “Fallen City” project get started?

Zhao Qi: I started Fallen City on May 15th, 2008, three days after the earthquake. I didn’t know what I was to shoot at the moment. Everything was chaotic; it was an intuition that I felt a big story was to be found. I stayed longer than a journalist should when they turned their focus on the Olympics in August. Finally, we stayed for over three years to cover the passage of time and change of life. It took us almost another whole year for the post-editing to work out the final narrative.

Zhao Qi

NWAW: Where exactly was the film shot?

Zhao Qi: The film was shot in Beichuan, a mountainous prefecture in Sichuan Province.

NWAW: How difficult is it to get cooperation from the Chinese government in making a film of this type?

Zhao Qi: I had no problem shooting this film. Maybe there are too many crews shooting different things at the time, no one paid attention to us. Almost no one came up to ask, as we only shot ordinary people. There were only a few times that we were asked in the latter part of production,

and we explained that we were covering the stories of the earthquake victims and have been following them for years.

NWAW: How did you go about finding people to film? Did you struggle to locate people who would talk on camera?

Zhao Qi: I met over 15 people in the very beginning, who all lost someone in the earthquake. I lost contact with some of them when they were on the move in the first half year. I followed around seven or eight people in the first year and got closer with four of them in the second year.

I developed trust with these four families, and they were willing to talk in front of cameras and shared their feelings with us. I always feel grateful to these people, to allow us to get into their hearts!

NWAW: What was/were your specific role(s) on this film, and how did you go about business?

Zhao Qi: I am director and producer of “Fallen City.” I am working on both the creative part and the business part. It is

NWAW: What were the most demanding aspects of the film, and how did you surmount them?

Zhao Qi: The narrative has been very challenging. I have three characters with very loose connections to each other in real life; figuring out how to weave their stories together is very hard. I finally decided to link each part not with linear logic of happenings in life, but with similar emotions that can dissolve from one character to another.

This has weakened the compactness of the story, but gives the film a poetic style. It is a choice. {see QI cont’d on page 14}

From left: Second place contest winner Joshua, contest judge Jim Doane, First place contest winner Tyson Lee, contest judge Andrew Liu (boardmember of InterIm CDA), Third place contest winner Graham, and contest judge Dominique Miciano.

SPONSORS:

Thank you to the sponsors, judges, and volunteers of our Recycling Fashion Contest. Without you, the event could not have happened.

quite a tough experience. As there is no fund in China for independent filmmakers to apply, all Chinese independent filmmakers want to find more sources from international funding. It is not an easy journey, we need to prepare western-standard proposals and a budget. I was lucky to have IDFA Fund, Sundance Fund, NHK, ITVS, Knowledge Network, YLE, NRK, all join the project.

Cathay Post 186 Jade Garden Restaurant

Jim Doane

Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Children’s Recycling Fashion Contest

Saturday, July 12, 2014 — This free event is part of Dragon Fest

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ at the movies

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

9

Suzuki’s “K Missing Kings” elevates anime; “Love Child” documents tragedy

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly “K Missing Kings,” an anime directed by Shingo Suzuki and coming to the Grand Illusion Cinema August 1st, begins in big-city rain. The big city is probably Tokyo, but its endless skyscrapers, multicolored, could be any majorleague cityscape on Earth. The rain, though, carries the resonance of master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, who claimed the torrential Japanese rain as his own.

Through the rain, the viewer sees a solitary youth standing on a roof of a very large building. He wears an elaborate costume which suggests retro-Goth style, as well as the uniforms required by certain private schools. Stylish a figure as he cuts, he then pushes his glasses up his nose, a classic nerd move. Raindrops, or maybe tears, move down his face. This, too, suggests an antecedent, the classic “tears in rain” speech from “Blade Runner.”

As the action progresses, though, the film establishes its own territory, rhythms, and contexts. It is based on the anime series developed by director Suzuki, who also furnished the character designs, and the GoHands anime studio. However, it establishes fresh territory by introducing new characters and new situations. The young people exhibit, by turns, all the crispness of military operatives, and the vulnerabilities of the young experiences adult emotions for the first time.

