VOL 41 NO 18 | APRIL 30 – MAY 6, 2022

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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 41 NO 18 APRIL 30 – MAY 6, 2022

FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Provided by mayor’s office/Kendee Yamaguchi

Harrell stole the spotlight during Biden’s visit THE MAYOR IS DOING MORE THAN DRAWING ATTENTION By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY When President Joe Biden visited Seattle last Friday, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s photos were all over in the media, more than other politicians. Never mind that Harrell is only a mayor, not the governor of Washington state. Never mind that he didn’t wear

blue, the Democrats’ color. Never mind that he carries a lesser rank compared to the U.S. Senators and Congressional members, who were also present at Seward Park when Biden signed his executive order to celebrate Earth Day. Harrell was on the front page of the Seattle Times, showing him grabbing see BIDEN on 16

Hullabaloo over Japanese program at Lindbergh High School

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

Provided by Seattle Sports Commission

After layoff, the Clipper Race finally stops in Seattle

Bruce Harrell asked for Joe Biden’s pen moments after the president signed an executive order.

“Seattle” battles waves on the Mighty Pacific Leg of the Clipper Race

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Chinese crew member Robert Mark’s moment to sail the ocean is finally here. “I’ve been waiting for 3 years to step on this journey,” he explained as the Clipper Venture race continued its annual race around the world this year. The previous two years had been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve dreamed about the ocean since I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a child,” said the 39-yearold. The book opened his mind to adventure around the world. “I quit my job in 2018 to become a sailing instructor,” stated the former policeman. “My friends and family thought I was crazy and my family didn’t talk to me for two years.” Mark said that he’s now communicating with his family.

The Clipper Race allows people from all walks of life to become ocean racers. Participants sign up to compete in one or multiple legs, or even the entire journey, estimated to be 11 months. It is a 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on one of 11 70-foot ocean racing yachts. The race is divided into 8 legs and between 13 and 16 individual races. The Seattle leg is the end of leg 6. The race began in China and ends with leg 8, which goes from New York City back to China. The Clipper Race, which was paused in 2020, returned with an official restart on March 24, 2022 in the Philippines and arrived in Seattle this past week. The race was officially postponed in March 2020 due to the global pandemic and the last 3 legs of the 8-leg races were put on pause. A quarantine was put on see CLIPPER VENTURE on 14

Aleyna Yamaguchi speaking Japanese with her grandmother

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Right below a photo of him in military fatigues holding an automatic weapon is a caption that he served in Korea “circa 1994.” That and other posts on Facebook have contributed to speculation among Japanese American community leaders about why a high school principal with exposure to Asia

would terminate a highly-popular Japanese language program. The principal, Thomas Caudle, who owns the Facebook page, came to Lindbergh High School two years ago and encountered arguably the most popular teacher, whom her students call Hiromi Sensei (her full name is Hiromi Weir). see JAPANESE PROGRAM on 11

THE INSIDE STORY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Asian stand-up: Two stories, two cultures, two funny ladies

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ON THE SHELF Watari and Wu’s new picture book inspired by daughters

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PUBLISHER’S BLOG Oak Tin celebrates buying another Chinatown property and more

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


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VOL 41 NO 18 | APRIL 30 – MAY 6, 2022 by Northwest Asian Weekly - Issuu