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Permit No. 2393
VOL. 33, NO. 23
JOURNAL OF THE NORTHWEST ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
Photo of “Bodies” exhibit by Todd Erickson.
“Bodies”:Edu-tainmentforthemasses
BY SIAN WU
Examiner Contributor
As I mingled with the huge crowds of
people to see the "Bodies" exhibit at 800
Pike St. in Seattle after Thanksgiving,
I was struck by the sheer spectacle of
the event. Statuesque Asian faces stand
with their muscles flayed, their skin
torn off and eyebrows and nipples
adhered to their wrinkled flesh, while
mostly white tourists jostle each other
to catch a closer glimpse, push their
children forward, and whisper to their
DECEMBER 6 - 19, 2006
Neighborhoods form coalition to voice
concern over Dearborn development
BY KEN MOCHIZUKI
Examiner Assistant Editor
On Nov. 28, during the coldest night of
the year, the Dearborn Street Coalition for
Livable Neighborhoods (DSCLN) made its
presence known in City Hall when over
30 of its members voiced concern to the
Seattle City Council over the proposed
Dearborn Street project.
The newly-formed DSCLN, a coalition
of 18 community, business, labor and religious organizations representing the Little
Saigon, Chinatown/International District,
north Beacon Hill, Jackson Place, Squire
Park and Central Area neighborhoods,
urged the Council to further debate the
approval of a city ordinance amendment
friends “that’s creepy.” The bodies are that will allow construction to proceed on
not encased behind glass, nor are they the Dearborn Street project – a planned
particularly elevated above the floor. So 620,000 square-foot mixed-use complex
exhibit visitors are able to literally stare to include big-box retailers such as a Target
store, a new 120,000 square-foot Seattle
into the face of death.
The bodies at the Seattle “Bodies” Goodwill facility, over 550 residential units
exhibit are being leased to Premiere above the complex and about 2,300 parkExhibitions from a medical school in ing spaces.
During most of this year, representaDalian, a city in Northeast China. The
tives
from neighborhoods around the
money Premiere pays the medical school
proposed project site – particularly the
Little Saigon Vietnamese American district
– have publicly stated and have been meeting with the project’s builder, Dearborn
Street Developers, over negative effects the
project could have on surrounding communities. Main concerns have been the potentially detrimental economic impact on small
businesses and residents, and increased traffic congestion.
The evening meeting of the Council’s
Urban Development and Planning
Committee heard public comment on 2006
Comprehensive Plan Amendments to the
Seattle Comprehensive Plan of the Seattle
Commercial Code. One of those amendments would allow a “contract re-zone” –
changing the zoning code from “Industrial”
to “commercial/mixed use” – to allow the
complex to be constructed on the 10.25acre site of the present Goodwill property on
Rainier Avenue and South Dearborn Street.
Passing the amendment would also allow
for future re-zoning designations, said
Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, chair of
the Committee.
-continued on page 8
-continued on page 3
Religion
Vietnamese heed the call to the clergy in the Catholic Church
BY DIEM T. LY
Examiner Contributor
When Duc Nguyen was a child in
Vietnam, his family would pray together
every night.
At age 24, Duc’s family emigrated from
Vietnam to the United States where he
entered seminary schools in Oregon and
California. Nine years of schooling and three
college degrees later, Father Duc or “Duke,”
as he sometimes calls himself, is part of a
growing trend of Vietnamese men heeding
the call to enter the clergy.
In June this year, Seattle’s Archbishop
ordained the largest priest class in 38 years
—seven in all, according to a report by The
Seattle Times. This may seem like an unimpressive figure, but consider the fact that
typically only one to two seminarians are
ordained in Seattle a year.
The most striking feature of this newly
ordained class of priests is that two of the
seven are Vietnamese. Father Duc is one
among the two.
In December 2005, The New York Times
published an article reporting that Asians
and Pacific Islanders constitute approximately one percent of American Catholics,
but account for 12 percent of seminarians.
Vietnamese are second only to Hispanics in
ethnic minorities entering the clergy. Father
Duc notes that three years ago in Seattle,
Father Phuong Hoang, director of the Vietnamese
Archdiocese in Seattle, sees a positive future for
Vietnamese entering the priesthood. Photo by
Diem Ly.
when five priests were ordained, two were
Vietnamese.
That such a small number of API
Catholics is able to produce so many new
priests demonstrates the hold that tradition,
family and faith still have on APIs like Father
Duc.
Catholicism in Vietnam
The ties between the Vietnamese people
and Catholicism date back hundreds of
years to the 17th century, when missionaries from Portugal, France and Spain introduced Catholicism to the mostly Buddhist
Vietnamese. Many missionaries since then
have been successful and, in fact, in 1998,
the late Pope John Paul II canonized 117
Vietnamese martyrs.
However, this religious open door
policy that Vietnam once permitted has not
existed for some time, most clearly since the
rise of communism. Father Khanh Nguyen,
the other Vietnamese priest ordained in
June along with Father Duc, now presides
over a parish in Vancouver, Wash. Father
Khanh relays how his brother encouraged
him to continue studying to become a
priest after his arrival to the United States
from Vietnam in 1994. In Vietnam, he had
studied with fear because the government
did not allow religious studies and he could
have suffered severe consequences for doing
so. He was also not sure whether he would
ever be ordained if he stayed in Vietnam.
Father Phuong Hoang, director of the
Vietnamese Archdiocese in Seattle, whose
own grandparents were imprisoned and
killed for their faith, recalls everyone escaping from Vietnam in a boat into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. All were praying
in the midst of a storm.
“That [memory] has always been a part
of my life, of how special that was,” Father
Phuong said. “When we lost everything
— we didn’t have anything — we still had
our faith.”
-continued on page 4
Remembering
Tatsuo Nakata
- page 5
Made in Kitchen
restaurant profile
- page 7
Holiday Gifts:
“Cool Tools”
- page 12
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
2 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
FEATURE
NEWS
arts
senior services
Northwest Asian American Theatre
NIKKEI CONCERNS
409 Seventh Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-340-1445 fx: 206-682-4348
Seattle’s premiere pan-Asian American performing arts center.
Manages Theatre Off Jackson.
Wing Luke Asian Museum
407 7th Ave. S Seattle, WA 98104
ph:206-623-5124 fx: 206-622-4559
[email protected]; www.wingluke.org
The only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the country, the Wing
Luke Asian Museum is nationally recognized for its award-winning exhibitions and community-based model of exhibition and program development. WLAM an affiliate of the Smithsonian Instititue, is dedicated to
engaging the APA communities and the public in exploring issues related
to the culture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans. Offers guided
tours for schools and adult groups, and provides excellent programs for
families and all ages.
business
Chinatown/International District
Business Improvement Area
409 Maynard Ave. S., Suite P1 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-382-1197
www.cidbia.org
Merchants association enhancing business, parking and
public space in the International District. Sponsors Lunar New
Year and Summer Festival events.
Japanese American Chamber of Commerce
14116 S. Jackson Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-320-1010 www.jachamber.com
Encourages entrepreneurial & educational activity
among Japanese, Americans and Japanese Americans and promotes increased understanding of Japanese culture & heritage.
Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce
675 S. King St Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-332-1933 fx: 206-650-8337
[email protected]
Acts as an advocate for local Chinese businesses and in a public
relations role. Organizes the Seattle Miss Chinatown Pageant.
political & civil rights
Commission of Asian Pacific American Affairs
1210 Eastside St. SE 1st Flr. Olympia, WA 98504
Olympia ph: 360-753-7053 www.capaa.wa.gov
Statewide liason between governmnet and APA communities.
Monitors and informs public about legislative issues.
Japanese American Citizens League - Seattle Chapter
316 Maynard S. Seattle, WA 98104
www.jaclseattle.org
Dedicated to protecting the rights of Japanese Americans and
upholding the civil and human rights of all people.
Organization of Chinese Americans Seattle
Chapter
606 Maynard Ave S., Suite 104 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-682-0665 www.ocaseattle.org
Civil rights and Education, promotes the active participation of chinese
and Asian Americans in civic and community affairs.
schools
Asia Pacific Language School
14040 NE 8th, #302, Bellevue, WA 98007
ph: 425-785-8299 or 425-641-1703
www.apls.org
Multilingual preschool, language classes, adult ESL, “One World Learning School Program”Academic enrichment, prep for WASL and SAT’s.
Denise Louie Education Center
801 So. Lane St. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-621-7880
[email protected] www.deniselouie.org
Half day and full day Head Start program located in the International District, Beacon Hill, Mt Baker, and Rainier Beach.
Comprehensive multi-cultural pre-school for children ages 3-5.
church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish
1610 S King St. Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-323-5250 email: [email protected]
website: www.stpeterseattle.org
St. Peter’s invite all people to a life of faith through worship education, service, and spiritual development.
Enriching the lives of our elders.
1601 E. Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122
Ph: 206-323-7100 www.nikkeiconcerns.org
Seattle Keiro, Skilled Nursing Facility
24-hour skilled nursing facility offering high quality medical
and rehabilitation programs, activities and social services.
1601 E. Yesler, Seattle, WA 98122
Ph: 206-323-7100
Nikkei Manor, Assisted Living Community
50 private apartments. Service plans tailored to individual
needs. Nurse on staff 8 hrs./day.
700 – 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6460
Kokoro Kai, Adult Day Program
Provides social opportunities, light exercises, lunch and
activities 3 days a week.
700 – 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6474
Nikkei Horizons, Continuing Education Program
Offers tours and excursions, courses in arts, computers,
language and more.
700 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6469
Legacy House
803 South Lane, Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-292-5184 fx: 206-292-5271
[email protected]
Assisted living, Adult Day services, Independent Senior apartments, Ethnic-specific meal programs for low-income seniors.
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
(Senior Community Service Employment Program)
1025 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-322-5272 fx: 206-322-5387
www.napca.org
Part-time training program for low income
Asian Pacific Islander age 55+ in Seattle/King County.
professional
Asian American Journalists Association - Seattle Chapter
P.O. Box 9698 Seattle, WA 98109
www.aajaseattle.org
Professional deveopment for journalist, scholarships for
students and community service since 1985.