“Love Child,” directed by Seattle native Valerie Veatch, has a free screening at SIFF Cinema Uptown on July 23rd and debuts on HBO on July 28th. Unlike “K Missing Kings,” the “Love Child” documentary tells the shocking and disheartening true story of a South Korean couple who let their premature baby starve to death in 2010. They spent up to 12 hours a day online playing a game called Prius, where, in a devastating bit of irony, they were raising a

K Missing Kings

virtual child that they seemed to care for more than their real-life infant.

After fleeing Seoul, the couple, Yoo-chul Kim and Misun Choi, were eventually captured in Suweon. Their trial was the first time the controversial issue of internet addiction, or Internet Addiction Disorder, faced a legal challenge. A post-film group at the SIFF Cinema Uptown screening will feature Ms. Veatch herself; John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile and the film’s executive producer;

■ world news

McDonald’s, KFC in China face new food scandal

By Joe McDonald AP Wire Service

BEIJING (AP) — McDonald’s and KFC in China faced a new food safety scare Monday after a Shanghai television station reported a supplier sold them expired beef and chicken.

The companies said they immediately stopped using meat from the supplier, Husi Food Co., Ltd. The Shanghai office of China’s food and drug agency said it was investigating and told customers to suspend use of the supplier’s products.

Dragon TV said Sunday that Husi, owned by OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois, repackaged old beef and chicken and put new expiration dates on them. It said they were sold to McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants.

The report added to a series of food safety scares in China that have battered public confidence in dairies, fast food outlets and other suppliers.

McDonald’s Corp. and Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said they were conducting their own investigations.

“Food safety is a top priority for McDonald’s,’’ the company said on its microblog account. The company said it pursues “strict compliance’’ with consumer safety laws and regulations and has “zero tolerance for illegal behavior.’’

A third company, sandwich shop chain Dicos, said in a statement that it stopped using sausage patties supplied by Husi.

Dicos is owned by Taiwan’s Ting Hsin International Group, and the company website said it had 2,000 outlets in China as of September 2013.

The Shanghai office of the State Food and Drug Administration said it was working with police to investigate Husi.

“At present, the company has been sealed and suspect products seized,’’ the agency said on its website.

McDonald’s sealed 4,500 cases of beef, pork, chicken and other products supplied

by Husi for investigation and Pizza Hut sealed 500 cases of seasoned beef, the city government said in a statement.

A woman who answered the phone at Husi’s headquarters said no one was {see FOOD SCANDAL cont’d on page 12}

and Cosette Rae, co-founder and clinical director of the reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program.  For more information on these programs, consult www. grandillusioncinema.org and http://www.siff.net/cinema/ love-child.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

asianweekly northwest

10

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

OPINION

■ editorial

Progress or preservation?

Should we sacrifice heritage for opportunity in downtown development?

The influx of development in our historic downtown corridor has been accelerating even more debate. The issue crosses neighborhood boundaries, affecting both the International District (ID) and Pioneer Square. Most backlash is due to recent proposals, which include the demolition of the Argen’s Lock building on Main Street for a building housing 7-story residential units and the “Old Seattle Garage” located on the corner of Jackson Sreet and Alaskan Way. The conversion of the garage is instigating the most controversy, which includes a proposed 11-story building that might obstruct views of the waterfront and block sunlight. This will also affect residents and businesses due to more construction in an already construction-heavy

area. Space available for demolition is rare and expensive, so it is understood why developers would want to build higher. So would this help or hinder our neighborhoods?

Do we preserve a historic building that houses a parking lot or allow construction of an 11-story building that might introduce commerce?

Consider the Wave building on the Second Avenue extension, which anyone would agree, is not hard to miss.

It borders the ID, Pioneer Square, and the nebulous core that houses football, soccer, and baseball fans. Is the Wave a 26-floor glass monstrosity that blocks your water view and disrupts cobble-stone-street aesthetic? Or is it the home that allows access to restaurants, Sounders games, and galleries?

■ PUBLISHER'S BLOG

And then… there is the sensitive subject of the disproportionate amount of homeless due to the recent elimination of free bus rides in downtown zones. Now, during the summer months, it is hard to ignore the prevalence of those who are homeless and the mentally ill (without access to treatment) and are now more likely to be sequestered due to transit changes.

The opportunity of new residential and commercial neighbors might shift this balance. It might not directly help an issue we should be addressing with more vigor, but perhaps by boosting economy rather than sustaining it, we move forward and we will have the resources to eventually contribute to even more important problems.