National Association of Asian American
Professionals - Seattle Chapter
PO Box 14344 Seattle, WA 98104
[email protected]; www.naaapseattle.org
Fostering future leaders through education, networking and community
services for Asian American professionals and entrepreneurs.
housing & neighborhood planning
HomeSight
5117 Rainier Ave S. Seattle, WA 98118
ph: 206-723-4355 fax: 206-760-4210
www.homesightwa.org
First-time home buyer purchase assistance services including low-interest
loans, deferred payment loans, financial coaching, for-sale homes and more!
Inter*Im Community Development Association
308 6th Ave So Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-624-1802 fx: 206-624-5859
[email protected]; www.interimicda.org
Low-income housing, economic development,
neighborhood planning and advocacy for the APA community.
International District Housing Alliance
606 Maynard Ave. S #104/105 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-623-5132 fx: 206-623-3479
Multi-lingual low-income housing outreach,
rental information, homeownership community education.
Low Income Housing Institute
2407 First Ave Suite #200 Seattle, WA 98121
ph: 206-443-9935 fx: 206-443-9851
[email protected]; www.lihi.org
Housing and services for families, individuals,
seniors and the disabled in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region.
Seattle Chinatown/International District
Preservation and Development Authority
ph: 206-624-8929 fax: 206-467-6376 [email protected]
Housing, property management, and community development.
social & health services
Asian Counseling & Referral Service
720 8th Ave S Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-695-7600 fx: 206-695-7606
www.acrs.org
ACRS offers nationally recognized, culturally competent health and
social services.
Food for survival and culture: food bank, specializing in Asian/Pacific
staples; emergency feeding; senior ethnic lunch programs
Healthy mind and body: assistance for elders and adults with disabilities; bilingual, bicultural counseling for children and adults; problem
gambling treatment; substance abuse treatment and recovery services;
domestic violence batterers’ treatment and community education
Building blocks for success: youth leadership development and academic support; vocational and employment services
Stronger communities through civic engagement: naturalization and
immigration assistance; community education, mobilization and advocacy Information for taking action: legal clinic; information and referral;
consultation and education
Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center
P.O. Box 14047, Seattle, WA 98114
ph: 206-467-9976 email: [email protected]
website: www.apiwfsc.org
Provides community organizing, education, outreach, training, technical assistance & comprehensive culturally relevant service on domestic
violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to API community members, services providers, survivors & thier families.
Center For Career Alternatives
901 Rainier Ave So. Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-322-9080 fx: 206-322-9084
www.ccawa.org
Need a Job! Free Training, GED, and job placement service.
Chinese Information and Service Cener
409 Maynard Ave. S. Suite 203 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-624-5633 www.ciscseattle.org
Helps Asian immigrants achieve success in their new community
by providing information, referral, advocacy, social, and support services. Our bilingual & bicultural staff offer after school
programs, English as a Second Language, citizenship classes,
employment training, computer classes, elderly care services and
additional family support services. Please contact us.
International Drop-In Center
7301 Beacon Ave S. Seattle, WA 98108
ph: 206-587-3735 fx: 206-742-0282 email: [email protected]
We are open form 9 till 5 Mon-Fri and do referrals, counseling,
fitness and recreation, social, arts & cultural activities for elderly
member and walk-ins.
Helping Link
ph: 206-781-4246 fx:206-568-5160
www.cityofseattle.net/helpinglink
Vietnamese community-based organization providing social service,
education, social activities and more for the greater Seattle area.
International Community Health Services
International District Medical & Dental Clinic
720 8th Ave. S. Suite 100 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-788-3700
Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic
3815 S. Othello St. 2nd Floor, Seattle WA 98118
ph: 206-788-3500
www.ichs.com
We are a nonprofit health care center offering affordable medical,
dental, pharmacy, acupuncture and health education services primarily
to Seattle and King County’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Kin On Community Health Care
815 S. Weller St. Suite 212 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-652-2330 fx:206-652-2344
[email protected]; www.kinon.org
Provides home care, home health, Alzheimer’s and
caregiver support, community education and chronic care
management. Coordinate medical supply delivery. Install
Personal Emergency Response system. Serves the Chinese/Asian
community in King County.
Refugee Women’s Alliance
4008 Martin Luther King Jr. Seattle, WA 98108
ph: 206-721-0243 • fax: 206-721-0282 www.rewa.org
A multi-ethnic, multilingual, community-based organization
that provides the following programs to refugee and immigrant women and families in the Puget Sound area: Development Disabilities, Domesitc Violence, Early Childhood
Education, Youth Family Support, Mentel Health, Parent
Education and Education and Vocational Training.
Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse
606 Maynard Ave. S, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-223-9578
Alcohol, tobacco & drug prevention; early intervention &
outpatient treatment for APIA youth and their families.
Join our Community Resource Directory. Email: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
NEWS
- continued from front page
APA groups urge Supreme Court to uphold
voluntary school desegregation plans
On Dec. 4, the Supreme Court heard oral
arguments regarding racial desegregation
plans in the cases of Meredith v. Jefferson
County Board of Education, et al., and
Parents Involved in Community Schools v.
Seattle School District No. 1, according to
a press release. Civil rights groups Asian
American Legal Defense and Education
Fund (AALDEF) and CAA | Chinese
for Affirmative Action/Center for Asian
American Advocacy asserted a compelling
interest for the nation’s public schools to
actively ensure equal access to quality education and a diverse learning environment.
In both cases, locally elected school
boards in Seattle and Louisville, Ky. had voluntarily adopted measures to reverse racial
segregation in their public schools, and
considered race in their cities’ kindergarten
to 12th-grade school assignments. Similarly,
in San Francisco, where more than 50 percent of public school students are Asian
American, School Board Commissioners
would also like to propose a race-conscious
student assignment plan that would include
considerations of race in a narrowly tailored
manner. CAA, which joined AALDEF in filing an amicus brief with the High Court,
represents Chinese American parents and
children who favor such an approach.
AALDEF Staff Attorney Khin Mai
Aung said, “Asian American students in
particular rely on the invaluable benefits
of racially integrated public schools, which
more accurately reflect their communities
and greater U.S. society. If the Court were
to bar school districts from desegregating
their schools, the quality of education for
Asian American children would be significantly harmed. AALDEF supports efforts
Dearborn development: Public testimony weighs pros and cons
by districts nationwide to consider race and
other factors in order to fulfill the promise of
educational equity embodied by the Court’s
decision in Brown v. Board of Education,
more than 50 years ago.”
CAA Policy Advocate Christina Wong
said, “In many of San Francisco’s schools,
racial isolation has increased in the absence
of race considerations in student assignment
plans. Our current school assignment process
has failed to provide our children with a
racially integrated environment. CAA supports the voluntary use of race and ethnicity
as a factor in the school assignment process
to ensure that thousands of our city’s students
receive a well-rounded education.”
Cindy Choy, a parent leader with the
Visitacion Valley Parents Association, said:
“As a parent and resident of one of San
Francisco’s most diverse neighborhoods, I’ve
witnessed firsthand how important it is for
children to learn in a racially diverse environment. It would be easy to have my only
daughter go to a school with a majority of
Chinese students like herself but that would
not allow her to learn and benefit from
other groups of people. Although she is not
at a highly demanded school, El Dorado
[Elementary School]’s student population
is racially diverse with a balanced number
of Chinese Americans, Latinos and African
Americans. The diversity has positively challenged her to be a strong and open-minded
youth who appreciates and values other ethnic groups.”
The amicus brief that AALDEF, CAA,
and other Asian American advocacy and
direct service groups filed nationally is
available at: www.aaldef.org/docs/amicus-K12_deseg-2006.pdf.
EDITOR
622S.WashingtonSt.
Seattle,WA98104
www.iexaminer.org
Establishedin1974,theInternationalExamineris
theoldestandlargestnonprofit,pan-AsianAmerican publication in the Pacific Northwest. Named
after the historic and thriving multi-ethnic International District (ID) of Seattle, the International
Examineraspirestobeacrediblecatalystforbuilding an inspiring, connected, well-respected, and
socially conscious Asian Pacific American (APA)
community. Our mission is to promote critical
thinking,dialogueandactionbyprovidingtimely,
accurate and culturally sensitive coverage of relevantAPAmatters.Inadditiontoproducingafree
semi-monthly newspaper, we also publish a literary supplement, “Pacific Reader” devoted to the
criticalreviewsofAPAbooks.Wehavepublished
two books, “The History of the International District”byDougChinand“HumBowsNotHotDogs
–MemoirsofanActivist”byBobSantos.
The International Examiner is published on
the first and third Wednesdays of every month.
Subscription rates for one-year home delivery is $25 for individuals and $45 first class/
overseas. The International Examiner is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit; subscriptions are
tax-deductible.
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 3
NhienNguyen
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ASSISTANTEDITOR
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Tel:(206)624-3925
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Before
public
comment
began,
Steinbrueck noted that “there is great spirit
and emotion in this issue.” He urged the
speakers to “consider salient” and “compelling issues,” and not to repeat what previous
speakers had said.
During the hour-and-a-half of public
commenting, Coalition speakers and supporters wore bright green and pink tags
reading “DSCLN.”
Quang Nquyen, executive director of
the Vietnamese American Economic and
Development Association and co-chair of
DSCLN, led off the speakers stating there
are 120 businesses within the Little Saigon
neighborhood that serve approximately
30,000 Vietnamese Americans. Community
oversight and participation are “essential”
for the development to be “compatible with
neighborhoods,” he said, and that developers of any large development must take into
account the “cumulative effect it will have on
all communities.”
“Growth is good,” Nguyen continued,
but such growth must “ensure benefits for
all parties. We are still far from a full-fledged
agreement.”
Other Vietnamese American community
leaders and business owners stated that such
a large development “could destroy” their
small businesses that took “generations to
build” since the proposed project is “within
spitting distance of Little Saigon.” A quick rise
in property values and rent could cause them
to “shut down and move somewhere else.”