There are two sides to 11 stories. 

What’s next for Martha Choe? The first Indian American judge in Washington state Martha Choe is planning to step down from her role as chief administrative officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (GF). Her last day in the office will be September 19.

She has been with the GF for 10 years, and first served as the director of the Global Libraries program. Asked Martha Choe what she plans to do next, she replied she is excited to explore what lies ahead.

I have followed her career since she ran for Seattle City Council in 1989. Choe’s talent is widely recognized. There’s no

need for her to do much searching – opportunities will just knock on her door.

Former Gov. Gary Locke approached her to head the Washington State Department of Community Development and Trade (now Department of Commerce), while she was a City Councilmember. Then the GF asked her to join the foundation a decade ago after she decided to resign from Locke’s cabinet. Even former Seattle City Councilmember Dolores Sibonga quietly chose Choe as her successor to run for her seat. 

A silver lining for the Korean community Earlier this year, Sam Chung received bad news that he didn’t get Gov. Jay Inslee’s appointment for King County Superior Judge. But his friend John Chun did. He then as- Sam Chung sumed he would have to wait for his next opportunity. He also found out that there were actually two other fellow Korean Americans that applied for the same position. There was Chun, and the other was Steve Kim, King County Deputy Prosecutor.

The Korean community is close-knit.

It’s interesting that none of the three candidates, who are actually friends, had any knowledge that they were competing for the same job. Imagine the scenario, requesting letters of recommendation and then discovering your friend has also requested one!

There was an assumption that it would be politically incorrect if Inslee appointed two Korean Americans within a year.

John Chun

Steven Kim

There was a belief that other ethnic groups and the mainstream community would like Inslee to spread the appointments around to make everyone happy. Fortunately, that was not Inslee’s thinking. He appointed the most qualified candidates, who happened to be Korean Americans. On May 27, he announced the appointment of Sam Chung to King County Superior Court. Chung is filling the seat of Judge Mary Yu, who Inslee appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court on May 1.

Since Inslee became governor in 2013, he has appointed 75 Asian Americans in leadership positions, including staff, cabinet, board and commissions, and judicial positions. That’s quite a record. 

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community? Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly.com under the Opinion section.

The other day, King County District Court Judge Ketu Shah, an Indian American judge, visited me at the Asian Weekly’s office.

First, I assumed he was an immigrant and Iranian. I actually asked him if he was. He was extremely gracious in response. He is originally from Minnesota, and the surname “Shah” is actually of Indian origin, sometimes mistakenly thought of as Persian, since it King County District Court Judge Ketu Shah

{see BLOG cont'd on page 15}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

11

OPINION

■ commentaries

Yellowface in 2014? Is it 2014 or 1914?

Dignity is not expendable for entertainment

By The Greater Seattle Chapter of AdvOCAte For Northwest Asian Weekly The Greater Seattle chapter of AdvOCAte (formerly the Organization of Chinese Americans) would like to thank Sharon Pian Chan for her thoughtful editorial, “Yellowface in Your Face” (Seattle Times, 7/14/14), regarding the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of The Mikado.

We are, however, dismayed by the producers’ and bloggers’ insensitivity and unwillingness to understand why many Asian Americans may be offended by The Mikado. Instead, these defenders of The Mikado seem to delight in offending Asians and Asian Americans, and minimizing and dismissing their concerns. In essence, {see GSC cont’d on page 13}

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Applause for opinion on “The Mikado” A letter from Bettie Luke to the Seattle Times

Protestors outside the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

By The Chinese American Citizens Alliance For Northwest Asian Weekly The Chinese American Citizens Alliance sees the current production of The Mikado in Seattle as continuing the stereotyping and harmful rhetoric toward Asian Americans, even to the point of using “yellow face” to simulate Asian participation when “black face” has long been eliminated from legitimate theatre. First produced in 1885, only three years after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, The Mikado was Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular comic opera. It has been widely produced in film and as a play throughout the world, by professionals and amateurs, from national theaters to high schools. But today in 2014, in its current format at the Bagley Wright Theater in Seattle, it is time to end its run and consign it to historical dust pin, along with other racially insensitive pulp.