Housing activists added that seniors “cannot
afford market-rate housing” and without a
community of ethnic businesses, will no longer be able to acquire their traditional food.
Labor union representatives expressed
that they would want “workers to have a
real seat at the table” and that the Dearborn
Street project would meet employment and
apprenticeship guidelines. Many DSCLN
supporters stated that a “Community
Benefits Agreement” must take place before
the project can proceed. DSCLN, in an email distributed to its supporters, stated
that that such an Agreement “will be produced through a formal negotiation process
resulting in a legally binding, enforceable
agreement that resolves the interests of the
community stakeholders and the site developers.”
State Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, said
that “something plunked down in their
neighborhood should be shaped by them. An
agreement needs to be worked out directly by
the community.” Bill Bradburd, DSCLN cochair and Jackson Place Community Council
member, said “all we’re looking for is leveling
the playing field here.”
When his turn came to speak, Darrell
Vange of Deaborn Street Developers quipped
to DSCLN members and supporters: “Go
ahead – clap.” He said that he has attended
over 60 meetings with concerned communities, and “if it takes 60 more meetings” he
will do so. Without the Comprehensive Plan
change, he said, there will be no jobs, no
housing and “no Goodwill.”
Michael Jurich, vice president and chief
financial officer of Seattle Goodwill, urged
passage of the amendment to “move the
project to the next level.” Rick Parks of the
Dearborn Street development team said
25 percent of the residential units would
be allocated for residents making “median
income or below.” Janice Jackson-Haley,
Seattle Goodwill human resources director,
said that Seattle Goodwill is “housed in an
old bank vault built in 1923,” and that the
facility was last updated in 1965.
“Short of a miracle, there is not going to
be another way,” she said. “Goodwill cannot
delay any longer.”
After this hearing, The Seattle City
Council was still soliciting written public comment on the Comprehensive Plan
Amendment and has yet to make a decision.
4 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
- continued from front page
Vietnamese become leaders in Catholic Church
Tatsuo Nakata: A part of community life
Tatsuo Nakata was the senior legislative aide and chief of staff for Seattle City
Councilmember David Della. He was struck and killed by an automobile while in a
West Seattle crosswalk on Nov. 14. A Tatsuo Nakata Memorial Service will be held at
the Chapel of St. Ignatius on the Seattle University campus on Thursday, Dec. 14 from
5:30 - 7 p.m. —ed.
BY BOB SANTOS
It’s difficult to get Tatsuo Nakata out of
my thoughts because he was involved in my
everyday life. I’d run into him at Uwajimaya
while shopping for dinner. I’d see him at
the City Council when visiting a Council
member or testifying at a hearing. I’d see
him at the countless receptions and dinners
in our community. I marched with him at
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally. And,
of course, enjoyed his company at the Bush
Garden restaurant during the many nights
of karaoke.
At 29 years old, Tatsuo was a seasoned
veteran in the quest for equal justice and
equality. When at the age of 24, he became
the youngest president of the local chapter
of the Japanese American Citizens League,
elected by members his age and others more
than twice his age.
Over 500 people attended his services
on Saturday, Nov. 18, and there were folks
from all walks of life. Tatsuo chose the life
in public service, and from that field attendees included: King County Executive Ron
Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels; from the
Washington State House of Representatives
were House Speaker Frank Chopp, Phyllis
Kenny, Bob Hasegawa and Sharon Tomiko
Santos. Former members of the House
present were Velma Veloria and Kip Tokuda.
Seattle City Council members attending
were David Della, who was Tatsuo’s boss
and spent almost the entire four days after
his death attending to details, Richard
McIver, Peter Steinbrueck, Sally Clark,
Richard Conlin, Jan Drago, Jean Godden,
Nick Licata and Tom Rasmussen.
Thinking back to 1963 when I was 29
years old, I was just getting started in the civil
rights movement, and my circle of friends
numbered close to 50 people including my
own kids. This young, cherubic leader could
hang with the best of them, debating pointcounterpoint with the likes of Jeff Hattori,
Mark Okazaki, then grab the mike and sing
karaoke with the same two. He loved the
ladies and in return they adored him.
I was privileged, and in small part, to be
involved in and witness the most amazing
organizational planning effort that anyone
could ever imagine. During the watch over
Father Phuong explains why Vietnamese
often hold religion in such importance.
“Those born in Vietnam have been
through a lot of sacrifice and difficulty,” he
says. “When they suffer so much and see
things passing so fast, they have to find some
kind of permanence, and religion seemed to
assure that.”
He adds: “The stronger the persecution,
the stronger the faith gets. I think that’s a
unique experience of the Vietnamese family.”
Rich Shively, director of vocations for the
Archbishop of Seattle, is integral in the training and development of many Vietnamese
seminarians. He believes the Vietnamese
American experience has enriched the
Catholic Church with “this incredible life
experience, incredible commitment to faith,
our depth of understanding what family is
all about and what tradition is all about.
“Those things can really enliven a community.”
Respect for the priesthood
Vietnamese Catholics hold the priesthood vocation in high regard and consider
it a successful position in society, as many
Tatsuo the day of the accident, there was European Catholic immigrants did a cenmuch grief and tears but there had to be cool tury ago. It is common for members of the
heads that started to coordinate the logistics Vietnamese community to sacrifice money
of contacting family, flying them in from dif- to assist those who cannot afford to go to
ferent parts of the country including Hawaii, seminary schools.
But despite this high regard, the vocation
Ohio, Kentucky and Texas, and finding
has
suffered an overall setback in enrollaccommodations at homes and in hotels.
ment.
Food was brought into the hospital for
Father Duc explains that in light of
family and friends, people were tasked to
drive family members from the airport to the “growing materialism and individualthe hospital, and arrangements were made ism of American society,” fewer American
for people to be with the family during the Catholics are expressing an interest in entering the priesthood.
entire crisis.
“A lot of young people imagine you can
Elaine Ko opened the Inter*Im office to
get
a better job,” says Father Duc, “better pay,
a group of close friends to plan a memorial
vacation,
a family, a lot of money; whereas a
service in just three days. The Seattle Center
staff offered space, and the Saturday service priest doesn’t have that. It takes eight or nine
was held as a wonderful tribute to this won- years to become a priest, same as a doctor.
derful guy. Photos were assembled to create But do you know how much doctors make?
a video that was shown on a large screen at I don’t know, but I know how much priests
the service, and a beautiful program was make.”
Father Phuong describes that when a
designed for people to keep as a memento
priest
tells the average parents that their
of Tatsuo’s brief but full life.
sons
may
end up as priests someday — that
Some of his closest buddies: Hyeok Kim,
Nori Catabay, Akiko Sukurai and Frances they’re identifying a “calling” — the parents
Yuen, plus his mentors Velma Veloria, Kip often protest. They either want grandchilTokuda, Ruth Woo, Sharon Tomiko Santos, dren or want their child to have a “normal
David Della and his wife Odette – plus oth- life.”
To become a priest requires a long and
ers too numerous to acknowledge here, but
they know who they are – will feel the hurt thorough education, training, and a change
in lifestyle. Not many are open to this, whethfor a long, long time.
A memorial fund has been established er for themselves or for their children.
For Vietnamese families, however,
in Tatsuo Nakata’s name. Donations are
accepted at any Washington Mutual bank
branch at account number #313-108130-3.
Taiko drummers at Tatsuo Nakata’s services.
Photo by Michele & Jack Storms/Courtesy of
InterIm.
Phuong Hoang is appointed Chaplain of the
Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs, Seattle. Photo
by Diem Ly.
Vietnamese parents would love to have a son
or daughter in the ministry.
“Vietnamese entering into the priesthood and into American churches are in
leadership positions, “ Father Duc explains.
“It seems that they are assimilating well and
are showing that they have a voice, a place in
the larger community.”
Good role models in the Vietnamese
community rise out of these positions and
offer guidance to those considering the vocation, as well as spiritual development for the
youth. The success of local Catholic youth
programs offers hope to any concerns of
declining Vietnamese Catholic faith due to
assimilation or degeneration.
The calling to priesthood offers
Vietnamese an opportunity for an elevated
status in American society. It’s a sense
of pride for the community. Whereas
Vietnamese are considered a minority in
America, they are in leadership roles in the
Catholic Church.
Vietnamese priests with a parish of
diverse cultural backgrounds, such as
Samoan, Filipino and English speakers, are
able to easily relate to a wide range of people,
even though they themselves may not be
multilingual. They bring in a broadness in
their ability to serve and are more willing
than others to serve in very diverse communities.
“We are more visible,” says Father
Phuong. “And we make a difference, because
we have more priests — there’s more visibility in the Catholic Church. We will publicly
speak on behalf of a lot of dioceses. It’s our
turn to carry the torch, so to speak.”
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
In & Around Town
Sushi & Sake Fest
Hundreds of people gathered for the
annual, highly-anticipated Sushi & Sake
Fest at the Westin Hotel on Nov. 9. The
event was a benefit for Densho, a project
that works to preserve the testimonies of
Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II in interment
camps. Over 13 restaurants and a dozen
vendors participated this year, pleasing
the crowds with dishes like salmon nigiri
and green lip mussels and top-notch sake.
“The idea was to create an event to come
together and celebrate,” said Densho
Naomi Watanabe, catering chef,
Executive Director Tom Ikeda. “This event at the Sushi & Sake Fest. Photo by
supports Densho, but it’s also a chance to Sain Wu.
celebrate with a broader community.” To learn more about Densho, go to
www.densho.org and visit their learning center and digital archive, which
contains more than 500 hours of interviews and visual histories of wartime Japanese Americans.
ICHS Medical & Dental Clinic celebrates 10 years
Clinic Director Yuwei Feng greets Anniversary
Celebration guests. Celebrating 10 years
of service in South Seattle at its Holly
Park Medical & Dental Clinic, International
Community Health Services (ICHS) had an
open house on Nov. 14. The open house was
held at the clinic, located on the second floor
of 3815 South Othello St. The new Holly Park
Medical & Dental Clinic opened its doors and
welcomed its first patients in January of 2005.