Many critics today have singled out the “yellow face” aspect of having white actors play the 40 Asian characters in the play. However, The Mikado is not acceptable, even if all the actors were replaced with Asians. Although the countercritics point out that the play was never intended to satire the Japanese but to be a satire of English Victorian society, modernizations of the play to place it into an English setting

have not prevented the consistent return (as in the Seattle production) to Japanese clothing and facial make-up. As one critic observed, however, when the Japanese features are stripped away from the play, the audience is left with characters that have silly names and the inexplicable premise of a political entity that makes flirting a crime subject to beheading or boiling in oil. It becomes an entertaining play because of the exotic Japanese caricatures of the society and its people. The actors of whatever color playing them today, perpetuate those caricatures.

When Gilbert and Sullivan were writing their material, it was not unacceptable to have white actors paint their faces black and shuffle onto the stage to entertain largely white audiences. But, what was seen as acceptable then does not justify its continuation today, whether black or yellow. What is truly disappointing about the Seattle reprise of Mikado is that anyone today, especially living in a region where Japanese Americans were rounded up during WWII and Chinese Americans were killed or driven out in the 1800s, should be so insensitive to dangers of stereotyping in public performances and to have not realized how offensive this play is before they started production. One would have thought that we Americans would have grown in the 130-plus years since Gilbert and Sullivan wrote the play. 

Thank you for writing your OPINION column “Yellowface in your face” in the Seattle Times Monday July 14, 2014, page News A7.

Your well-written editorial clearly presents the case for challenging “The Mikado” play, scheduled at the Bagley Wright Theater July 11 to July 26.

I find it astounding that 40 white actors-- all playing “Japanese” characters, actually are happily portraying a story in Yellow-face! The producer Mike Storie and the army of theater volunteers are all a part of this offensive portrayal of a supposed farce. How would new audience members know this story was designed to poke fun at Victorian England?

What is apparent -- is a specific “exotic” Asian group with silly names and barbaric cultural practices, actively promotes distorted images for this fake Asian group -and anyone who looks like them. That kind of regard is harmful.

This Mikado production also imprints the message that it is acceptable for whites to portray Indians, Asians, or Latinos -- as was the outdated standard in early film and theater. Is this practice considered less offensive than blackface? The answer is not to have 40 Asians play the roles -- the Mikado is just not a story worth producing.

Gilbert and Sullivan productions can be wonderful theater.

The Mikado is not one of them.  Bettie Luke is a community activist.

King County Request for Proposals King County is requesting Proposals from qualified firms interested in providing design services for the Green to Cedar Rivers Regional Trail Project.

The Request for Proposals, all addenda and current document holder’s list are available on the internet at http://www.kingcounty.gov/ procurement. The County will not mail, ship or fax RFPs and addenda.

Interested firms must register with the County at time of download and ensure that a valid contact email address is given. Notification of addenda will be sent to the registered email address. Failure to register will result in the Proposer not being notified of any addenda, which may result in rejection of the proposal.

The estimated price of Phase 1 of this contract (Project Phase 2) is $700,000 to $900,000. The total estimated price of all phases is $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. The period of performance for Phase 1 is estimated to be 17 months. The period of performance of all phases is estimated to be 50 months.

Contract Title: Design Services for the Green to Cedar Rivers Regional Trail Project Number: E00318E14 Proposals due: August 15, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m.

Pre-proposal Meeting: July 30, 2014 Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: King Street Center, 8th Floor Conference Room, 201 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA SUMMARY OF WORK: The purpose of this contract is to provide engineering, landscape architecture, environmental and permitting services, bidding services and services during construction for development of various segments of the Green to Cedar Rivers Trail.

SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITIES: Provided for informational purposes only, following are subconsulting opportunities that may be available on this Contract: Survey, public outreach and stakeholder involvement, structural engineering, traffic analysis, and geotechnical engineering

SCS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS: The Consultant shall ensure that at least 10% of the Contract Price for all Work, as amended, shall be performed by King County Certified SCS Firms over the life of the Contract. Evaluation points for meeting and/or exceeding the SCS utilization requirements will be provided to each proposer responding to this requirement.

King County will not evaluate the proposal and will not execute a contract with a Proposer who does not commit to meet at least the SCS utilization requirement as stated above.

QUESTIONS: Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Ken Curl, Contract Specialist at 206-263-9322 or Ken. Curl@kingcounty.gov, TTY Relay: 711. The Proposer may be requested to submit the question in writing. No verbal answers by County personnel will be binding on the County.

This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

asianweekly northwest

12

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

{CHEN cont’d from page 1} Chen has retained an expert that would testify at trial about racial discrimination and its impact on Chen.

In the trial brief filed by Chen’s lawyers, he is seeking to be reinstated as Chief of Police at the City of Medina. He is also seeking future pay and benefits, back pay and benefits, compensatory damages for harm to his reputation, and emotional damages.

Chen was appointed City of Medina Police Chief in June 2010. Starting in November 2010, a series of events led to Chen leaving his post. An independent investigator was hired by the City due to reports of unauthorized access into its records. In December 2010, the investigator interviewed Chen about complaints of unauthorized activity. Chen resigned promptly after the query, but revoked his resignation shortly thereafter. He was then placed on {UNEMPLOYMENT cont’d from page 4} An alternative to seeking a job was self-employment.

According to the most recent Census Bureau Survey of Business Owners from 2007, the number of Asian-owned businesses expanded at a rate (40.4 percent) that more than doubles the national average between 2002 and 2007. In 2010, 6.3 percent of Asians were self-employed.

The latest statistics reflect the fallout after the nationwide economic recession. Young Asian-American job-seekers are still trying to cope with the economy. As a result, many {FOOD SCANDAL cont’d from page 9} available to comment. The official Xinhua News Agency cited a company manager, Yang Liqun, who said Husi has a strict quality control system and will cooperate in the investigation.

The Communist Party secretary of Shanghai, Han Zheng, called for ``severe punishment’’ of any wrongdoing, according to the city government statement.

McDonald’s, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, said it was suspending the distribution and sale of products from the plant in question.

“If confirmed, the practices outlined in the report are completely unacceptable to McDonald’s,’’ the company said in a statement.

Yum’s KFC is China’s biggest restaurant chain, with more than 4,000 outlets and plans to open 700 more this year. The company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, said in a statement that ``food safety is the most important priority for us. We will not tolerate any violations of government laws and regulations from our suppliers.’’

The company was badly hurt after state television reported in December 2013 that some poultry suppliers violated rules on drug use in chickens. Yum said KFC sales in China plunged 37 percent the following month. KFC launched an effort to tighten control over product quality and eliminated more than 1,000 small poultry producers from its supply network.

In a string of product scandals over the past decade, infants, hospital patients and others have been killed by

administrative leave after returning from his resignation.

According to the City of Medina, Chen utilized a work credit card for his own personal use. He is accused of purchasing three iPod Touch devices and two North Face jackets with City-issued credit cards. In February 2011, an internal investigation performed by the City claims that Chen voided citations for influential Medina residents, utilized a work vehicle for personal use, and tried to access the City’s e-mail archive. An abuse of power in his position was one of the reasons for Chen’s dismissal. As a result, Chen resigned in April 2011 and filed a lawsuit against the City of Medina and its City Manager.

Originally, after 11 days of trial in March 2013, a jury awarded Chen $2 million, which included back pay, loss of income, and $100,000 in emotional damages. The jury determined that race played a role in the eventual dismissal of Chen in April 2011. In an unusual move by the trial

court, Judge Thomas Zilly set aside the jury verdict citing that the evidence did not support the jury award. As a result, the $2 million jury award was nullified and a new trial was ordered. The decision for the judge to intervene was not common. The need for a new trial was due to the allegation that Chen’s attorney utilized inferences that race played a part in Chen’s firing when a pretrial order limited this in front of the jury. Judge Zilly will not be the judge when the case goes to trial on August 11th. 

young Asian-Americans are returning home to their parents for financial assistance. Thus, their families are also feeling the economic strain of youth unemployment. While the economic strain is felt on the young job-seekers, it is also felt by the family as they stretch out their earnings to accommodate those that continue to seek out work. The other issue is that Asian-American college graduates that return home also bring home debt burden from school loans. 

{VIETNAM cont’d from page 4}

Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com. phony or adulterated milk powder, drugs and other goods.

Foreign fast food brands are seen as more reliable than Chinese competitors, though local brands have made big improvements in quality.