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 5
New directors at OCA and JACL national offices
Organization of Chinese Americans
(OCA) announced that Dr. Michael C. Lin
is the new OCA executive director. Lin has
been an OCA member for over 25 years
and is retiring after 30 years at the National
Institutes of Health where his last position
was as a program director responsible for
nurturing and funding cutting edge research
in the cardiovascular field.
Lin was also OCA National President
from 1995 to 1998, where during his tenure
OCA spearheaded a national voter registration campaign, co-sponsored by 18 other
prominent national Asian Pacific American
organizations. Under his leadership, OCA
also convened the historic APA Leadership
Summits, attended by the top community
leaders and major civic organizations across
the nation, to address issues confronting the
Asian American community. He expanded
OCA’s education initiatives, including the
highly popular internship program which
provides opportunities for college students
to work in the Congress, various federal
agencies, non-profit organizations and at
the OCA National Headquarters.
“OCA would also like to thank outgoing
Executive Director Dorothy Wong for her
leadership, dedication and belief in OCA,” said
OCA National President Ginny Gong. “She has
contributed to OCA’s strategic direction and
we wish her all the best in her future endeavors
as she returns to the Pacific West Coast.”
In other news, former California State
Assemblyman, S. Floyd Mori, has been
named Interim National Director of the
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
by National President Larry Oda.
Oda received the unanimous concurrence
of the National Board to appoint Mori to
assume the duties of National Director John
Tateishi. Tateishi had resigned from the post
in June but remained at his post until his
successor was named.
SueTaokaandDianeNarasakireceiveawards
Fannie Mae Foundation has named Sue
Taoka, Seattle Chinatown International
District Preservation and Development
Authority (SCIDPDA) executive director, a
2007 James A. Johnson Community Fellow.
This program recognizes and rewards leading community development and affordable
housing professionals by allowing them
to pursue personal and professional goals
through a grant. This year, a committee
selected six fellows from over 60 applicants
from 25 states.
The Johnson Fellowship Program provides each Fellow with a $70,000 grant and a
stipend of up to $20,000 for travel and other
education-related expenses. In addition to
the Fellow’s stipend, the nonprofit organization with which the Fellow is associated
— through paid or volunteer employment
— may receive a grant of up to $25,000 for
transitional costs related to the Fellow’s temporary absence.
In other awards, Bank of America presented its Neighborhood Excellence awards,
including one of its Local Hero Awards to
Diane Narasaki, at a ceremony on Nov. 8 at
the Museum of Flight in Seattle. In addition to the recognition, Narasaki, executive
director at Asian Counseling and Referral
Service (ACRS), received $5,000 for ACRS.
The award committee praised Narasaki’s
ability to work strategically and build alliances.
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
6 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
Herb Tsuchiya: An energetic force for good in the community
BY BEN GARRISON
UW News Lab
Herb Tsuchiya describes his life philosophy as “Eat, eat, eat, talk, talk, talk, laugh,
laugh, laugh, be kind, be kind, be kind.” He
strives to live by this motto every day.
In 16 years, he has helped to raise more
than $840,000 for the Asian Counseling and
Referral Service (ACRS) Food Bank.
It’s quite a feat for anyone to achieve, but
especially remarkable because Tsuchiya, 74,
has no plans to stop.
The funds were raised through Walk for
Rice, an event Tsuchiya co-founded with his
late wife, Bertha, and Sam Mitsui in 1990. At
the time, ACRS was a little-known organization providing mental-health counseling,
translation, a food bank and other services
to the Asian Pacific American community
in King County. For recent immigrants in
need of assistance, the bread, pasta and
other American staples they received from
the food bank were unfamiliar and didn’t
fit their normal diet. According to Tsuchiya,
these donated goods were often thrown out.
“People want the food they grew up
with,” he says. Rice was the staple ACRS
needed, but they often had to buy it because
it was not commonly donated.
ACRS had its own charity functions
throughout the year, but these were mostly
banquets and open houses, often carrying
a high overhead that the nonprofit agency
had to cover. Tsuchiya was invited to these
events as a representative of his church, but
noticed that attendance was low. “Instead of
attending the open house, people just mailed
“The walkathon is great because
it requires no special skills,” says
Tsuchiya. “Anyone can walk, and
it forces participants and donors to
learn about the organization.”
In addition, it’s relatively inexpensive to organize. Nearly everything is donated. The baked goods
— all homemade — and refreshments are provided by corporate
sponsors such as Talking Rain.
This means that most of the money
raised goes toward helping the
6,000 low-income APA households
and 2,000 individuals who rely on
the ACRS Food Bank and nutrition
Herb Tsuchiya, from Asian Counseling and Referral
programs to get enough to eat.
Services (ACRS) and Chinese Baptist Church receives a
In recognition of his work,
2006 Mayors End Hunger Awards from Mayor Nickels on
Tsuchiya
was one of five individuals
Oct. 23. Photo by Deni Luna.
and organizations to receive a 2006
in checks,” he recalls.
End Hunger Award from Seattle
To raise awareness about ACRS and the Mayor Greg Nickels in late October.
specific needs of their clients, the walkathon
Not bad for someone whose childhood
was started. In its first year, 45 people partici- nickname was “yancha boze,” the Japanese
pated, raising $1,800. It has grown exponen- equivalent of “little rascal.” The youngest of
tially since then, moving from the original seven, Tsuchiya was born in Seattle and grew
Beacon Hill route to Alki in West Seattle to its up in the Central Area. But his life in the city
current home in Seward Park. Tsuchiya says ended abruptly near the end of 1941 with the
the mayor and city council make it a point bombing of Pearl Harbor.
to attend every year and there are often per“On Dec. 7, we were citizens, but on
formances by taiko drummers and a Chinese Dec. 8, we were the enemy,” he remembers.
drill team. The walk last June even featured a Executive Order 9066 was signed just three
“Year of the Dog” costume contest for canines months later by President Roosevelt, authoand their owners. At the end of the day, they rizing the internment of tens of thousands
had also raised $115,000 for ACRS.
of Japanese citizens and resident aliens in the
United States. Tsuchiya’s family was moved
to an “assembly facility” in Puyallup and
then on to the Minidoka Relocation Center,
also known as the Hunt Camp, in southern
Idaho.
After the Japanese surrender in 1945,
We are doing something for
the less fortunate this year!
A non-profit Asian American Women’s Theatre & Film Group is
hosting a Canned Food/Clothes Drive for the homeless in Pioneer
Square on Christmas Eve!
On the early evening of Christmas Eve, we will pass out the food
and clothes, AND brown paper bags filled with delicious sandwiches and fresh baked brownies!!
So anything you can find in your pantry, or your closet! Especially
gloves, scarves, an old sweater, coat, or a jacket, since it is
FREEZING COLD out there!! Anything for the folks without a
home to go to, or a family to see during the holidays!!
Anything you can give would be very, very NICE!!!
Santa would be proud!! So, HO! HO! HO!! Have a great Holiday!
And come by the Internationl Examiner office during these times
for drop offs:
Thursday, Dec. 14 & Friday, Dec. 15 from 3-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 20, Thursday, Dec. 21 & Friday, Dec. 22 from 3-6 p.m.
The International Examiner is
located at 622 S. Washington St.,
Seattle, 98104. (We are two blocks
north of Jackson Street on 6th
and Washington.) (206) 624-3925;
www.iexaminer.org.
Sponsored by
Minidoka was closed. Tsuchiya returned
to the Northwest, attending Franklin High
School in South Seattle. He spent a year as
a janitor at Seattle University to earn tuition
money and graduated from the University of
Washington in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree
in pharmacology. Tsuchiya spent much of
his professional life as a community pharmacist before moving on to work for the
King County Department of Public Health.
While he may be retired now, it’s tough to
believe Tsuchiya is 74. He still has the energy
and enthusiasm of someone much younger,
a quality that his late wife, Bertha, attributed
to the fact that “he still is a kid.”
In addition to his charity work, he has
been acting for 11 years, often appearing
in plays that deal with the Japanese internment. He still participates in the walkathon,
but says most of that time is spent taking
pictures, socializing and making people feel
welcome and happy.
Tsuchiya is also pledging $100,000 of his
own money to the ACRS capital campaign.
The donation will be used as a community
challenge to raise another $150,000 for a
new ACRS facility in Rainier Valley and a
garden that will be named after Tsuchiya
and his late wife.
“I appreciate the blessings I’ve been
given and the outcomes I’ve had and I want
to give back,” he says when asked about the
gift. “Hopefully, it will encourage others to
do the same.”
While the “little rascal” moniker may
no longer fit, his life philosophy is a perfect
match. With all the work he has done to help
others, perhaps it’s time for a new nickname.
(BEN GARRISON is a student in the
University of Washington Department of
Communication News Laboratory.)
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
Made In Kitchen
BUSINESS
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 7
Pan-Asian cuisine in a stylish setting
Story and photo by BEN GARRISON
UW News Lab
Combining elements of Vietnamese,
Thai and Malaysian cuisine, Made In
Kitchen offers a unique blend of fusion food
and modern architecture seldom brought
together in the International District.
The downfall at many restaurants in the
area is usually not with the food. Having
anything more than the compulsory conversation while ordering or getting a water refill
after inundating your pho with Sriracha is
often difficult. And let’s face it — dingy fish
tanks and fluorescent lighting don’t exactly
make for an intimate meal.
But Made In Kitchen brings more to the
table than just good food. Alice On, who runs
the restaurant with her husband and parents,
says that service and style were two things
they focused on. It was in these departments
that other nearby eateries were lacking.
The atmosphere, like the food, is a fusion
of various Asian elements with a modern
theme. On worked closely with Catch Design
Studio on the interior, making liberal use of
warm colors on the walls and soft lighting
throughout. Even the rest rooms reflect the
overall design concept. The final result is a
place that looks as though it could fit just as
comfortably in Belltown or on Capitol Hill.
So while their location slightly off the
beaten path may take a little more marketing and word of mouth to raise awareness,
On finds it fitting because it further solidifies
their niche as being a little different than the
rest of the International District.
Aesthetics aside, food is the final word
at any restaurant. The dishes are as visually
appealing as the décor and it almost seems
a shame to ruin them, but eventually the
temptation to taste overwhelms.
Small details are not overlooked here.
The Jasmine Pearl tea that On gets from
her uncle’s tea shop is much better than the
standard. It’s light and refreshing with no
unpleasant aftertaste.
The coconut juice, a mainstay at many
Vietnamese restaurants, was a standout.
While serving it in an actual coconut looks
a little gimmicky, it actually comes with a
lot more coconut meat. The juice itself was
very good and not sucrose-saturated like the
sugar IVs served by many other places.
As for food, the “Kitchen Special” is a
good place to start, providing a sample of
three signature items from the Made In
Kitchen menu. It includes a juicy grilled
pork skewer, a crispy imperial roll with
crab meat, shrimp and glass noodles, and
a golden shrimp cake — all accompanied
by vegetables and vermicelli noodles. Like
many other dishes, the portions make for
good leftovers, and at $10 you can’t get a
wider range of tastes for your palette.
Cooked in a caramel sauce with red chilies, the “Claypot Catfish” sounded enticing
but would have been an expensive gamble
($12) if it wasn’t. Fortunately, it turned out
to be delicious.
The unique flavors in many of the dishes
come courtesy of On’s parents. No strangers to the restaurant business, they owned A
Little Saigon in the ID 20 years ago. Many
of their old signature dishes, like the “Curry
Duck” and “Lemongrass Pork Chop,” make
an encore appearance at Made In Kitchen.
Her parents also developed the new
recipes for the menu and help manage the
restaurant when she isn’t there. Surprisingly,
Made In Kitchen is actually a side job for On,
although she seems just as passionate about
the restaurant as her normal 40-hour-aweek job in the financial district downtown.
“I’m happy,” she says. “And I’ll keep
doing this until that changes.”
Her husband also works elsewhere during the day and assists with managing the
restaurant at night. That’s in addition to
maintaining the Web site and doing the
advertising and marketing for Made In
Kitchen.
The restaurant is also available for special events. At a recent birthday held there,
a live DJ was brought in and the tables were
pushed aside for a makeshift dance floor.
On and her husband are happy to fulfill
Made In Kitchen, 725 S. Lane St., Seattle,
such special requests. As she says, it’s about
(206) 625-0909, www.mikbistro.com.
providing “a place for people with good food
and a good atmosphere.”
(BEN GARRISON is a student in the
After only six months of business, it University of Washington Department of
seems Made In Kitchen is doing just that.
Communication News Laboratory.)
8 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
BODIES
-continued from front page
for preserving the bodies
goes back into the school,
and Premiere will give the
bodies back to Dalian after
the exhibit, although that
date is ambiguous right now.
If the exhibit is successful
enough, "Bodies" may keep
showing for months past its
slated Dec. 31 closing date.
(If attendance keeps up at the
rate of about 2,500 people per
weekend day, and reaches an expected 40,000
people for its total run in Seattle, the outlook
looks good.)
The bodies are preserved in a unique "polymer preservation" technique that fills tissue
spaces with a liquid silicone rubber that hardens,
resulting in a rubberized human body specimen. The main thrust of the exhibit is education
— feeding little tidbits about human biology to
patrons throughout, and showing what happens
to a smoker’s lungs when exposed to the ravages
of cigarette smoke.
Of the nine galleries, there is a blood vessel
room, where polymerized vessels and arteries
float in large cases of water, lit up like neon coral
and lava lamps. There are rooms showcasing the
human brain, the respiratory system, and muscular development. In the fetus room, where
a sign warns of the gallery ahead and offers a
courteous alternate exit if exhibit goers wish to
forego the room, fetuses from four weeks to five
months float in transparent cylinders filled with
water and enclosed in glass incubator-like cases.
The sensitivity of displaying fetuses and
dead bodies has, as expected, angered the
Christian pro-life community. But it has also
angered the Chinese American community.
Exhibit representatives say they obtained the
bodies from China because “China has the
best body preservers in the world.” (Although
Chinese medical schools and doctors did perform the polymer preservation process, the
man who invented the technique, Dr. Gunther
von Hagens, is German.) While some believe
that these bodies were obtained illegally, there is
no evidence of that. But we do know that these
people were simply “unclaimed” bodies at the
morgue that died of undisclosed reasons. When
bodies are unclaimed, the Chinese government
has a policy that they can be donated for scientific research.
Moral ambiguities aside, the show is
immensely popular around the country. It is
obvious that when the bodies were preserved,
the entertainment of exhibition goers was kept
in mind, with the corpses posed in positions
playing tennis or basketball, or with their arm
raised to conduct an imaginary orchestra. While
I was skeptical that medical schools should be
in the business of providing “entertaining” displays of human bodies, Dr. Roy Glover, medical
director of the "Bodies" exhibit, assured me that
it was perfectly legal for medical schools to make
money this way, as long as clients like Premiere
have a mission of scientific education. His former lab at the University of Michigan is also in
the body business, but they have never created
an exhibit on the scale of "Bodies."
Traditional Chinese burial rituals are some
Photos of the Seattle “Bodies” exhibit by Todd Erickson.
of the most sensitive arguments that Chinese
Americans have made. All the Chinese funeral
rites — the food offerings, the burning of spirit
money, the music to accompany the movement
of the corpse to the burial site, and burial of the
body — were not conducted since these people
didn’t have any family. So no one knows where
their souls went — perhaps wandering around
the exhibition halls? Or worse, if these people
did have families who somehow didn’t know of
their deaths, the bodies could become “hungry
ghosts” and bring wrath to one’s ancestors as
retribution for failing to observe ritual obligations. And that is a very unsettling fact for some
more traditional Chinese people.
Because the presence of family is so important around the time of one’s death in China,
that’s led some people to believe that unclaimed
bodies belong to the poor, indigent, perhaps
migrant worker class. “These people were likely
to have been poor and disenfranchised, so they
had no way to give consent to what would happen to their bodies after they died,” says John
Lloyd, a graduate student in Asian Languages
and Literature at the University of Washington.
“Underneath the glitz and glam of modern
Chinese cities, there’s still a very traditional
China. I can guarantee that if you were to ask
that person if he wanted to be posed playing
tennis forever in a worldwide tour, he would’ve
said no. For that reason, I’m not going to the
exhibit.”
Indeed, because consent forms were not
obtained, some people have raised moral
objections to viewing the bodies, which makes
one wonder, “Is this education or exploitation?”
The people at the exhibit aren’t really interested
in having that conversation — in fact it was
a bit difficult to get anyone at the exhibit to
answer my questions. A precious few employ-
ees are even qualified to speak with the media,
and when they do, only on very specific subject
matter. But it’s a conversation worth having as a
community, not just as Asian Americans, but as a
human community: Is it right to view dead bodies when those people did not explicitly consent
to do so?
While the educational mission of ‘Bodies’
is a valid one, it is impossible to truly ascertain
every person’s motivations for seeing the exhibit,
and there is no guarantee that anyone is learning
anything from the display of dead bodies. But
because "Bodies" is about science rather than art,
it allows itself to be in the advantageous position
of profiting from what is perhaps the most well
attended, successful scientific education exhibit
this city has ever seen. There’s no great mystery
to its success — people want to see dead bodies
on display, some because it’s educational, and
some despite the fact that it is.
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 9
10 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
ARTS
Photographer Michael Wang documents life in Bolivia for PATH
BY DEAN WONG
Examiner Contributor
Michael Wang makes a living as a facilities
assistant at PATH (Program for Appropriate
Technology in Health) but his true passion is
photography.
When doctors at PATH discovered
Wang’s hidden talent, they helped him get
an in-house ONP (Opportunity for New
Professionals) grant. The grant enabled
Wang to go to Bolivia with a diagnostic
team to photograph the trip and create an
exhibit. The diagnostics team worked with
the Bolivian Ministry of Health evaluating
and improving reproductive health services
for women.
PATH is a non-profit organization working on issues of global health. It is based in
Ballard.
Wang photographed some of the clinics
the team visited. On his own time, he was
allowed the freedom to roam Bolivian cities
documenting life around him.
“I saw a nation replete with laughter,
work, illness, the boredom of long stays
in waiting rooms, and the excitement of
an election day,” Wang said. “All I knew of
people, light, expression and composition
was applied to a new place and purpose.”
Because he was taking photographs for
PATH to illustrate the work they were doing,
Wang brought a digital camera along. Some
of these color digitals are included in documentary images.
“We went to three cities in
Bolivia,” Wang said. “I followed
scientists to clinics and walked
around and did street portraits.
I was connecting faces with
the project. They gave me total
artistic control. I wanted to see
people the way I saw them.”
Some Bolivians, tired of being
targeted by camera-toting tourists, are wary of photographers.
Wang brought along a Polaroid
camera to break the ice. “Once I Photographer Michael Wang takes photos in Bolivia for PATH.
gave them a Polaroid, they were Photo by Dean Wong.
more open, their eyes opened
up,” he said. “Some people I gave
made dots on black and white film. He
photos to were so happy.” In the case of one decided to take his film to the only custom
woman, he was told the picture may be the photo lab in all of China. On the way to the
only one she receives in her whole life.
lab, Wang passed some soldiers guarding
One of his favorite images is of a sales- Tiananmen Square and took a picture of
man sitting behind a cart full of brooms and one of them. The solider confronted Wang
toilet plungers. “He was drinking booze and and took his camera away, along with a bag
was pretty drunk,” Wang said. “He was look- containing 80 rolls of film he took during
ing at me ... I felt really visually and emotion- the protest. He made efforts to get his camally connected to him. He was trying to be era and film back but was unsuccessful.
dignified with a coat and jacket.”