The high profile of foreign brands means any complaints involving them attract attention, while their status as foreign companies with less political influence means Chinese media can publicize their troubles more freely.

Scandal-weary consumers on Monday expressed mixed feelings.

Chen Lu, 24, an employee of an Internet company, was eating a chicken burger and fries at a McDonald’s in central Shanghai that was half-empty at midday, a time when most restaurants are crowded.

“My boyfriend called and told me not to eat McDonald’s one minute after I ordered this chicken hamburger, but what can I do? I’ve already ordered and I am in a hurry,’’ she said.

“I am worried about my health,’’ she said. “I will try to avoid it, at least for a while. I am pretty disappointed in this brand.”

Another diner, Liu Kun, a 24-year-old student from Nanjing who was visiting Shanghai, said he was not concerned.

“The incident won’t change me eating here,’’ Liu said.

“There have been negative reports all the time. McDonald and KFC are the leaders in the industry.’’ 

Both parties have submitted a proposed list of witnesses that may testify at trial. They include the Mayor of Medina, members of the Medina City Council, and the Medina Police Department.

Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

equality, and when women go abroad, most men are willing to pitch in around the house.’’

The total amount of remittances sent back from all Vietnamese workers overseas now exceeds $2 billion a year, said Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, director of overseas labor management at the labor ministry. Taiwan, Malaysia, and South Korea are the top three destinations.

Tran Xuan Cuong, a farmer in a nearby village said some of the roughly 170 million dong ($8,000) his wife saved was used to build an addition on their home and to invest in raising pigs and brewing liquor.

He said some neighborhood men fell into alcoholism or even heroin abuse, but he wasn’t tempted. ``It was hard to be both a father and a mother, but it’s something we do because it’s our obligation,’’ Cuong said while sitting in his living room.

Women, too, have made many sacrifices, giving up being with their children to earn money abroad. ``Everything is for the livelihood of our family,’’ said Cuong’s wife, Pham Thi Lien, who worked in Lebanon as a maid and later in a factory. ``We both had to overcome difficulties.’’

Viet, the farmer and carpenter, said his wife was planning to return home from Taiwan for good later this year. ``I don’t mind farm chores,’’ he said with a grin. ``But once she comes home, I’ll be more than happy to hand back the other ones.’’ 

Associated Press researcher Fu Ting in Shanghai contributed to this report.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

13

For the week of July 26–August 1, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — A false alarm has you a bit on edge. As long as you are prepared, you will be ready to respond when the real deal occurs.

Dragon — The weight of all the news you hear could be a tad much for you today. If you don’t have to be plugged in, then by all means take a break from it.

Monkey — Are you growing wise to some scheming behind the scenes? As you learn more in the days to come, your next move will become clear.

Ox — Be careful who you bring together. A lively mix of people could generate more sparks than you anticipated.

Snake — Is an unpolished approach masking an otherwise promising candidate? Look to the substance beyond what is on the surface.

Rooster — Good friends are able to pick up where they last left off. However, they are also worth trying to stay in regular contact with.

Tiger — Why seek a second opinion when you already know what you want to do? Someone else may know of and reveal a quicker path to your destination.

Horse — There are plenty of folks out there who are waiting to criticize. Don’t be in that set. Be the one to show unbridled support and enthusiasm for your loved one.

Dog — While switching to a healthier diet may not seem appealing at first, give it some time and you will start to see the positive results.

Rabbit — When you screen out the unnecessary and extraneous, you are left with what is really important to you.

Goat — Perfection is an admirable goal, but not always attainable. Reserve your strength and energy for those areas where it really matters.

Pig — If something feels amiss, then it is prudent to take steps to figure out why. Then you can take the necessary steps to make it right again.

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 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 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.

{GSC cont’d from page 11} they assert it’s far more important to look at what the play means to the British than how it perpetuates stereotypes of Japan and people of Japanese and Asian descent. For them, it is acceptable for the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society to use Japan as a comic trope to satirize the oddities of British manners. In other words, the dignity and feelings of Japanese (and other Asian people) are expendable for a theatrical laugh and “entertainment.”