His next stop was in Taiwan for another
Another picture is a close-up of a boy’s teaching position and he did commercial
hands. The boy was shining shoes for 10 work ranging from Hong Kong pop star
cents a shine.
album covers to children.
“The street kids wear
Wang ended up back in
ski masks,” said Wang.
New York at the Parsons
“They’re ashamed their
School of Design. He
parents send them out to
studied under George
shine shoes. They wear a
Tice and ended up workski mask so people don’t
ing as a custom black and
see who they are.”
white printer, doing work
In 1987, Wang began
for galleries, museums
learning how to develop
and some well-known
film and print photophotographers. One of
graphs.
his clients was Ralph
“When I first develGibson.
oped film, I was shocked,” This Bolivian broom salesman
“When I met him, I
Wang said. “When I caught Michael Wang’s eye as he said I’ve been looking at
saw my first picture went around documenting street life. your pictures my whole
appear in the developer, Photo by Michael Wang.
photo life,” said Wang. “I
I was shocked. I could
was excited to print these
not believe an image
photos I’ve been looking
appeared before my eyes. I was hooked.”
at for 20 years.”
Wang grew up in New York City and lived
He printed a limited-edition collection
in Queens and Brooklyn. He took a photog- of Gibson’s work and fashion photographer
raphy class at Queensborough Community Francesco Scavullo. Wang has exhibited
College where he was mentored by Jules his work in New York, Taipei and Prague.
Allen. Wang then went to China and became In Seattle, he has taught classes at the
involved in the Tiananmen Square protests Photographic Center of the Northwest.
in 1989.
Wang has also gone to Kenya with another
“I was teaching at the People’s University PATH team.
in Beijing,” he said. “I went to the protest and
“I want to contribute a little verse to it,”
joined in. I took a lot of pictures – it was my said Wang. “My eye is good enough to docufirst stab at documentary photography.”
ment projects in a long term way.”
Because the water quality was hard, it
Visit www.mikewangphoto.com.
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 11
BOOKS
Karen Ishizuka documents when “living artifacts” curated their own exhibit
BY KEN MOCHIZUKI
Examiner Assistant Editor
In her newly published book, “Lost &
Found: Reclaiming the Japanese American
Incarceration,” author Karen L. Ishizuka
has written what she calls her “prolonged
meditation” on being senior curator
of the multimedia exhibit, “America’s
Concentration Camps: Remembering the
Japanese American Experience” produced
by the Japanese American National Museum
in Los Angeles. The exhibit showed at the
Museum from 1994-1995.
But rather than merely producing an
exhibit catalog, what she takes note of
the most during the exhibition’s 10-year
existence are the stories told by National
Museum employees, docents, volunteers and
others affected by the American incarceration of Japanese Americans during World
War II.
One of those stories Ishizuka heard was
from a Museum volunteer, 11 years old
when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Her mother, left to take care of three young children
and a boardinghouse alone, sold the boardinghouse and furnishings for $300. The
volunteer’s 16-year-old brother entrusted
her to take care of the money throughout the
family’s years in camp. She kept the money
in a knapsack she had made.
“For over two years – she knew the exact
length of time to the day – and without ever
telling a soul, this little girl carried her family’s fortune, the culminations of over thirty
years of her parents’
would deny this
hard work, on her
man his right
back, taking off the
to silence? This
knapsack only when
is not the first
she showered and
story to go
when her mother
untold. I just
or brother needed
happened to be
to use some of the
present at the
money,”
Ishizuka
right moment
recounts. Excited to
to
hear
it
use this story in the
‘through
the
exhibit, particularly
cracks.’”
since the woman still
As to
had the knapsack, the
the content of
woman told Ishizuka Karen Ishizuka reads from “Lost & Found” in Seattle the exhibit, its
that it could not be on Dec. 2. Photo by Ken Mochizuki.
senior curator
used since her brother was reluctant to have describes “America’s Concentration Camps”
the story told. The brother also told her that as containing “the usual array of artifacts,
if anyone asked about her camp experiences, text panels, photographs and displays” about
she should reply, “I forgot.”
11 major incarceration camps. But also:
Ishizuka considers this incident a valu“What began as a standard exhibition
able learning experience as she was develop- curated and designed by a professional
ing the exhibit. In retrospect, she writes in team of museum curators, designers and
“Lost & Found”:
academic consultants became the backdrop
“ … [T]his example of the woman’s for a much more engaging and potent exhibrother and the fact that he had not yet bition that not only evolved but, in essence,
recovered from history illustrates that, was curated over time by the visitors themwhere survival is the ultimate resistance, we selves. By offering camp survivors simple
must also uphold the right to remain silent. opportunities for interactivity – signing
And, in addition to silence, forgetting in an their names and camp addresses in camp
unequal world is also a method of survival. In registries, placing their barracks on camp
our exalted efforts to recover history, to edu- maps, adding their Polaroid portraits and
cate others, and to redefine ourselves, who memories to camp albums – the exhibition invited traditionally passive museums
goers to dynamically alter
and enhance a carefully considered but
nonetheless static display. By engaging the
audience in the presentation of its own history
within the context of
the exhibition, the show
enabled visitors not only
to recover history but to
recover from it as well.”
A traveling version of
“America’s Concentration
Camps” also showed at the
Ellis Island Immigration
Museum from 1998-1999, at the William
Breman Museum of Jewish Heritage
in Atlanta, Ga. in 1999, the California
Historical Society in San Francisco in
2000, and the Little Rock Statehouse
Convention Center in Arkansas during
2004.
Other highlights of the exhibit included the film, “Something Strong Within”
– produced by Ishizuka and her husband,
filmmaker Robert Nakamura – that showed
home movies taken in the camps; and an
actual barracks from the site of the Heart
Mountain, Wyo. camp, disassembled there
and reassembled and displayed outdoors
next to the National Museum.
The amateur film photography from
camp edited together in “Something Strong
Within” chronicles everyday life in camp. To
summarize the film’s content and reaction to
it, Ishizuka includes a 1994 review written by
Joy Yamauchi for the Los Angeles Japanese
American publication, Tozai Times which
read in part:
“ … [A] girl runs through the high winds
trying to outrace the oncoming dust storm;
a baby cries soundlessly and is comforted by
an adult; women make paper flowers for a
funeral wreath; people trudge through the
snow, their breath frozen plumes caught on
film and frozen forever.
“Each time I saw the film, I heard people
around me murmuring quietly, ‘Oh yes,
that’s what it was like.’ ‘Remember how cold
it was?’ ‘Remember the dust?’ ‘The mess hall
– sometimes they gave us three starches for
dinner, rice, potatoes and pasta.’ ‘A baseball
game, everybody came out when there was
a baseball game, Well, there was nothing else
to do. Any diversion brought a crowd.’ ‘The
lines, we lined up for everything. Remember
getting sick and having to line up for the
latrine?’ ‘That powdered soap in the laundry
room, I used to wash my hair with that.’”
“People who went through camp don’t
see themselves as victims,” Nakamura said
when interviewed by Ishizuka. “They were
consciously and deliberately trying to make
the best out of a bad situation. This in itself
is a form of resistance.”
Again, from personal interaction with
docents and others who were there, Ishizuka
also captured compelling stories of “resistance.”
Eiji Uragami, a Boy Scout leader at
the Amache, Colo. camp, had his Scouts
assemble on the camp grounds and play
as loudly as they could – and
wake up residents of a nearby
town – when camp inmates
who volunteered for the
army “were transported
from the local town’s train
station in the wee hours
of the morning in order
to minimize the fact that
they volunteered from
an American concentration camp,” Ishizuka
writes. She continues:
“Uragami “voiced his
resistance with drums
and bugles and the
authorities never knew it.”
Ishizuka’s real find was a two-page typewritten letter from the “Mothers’ Society of
Minidoka” to President Roosevelt. The letter protested the military drafting of Japanese
American men until their civil rights were
restored. The Society also questioned the “socalled ‘military necessity’” as the reason for
their incarceration. The existence of this letter,
Ishizuka notes, defies the stereotype of the
“supposedly more compliant Nisei woman.”
For all who engaged in some form of
“resistance,” Ishizuka concludes: “They
resisted the inclination to lose hope in the
face of daunting challenges, to abandon the
future of their children, to deny a cultural
identity and community solidarity that had
singled them out in the first place, and, most
surprisingly of all, to abandon their commitment to a nation that had abandoned
them.”
Ishizuka, during a presentation about her
book at the Theatre Off Jackson on Dec. 2,
described the exhibit docents as “living artifacts.”
12 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
Holiday Gift Ideas: “Cool Tools” for the Japanese kitchen
BY JUDITH VAN PRAAG
Examiner Contributor
left for Japan, where
she became a food
and restaurant critic
for Japanese editions
of magazines such as
Playboy, Esquire and
Marie Claire.
For more than four decades,
A collector of cool
Kodansha International has
tools herself (she
been publishing books with an
remembers enjoying
emphasis on Japanese culture,
visits to the hardware
exposing the English reading
store with her father),
world to every subject from
she showed some
“Lullie the Iceberg” and “Pop
favorites — among
Bonsai,” to “Plastic Culture.”
which a crane and a
This summer, the venerable
turtle shaped, and a
publishing house added a rather
sharkskin
“wasabi”
prosaic title to their list: “Cool
grater— during a
Tools: Cooking Utensils from
demonstration at Kobo
the Japanese Kitchen.”
at Higo this summer.
There is, however, nothShe did, however, not
ing prosaic about the writing,
use any of the utensils
the photography or styling of
this lovely book. Author Kate Kate Klippensteen. Photo by in her collection.
“As a critic, I always
Klippensteen, her partner, pho- Judith van Praag.
ate out in the world’s
tographer Yasuo Konishi, stylist
Ori Koyama and their art director Kazuhiko most tasty city,” she says.