Even more alarming in the blogs that followed the publication of Chan’s article are sentiments ranging from how Asian Americans are “doing too well” to how China is even more racist than Gilbert & Sullivan (?) (ironically, these bloggers show an inability to distinguish Japan from China). Many defenders also say the use of white actors in yellow face in The Mikado has been “acceptable” for 150 years, so why complain now?

While we doubt that Asian Americans ever really liked having non-Asians put on white-powdered make-up, slant their eyes with tape to make them squint, create buckteeth, and bow excessively (although you can always find one or two Asian people

Thank you for recycling 湖景墓園 this newspaper!

Lake View Cemetery

☆西雅圖首創墓園☆ 自1872年起服務西北岸社區 非營利獨立協會

傳統式紀念碑

who would disagree), we find it odd how, in 2014, 40 non-Asian cast members would want to continue this warped caricature of Asian people.

And yes, while some Asian countries may not be that “nice,” this does not excuse the insensitivity of Gilbert and Sullivan during the 19th century (the peak of British imperialism), and it does not excuse the producers of the current production of The Mikado. By labelling those offended

by The Mikado as too “pc,” the defenders suggest we should remain as we were to them back in the 19th century – invisible and irrelevant.

For those who believe we are exaggerating the consequences of productions like The Mikado, consider the many portrayals of yellow face in American entertainment from the demonic Dr. Fu Manchu (1932) to the “wise ones” episode of “How I Met Your Mother” (2014). Note that among the most infamous caricatures was Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), who, unlike what we are hearing from the current cast of The Mikado, expressed regret for his actions.

Constant caricaturing has relevance. Thank you, Sharon Pian Chan, for standing up, and for being visible and relevant. 

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{QI cont’d from page 8}

which is not the full message.

NWAW: What are your favorite and least-favorite aspects of the film?

Zhao Qi: I love this film very much. I believe the film has carried a wide spectrum of human nature rather than just criticism of the rehabilitation of disaster. However, many reviews only focus on the missing role of the government,

NWAW: What lies ahead for the film after its television debut?

Zhao Qi: POV has a great community engagement plan and I am very much inspired by their work. It is pretty new for me. We never have the chance to do that in China for independent films. I have great expectancy over that. So

For the exact time of “Fallen City” on “POV,” check local listings for your local PBS channel.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

{CANDIDATES cont’d from page 3}

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committee, and the Transportation committee during his time in office. Habib was named one of the “legislators to watch for” by Governing Magazine this past year. Habib lost his eyesight at the age of 8 due to a rare cancer. However, he went on to Yale Law School and perused a legal career back home.

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Incumbent Sharon Tomiko Santos, Democrat, is running for Representative Position no. 1 against John Dickinson and Daniel Bretzke.

Santos has held her seat since 1998. According to the Washington State House of Representatives website, Santos’ “key policy interests include civil rights, women’s rights, economic and environmental justice, affordable housing, and quality public education,” along with education.

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far, I haven’t got any interest in theatrical release for the film; I hope it is still possible that after its debut on TV. 

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Marcus Naylor is running for Judge Position no. 3 against Rick Leo and Lisa O’Toole. Naylor is has been supervising attorney for King County Defenders since 2012. He has also been a judge pro tempore, someone who gets to sit in for an absent judge in King County District Courts.

He has about 20 years in court and is endorsed by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen and Justice Mary Yu of the Washington Supreme Court, along with over 30 judges in King County and others.  Daria Kroupoderova can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas.

This is the tenth time it is being performed in Seattle and this performance also celebrates the 60th year that the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society has been in existence.

Controversy has been brewing about “The Mikado” over the past week because of a Seattle Times column penned by Sharon Pian Chan (see page 11). In the column, Chan argued that “The Mikado” was yellowface “in your face.”

While the nearly all-white cast did not use actual yellow facepaint, they did dress up as Japanese caricatures and had fake Japanese names such as Nanki-Poo, YumYum, Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush.

“It’s just this idea of using our race and ethnicity as a prop, and that’s not OK,” Christina Seong said.

After seeing Chan’s article, Seong took to making a Facebook page, titled “Join in Solidarity Against The Mikado.” The page has grown to 323 members as of press time and resulted in the modestly sized protests seen outside the Repertory Theatre.

The criticism came out of left field for members of the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society, a small production company that produces just one show a year and has one part-time employee.