It wasn’t until she was writing an article
Miki transformed kitchenware to “objets
d’art” before daring to propose that you take for Elle eight years ago that she became intera book on kitchen utensils to your coffee ested in cooking Japanese dishes herself. This
personal involvement colors Klippensteen’s
table.
Author Kate Klippensteen’s latest is really perception. She testifies wholeheartedly for
a memoir and a love story. The romance the use of natural material, handcrafted
started years before her birth, with her par- utensils – for
rice
ents’ two-year stay in Japan. Later on, they cooking
instilled their appreciation for the esthetics in a pan rather
and food of the Land of the Rising Sun in than an electric
cooker.
their children as if by osmosis.
In the chapter
Raised in America, but surrounded
by Japanese life-style elements, Kate on presentation,
Klippensteen acquired a taste for everything K l i p p e n s t e e n
Japanese. It may not have come as a surprise states: “Japanese
when one of her majors in college turned cuisine is meant
out to be Japanese (the other was German). to appeal to the
After graduating in 1986, Klippensteen five senses.”
“Cool Tools: Cooking Utensils
from the Japanese Kitchen”
by Kate Klippensteen,
styling by Ori Koyama,
photographs by Yasuo Konishi
The author deftly succeeds in re-creating
the sensory experience she wishes to share
with her readers.
Where she lets chefs speak for themselves,
you can “hear” the passion in their “voices.”
The representation of Klippensteen’s
neighbors’ favorite kitchenware adds a mundane and humoristic touch to the pages.
While not a cookbook per definition,
“Cool Tools” is clearly geared toward sharing
fascinating and helpful information on prep-
aration, cooking, presentation and cleaning
up, with cooks of all levels — from the bashful beginner to the professional chef.
Klippensteen is generous to a fault in
sharing the muses and suppliers who were
of great importance in the making of this
book. You’ll find names and addresses in
chapters on “Stocking your Kitchen” and
“Restaurants and Shops.” All photographed
items are listed clearly as well, a good way to
learn the jargon.
Seattle “neighbors” talk about their favorite “Cool Tools”
BY JUDITH VAN PRAAG
Examiner Contributor
A journalist, a caregiver
for the elderly, a fashion
model, a veterinarian, a bank
teller, and a voice actor/ narrator – all of them neighbors
of Kate Klippensteen – lend
their “saibashi” or cooking
chopsticks to the author
of “Cool Tools” to model
for her partner, the photographer Yasuo Konishi.
Presented in a line-up, each
set shows character. But it’s
the assembly of “yukihiranabe,” pots with high-angled
handles, which perhaps says
more about the users. Some
of the pots are scoured clean,
one is blackened by the fire.
Most of the wooden handles
are discolored, possibly a
sign of being the cook’s
favorite.
Two “neighbors” in
Seattle, local artist Etsuko
Ichikawa
and
Pacific
Reader Editor Patti Yano,
were willing to share their
favorite kitchen utensils
and salivating triggers with
International
Examiner
readers.
Etsuko swears by using a
Solingen knife for all-purpose cutting. Patti’s favorite is a Mac, and she uses
a Japanese whetstone to
sharpen all of her knives.
Neither of them uses a
“goma-iri” to toast sesame
seeds. Patti uses a small
cast iron pan, and Etsuko
almost never does any
toasting since she moved
from Japan. “I wish I had a
‘goma-iri here’ … it smells
so good!” she said.
Both women grind their
own sesame seeds and own a “suribachi”
and “kogi” (mortar and pestle). Patti also
has a Western-style set, which she uses for
other preparations.
Patti gets lyrical when she talks about
fresh “wasabi”: “It sends out a memory
retrieval that activates my salivary glands.”
Etsuko’s parents live in Nagano.
“There’s a ‘wasabi’ field there, so when
I go home, I definitely take advantage
using fresh ‘wasabi’ for soba.”
Reading “Cool Tools” brought back
memories of my own first experience with
Japanese food some 25 years
ago, and it wasn’t sushi that
came to mind, but the yin and
yang of macrobiotic cuisine.
Back then, I was puzzled by the
hardness of the smoked and
dried skipjack tuna, wondering
how to grate the fish, unaware
of the existence of a “katsuo
kezuriki,” the typical bonito
plane.
Patti’s plane and bonito
were from her grandfather’s
hometown in Japan, an area
known for the great variety
of available fish. Etsuko is still
looking for a bonito plane in
Seattle, and hopes to find out
where she can find one.
Etsuko as well as Patti
use both American and
Japanese-style pots such as
“donabe and “sukyaki-nabe.”
Patti uses hers for “nabemono” and tea. Neither owns a
“yukihira-nabe” with the highangled handle.
Asked about Japanese
strainers, Etsuko said: “For
some reason, I have many. Most
are ‘zaru’ in different sizes and
shapes. One that I really like is
a very tiny one with a handle
– it’s especially designed for
melting and straining ‘miso’
for ‘miso’ soup.”
Patti’s number one favorite tool is a Japanese mandolin
(shredder). “I have the tool
[“yasai nukigata”] that punches
shapes, and a scrubber, but the
mandolin is heads above the
rest. The second one I would
consider is for shredding ginger.
I would like to have that plastic
thing that one can use to make
‘tsukemono.’”
Etsuko’s
favorites
are: “A tablespoon-size metal strainer
for picking up tofu from ‘nabe,’ a lime
squeezer, a ‘daikon’ “kezuri-ki” (grater),
small plates with ginger grinder, long
chopsticks, garlic peeler, cast iron pan
for ‘tako-yaki.’ And maybe more…”
My favorite utensil is a wooden spoon,
worn out on one side from right hand
stirring; a reliable pan is an old cast-iron
hand-me-down, good for toasting, sautéing and frying. I start each day filling my
tiny Revere Ware teakettle.
What are your kitchen favorites?
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 13
(1331 Fifth Ave.) through Dec. 23. Opening recep- Through Dec. 30. Opening reception is Dec. 7
tion is Dec. 7 from 6 – 8 p.m. at both galleries, from 6 – 8 p.m., 208 First Ave. S., (206) 682-3545
(206) 622-2833. www.fosterwhite.com.
or log on to www.wlbooks.com.
BY ALAN LAU
Kirkland Arts Center presents its 44th Annual
Holiday Arts Sale through Dec. 21. The exhibit will
feature art, fine craft jewelry and gifts by Kirkland
Pinay SA Seattle, a Filipina American women’s Arts Center faculty and Resident Ceramic Artists
organization in association with Communities and members including noted Northwest artists.
Against Rape and Abuse (CARA) and Youth Work by Jason Huff and Lois Yoshida is included
Speaks Seattle, present a Seattle first-of-its-kind, – 620 Market St. in Kirkland, (425) 822-7161.
all-women’s hip-hop event entitled “INDAYog:
The Rhythm in the Movement” on Dec. 7 at the Holiday Trunk Show featuring photography by
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. Carina A. del Rosario, soaps by Christine Lam,
Both local and out-of-town female artists will knits by Paola Maranan, jewelry by Banu Sekendur
present all of the elements of hip hop. The pur- and treats by Lila Yin Yin Waing: Café Vega, 1918 E.
pose of this event is to put the spotlight back on the Yesler, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
amazing female hip-hop artists out there. Proceeds
benefit Pinay SA Seattle’s work in ending human Elements Holiday Art/Craft Sale presents
rights violations in the Philippines – 4408 Delridge one-of-a-kind works by Vivian Yamakoshi & IH
Way S.W. at 8 p.m., (206) 661-2006.
Kuniyuki & others on Dec. 16 from noon – 5 p.m.,
“New Works Laboratory” pairs visual artists with
digital media artists. The collaboration between
Yiku Nakamura and Robert Campbell is on view
through Dec. 31 in the Media Gallery. Henry Art
Gallery at 15th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 41st St. on the
UW campus, (206) 543-2281. www.henryart.org.
The work of Emma Oh, Mizu Sugimura and
Miyoshi Tsuji is included in the “Arts Alive Juried
Exhibition” through Jan. 8 at the Federal Way City
Hall Art Gallery, 33325 Eighth Ave. S., (253) 8356901. www.cityoffederalway.com.
Puget Sound Sumi Artists present “Enduring
Voices of Sumi Art,” a group show through Dec.
30 – Karpeles Manuscript Museum at 407 South
“G” St. in Tacoma, (253) 383-2575.
320 Second Ave. S., (206) 622-3001.
KOBO at Higo has two new shows in place.
“KOBO Jewels” is a group show highlighting
the work of 12 Northwest jewelry artists in a
variety of forms from wearable sculpted pieces,
gemstones, to necklaces make of cloth and felt.
Includes work by Linda Hoshide, Dana Cassara,
Lisa Kinoshita, Susan Connole, Yoko Nomura,
Chuck Domitrovich, Yuki Nakamura, Jessi Taylor,
Victoria Takahashi and Ikuyo Tsunoda. Famed
former Seattle Times photojournalist Barry Wong
has a show of still life images of Asian food and
vegetables. Wong will give a talk about his work on
Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. followed by a reception. On view
through Dec. 30 – 604 S. Jackson, (206) 381-3000.
Sandy Lew-Hailer a.k.a. Grrdog Metalworks
presents “Tweaking the Edges,” her 25th Annual
Party Showing & Sale of Jewelry & Sculpture
every Saturday through December from 3 p.m. – 8
p.m., 3814 Fourth Ave. S., Space 14. Bring friends,
and see some funky & whimsical functional art &
sculpture which might make the perfect Xmas gift
surprise, (206) 903-0222.
An appropriately entitled show, “fresh! – contemporary takes on nature & allegory” curated
by Julie Cho Bailer features the work of younger
artists from around the world, many making their
Seattle or American debut. The work of Takagi
Masakatsu and Saeko Takagi, Gordon Cheung
and Xiaoqing (Jenny) Ding is included. Through
Dec. 31. Museum of Glass/International Center for
Contemporary Art in Tacoma, (253) 284-3009.