Even though the society has produced “The Mikado” 10 times now, the most recent in 2008, this is the first time that Director Mike Storie has ever heard of any complaints. “The reviews were

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

{THE MIKADO cont’d from page 1}

Gei Chan speaks with a theater-goer outside the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

always glowing,” he said, a bit baffled.

Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society Boardmember Rachel Garson said she did not think the costumes or the set pieces were offensive to Japanese culture, although she and Storie did admit that the exaggerated eye makeup could be construed as racist.

“I think there was an homage paid to Japan in all of the artistic sides of it: the scenery, the lighting, the costumes. Everything was done authentically and I feel with great respect for the beauty of Japan,” Garson said.

Storie defended Gilbert’s original script, saying that it wasn’t intended to be racist. The setting of Japan, which in “The Mikado” is

{BLOG cont’d from page 10} is derived from the Persian “Shah” meaning “King.” He graduated from Whitman College and University of

more fictional than historical, was used because any criticism or satire of the British government would be immediately censored.

The characters speak in British accents and they all represent the buffoonery of British royalty, he said.

“It’s a great piece of theater, it has wonderful music and it does skewer pompous, bloated government,” Storie said.

Likewise, Storie said their production of “The Mikado” wasn’t meant to be racist. The production is mostly white because no one from the Asian or Pacific Islander community heeded the audition call.

“Each year we cast from the pool of people who show up,” he

Minnesota Law School. The King County Council appointed Shah unanimously last year to complete Judge Frank LaSalata’s term. This year, he will face an opponent in the general election. 

JULY 26 – AUGUST 1, 2014

said. “We would never say, ‘No, you can’t be in this show because you’re Asian or black or any combination. Each year it changes because to be in our show you have to be willing to give up your free time for three months and get paid nothing.”

He admitted that they maybe could have put more effort into outreach with the Asian and Pacific Islander community, though he was not sure what that would look like at the time of being interviewed. He also reasoned that British opera might not draw a large interest from the API community.

Bif Brigman, former director of programs and operations for the Washington State Japanese Cultural and Community Center, said that there was little to no attempt to address the racist nature of “The Mikado,” or to be sensitive toward Japanese culture and history.

“It’s kind of a bastardization of someone’s culture,” he said. “… I just cringe when I see white people take other peoples’ clothing. The people who are doing it are the people who don’t know better.”

Seong said she wanted to see more sensitivity toward Japanese culture by toning down the caricatures, modernizing the names and casting a more diverse set of actors. If the production failed any of that, she said she wanted a community conversation to open up about it.

“We can modernize things and keep the history,” Seong said.

Storie said that they were looking to start a dialogue with the API community soon.

However, because they are also busy producing and closing the show, he was not sure what that would look like.

“We’re working with the Seattle Rep and Theatre Puget Sound to setup a discussion probably early next month to come up with more ways to be more sensitive,” Storie said.

When protestors were asked if they had seen this particular performance of “The Mikado,” many said they had not. Some said they did not feel safe attending the performance due to the hostility they experienced outside.

“I do not feel safe at all being inside an enclosed space with many of the like-minded people who chose to disregard me and my perspective as a person of color,” Seong said. She related a story of how she broke down crying last Friday because of all the people who told her she was wrong, said she was being too sensitive or simply ignored her.

For Brigman, the fact that people from the API community did not feel safe going inside the theater was a sign.

“If people don’t feel safe, the racial lines for me are really clear,” he said. “It’s not a show that’s culturally diverse in its audience.

It’s not a show that’s culturally diverse in its production. To me that says there’s something going on here.” There will be two more demonstrations on the 25th and 26th, the final week of the performance.  Zachariah Bryan can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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Congratulations to Dow and Shirley!

Recently, King County Executive Dow Constantine proudly showed me a lovely baby picture of his daughter, born in May. Her name is Sabrina Kyoko Adele Constantine. The middle name celebrates her father and mother’s ancestors. Constantine’s wife Shirley Carlson is of Japanese and Caucasian descent.

Well, Dow, you and Shirley have done a nice job in planning. Dow married Shirley last October. A few Constantine holds his phone with picture of daughter days later, he won his re-election. Baby Dow Sabrina at the Fourth of July swearing in of new citizens.

Sabrina came last May. The timing is perfect…

You two still have time for two more babies before your re-election comes up in 2017! 

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