Oil paintings by Pham Quoc Hong at Halo Carolyn Staley Fine Japanese Prints is showSalon through December, 1919 Third Ave. ing recently acquired ukiyo-e and modern prints
www.halosalon.com.
including the fine triptych by Hiroshige from
the series “Views of the Four Seasons at Famous
Self-taught Vietnamese artist Tu Duy evokes Places in Edo.” The Web site features illustrations
memories of village life in “Tu Duy: Empty Space” from “The Tale of Genji” all fall – 2001 Western
on view through Dec. 30 at Art Xchange. 512 First Ave., #320, (206) 621-1888, www.carolynstaleypr
Ave. S., (206) 839-0377. www.artexchange.org.
ints.com.
Collograph intaglio prints by Eunice Kim are in
a group show entitled “Introductions 2006” on
view at Davidson Galleries Contemporary Prints
Gallery Dec. 8 - 23. Opening reception on Dec. 7 The work of Reid Ozaki is included in “Mingei
from 6 – 8 p.m., 313 Occidental Ave. S., (206) 624- Tradition in The Northwest – The 8th Annual
1324 or log on to www.davidsongalleries.com.
Pottery Invitational 2006” which features
Asian-inspired folk pottery by Northwest
Work by Louise Kikuchi and Gerard Tsutakawa artisans. On view through Dec. 30 at Glenn
is included in the group exhibition entitled “Small Richards at 964 Denny Way, (206) 287-1877.
Works” on view at Foster/White Gallery in Pioneer www.glennrichards.com.
Square (220 Third Ave. S.) and Rainier Square
KOBO at Higo has the following. KOBO in partnership with Seward Park Clay Studio presents
“The 2nd Annual Simple Cup Invitational” which
features 45 North American and 16 Japanese artists. Through Dec. 31 – 604 S. Jackson, (206) 3813000 or www.koboseattle.com.
“Brown Rivers, Green Tea” is the title of a show
The Children’s Museum of Seattle presents of photographs by Jeff Kietzmann taken in Kerala,
“Festivals of Light” through Dec. 31. The show India. Through Dec. 15. Distant Lands at 109 First
showcases different cultural festivals and holi- Ave. S., (206) 340-2868.
days around the world. Dec. 16 - 22 will highlight Philippine Christmas. Performers, dancers The work of the late sculptor/painter George
and musicians from each culture will highlight Tsutakawa is included in a group show entitled
each holiday and activities for children will be “Retrospective 20: Part 1” through Dec. 30 – Port
available – 305 Harrison St., (206) 441-1768. Angeles Fine Art Center at 1203 Lauridsen Blvd,
TheChildrensMuseum.org.
(360) 417-4590.
The work of Amy Lin and Lun-Yi Tsai is included
in a “New Members Exhibition” through Dec. 16 at
Shift Studio in the Tashiro-Kaplan Arts Complex
#105 at 306 S. Washington, (206) 547-1215.
www.shiftstudio.org.
Seattle Children’s Theatre presents the world-premiere production of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,”
inspired by an ancient Greek Fable. Through Jan.
27. Khanh Doan is in the cast as Miss Grapevine.
The set design is by Carey Wong – 201 Thomas St.
Wessel And Lieberman Booksellers Inc. pres- at Seattle Center, (206) 441-3322.
ent “Shinsuke Minegishi: An Exhibition of Wood
Engravings, Prints & Limited Edition Books.” This For the holidays, REACT presents a special storyJapanese artist pays homage to “Nomi No Kai,” time reading of the Chinese folktale, “The Seven
a contemporary woodblock printer’s group that Chinese Brothers” as part of Winterfest at the
revitalized and energized an ancient art form in Seattle Center Centerhouse on Dec. 22 at 12:15
the ‘70s. This Seattle show marks the occasion of p.m., (206) 234-3283.
his first personal exhibition in the United States.
The 5th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration at
Seattle Center Winterfest takes place Dec. 16
& 17 with free celestial craft activities in the
Center House from 1 – 4 p.m. Storyteller Nancy
Calos-Nakano will take us on a journey around
the world. At sunset, a parade leads outdoors
to Seattle Center’s International Fountain to view
“Orbis” directed by Manuel Cawaling with choreography by Frances Kao and Fire Choreography
by Donia Love.
R.J. Tancioco is part of the cast for ArtsWest’s production of “Voices of Christmas,” a multicultural
celebration of holiday memories through Dec. 24,
4711 California Ave. S.W. in West Seattle, (206)
938-0339 or log on to www.artswest.org.
Elliott Bay Book Company has the following
readings in their on-going series: Victoria TauliCorpuz is an Igorot indigenous activist in the
Philippines. She will appear with co-editor Jerry
Mander and contributor Jeanette Armstrong
on behalf of the book, “Paradigam WARS:
Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance to Globization
2nd Edition” (Sierra Club.) REACT Theatre presents Holiday Storytime on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
& Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. The cast will read perennial
holiday favorites. For more information, contact
www.reacttheatre.org. Elliott Bay Book Co. in
Pioneer Square, 101 S. Main, (206) 624-6600.
Sunamita Lim talks about her book, “Chinese
Style: Living in Beauty and Prtosperity” (Gibbs
Smith) on Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. at Bellevue Regional
Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., (425) 462-4500.
Poet Kevin Minh Allen joins others in a group
reading around the theme of “Politics, Power
and Passion” on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., Richard Hugo
House at 1634 11th Ave., (206) 322-7030.
“The Cave of The Yellow Dog” is Director
Byambasuren Davaa’s follow up to the successful
“The Story of the Weeping Camel” and tells the
story of a Mongolian nomad family in conflict
over a child’s adoption of a stray dog. Dec. 8 - 14.
Varsity Theatre, 4239 University Way N.E., (206)
781-5755.
In the December 2006 issue of COLUMNS, The
University of Washington Alumni Magazine, the
editors asked 14 faculty, alumni and book publishing professionals to choose 100 outstanding books
by 100 UW authors. Included are “Cebu” by Peter
Bacho, “Growing Up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino
American” by Peter Jamero, “George Tsutakawa”
by Martha Kingsbury, “Social Solidarity Among
the Japanese in Seattle” by S. Frank Miyamoto,
“Baseball Saved Us” by Ken Mochizuki, “NoNo Boy” by John Okada, “White Grizzly Bear’s
Legacy: Learning to Be Indian” by Lawney Reyes,
“Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy For Democracy” by
Thapa Manjushree and “A Life in Architecture” by
Minoru Yamasaki.
L.A.-based theatre company, Cedar Grove
Productions on Stage is seeking play submissions
by Asian American playwrights. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
14 —— December 6 - 19, 2006
Thursday, Dec. 7
• Women’s health screening: The YWCA’s
Women’s Health Outreach program will be
conducting a mobile screening for uninsured
and low-income women at Seattle Central
Community College/Women’s Center at 1701
Broadway/FA 202 in Seattle.The Swedish Breast
Care Express – a 64-foot coach equipped with
state of the art digital mammography screening
equipment, as well as exam rooms and waiting
areas – will be parked at the college from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, contact
Meri Tahset at (206) 436-8623.
• Award-winning journalist and author Maria
Hinojosa will speak at two events to celebrate
Seattle Human Rights Day. Free. 11:30 a.m.
- 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church’s
Drury Hall on Fifth Avenue and Columbia. 5:
30-8 p.m. at Town Hall on Eighth Avenue and
Seneca. The theme of this year’s celebration is
“Human Rights: Crossing All Borders.” For more
information please call the Seattle Office for Civil
Rights at (206) 684-4500 or check the web at
www.seattle.gov/civilrights/events.htm.
Sunday, Dec. 10
•The Philippine-U.S. Solidarity Organization
(PUSO) and other progressive community organizations will lead activists and supporters in a
day of mass mourning - a funeral procession and
ceremony for human rights victims in the United
States and all over the world. The organizers plan
on starting the march at the Washington State
Trade and Convention Center. Participants are
asked to wear black out of respect for the victims
and the funeral theme. A small group of fellow
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
CALENDAR
mourners will march solemnly with us from the
WA State Trade and Convention Center, through
Pike Place Market, to Westlake Plaza on the
sidewalk. The procession will end with a funeral
ceremony amidst the shoppers and bystanders of
Westlake Plaza, honoring all victims who have
died or remain missing. 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
• Adult Basic Education and GED Faculty from
the General Studies Department at South Seattle
Community College will be conducting free
GED & COMPASS practice testing sessions from
9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. in the Cascade
Court building, room 312 (CAS 312). It is a
great opportunity for people interested in taking
the next step in their education. To participate,
people need only to show up on time at CAS 312
for the testing sessions. They will receive their
scores that evening.
Announcements
• Free English Homeownership Education Class:
Homeownership 1-2-3. 9829 16th Ave. SW,
Seattle. Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec.
19 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Hosted by IDHA
Counseling. Phone: (206) 957-1316. E-mail:
[email protected].
• With the holidays approaching, Hopelink urges
the public to donate food, toys and clothing.
Donations may be delivered to Hopelink. Call
(425) 943-7555 for schedule and locations.
• The Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Foundation is
pleased to announce a $1000 scholarship for the
2006-2007 academic year. Applicants must have
worked in an Asian restaurant or have at least
one parent having worked in an Asian restaurant. Graduate students as well as undergraduate
students are encouraged to apply. For applica-
tion, visit SKACFoundation.org. The application must be e-mailed by 7 p.m. EST on Dec.
15. E-mail: [email protected].
• We are doing something for the less fortunate
this year! TwentySeventeen Productions, a nonprofit Asian American Women’s Theatre & Film
Group, is hosting a Canned Food/Clothes Drive
for the homeless in Pioneer Square on Christmas
Eve! On the early evening of Christmas Eve,
we will pass out the food and clothes, AND
brown paper bags filled with delicious sandwiches and fresh baked brownies!! So anything
you can find in your pantry, or your closet!
Especially gloves, scarves, an old sweater, coat,
or a jacket! Come by the Internationl Examiner
office: Thursday, Dec. 14 & Friday, Dec. 15
from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, Thursday,
Dec. 21 & Friday, Dec. 22 from 3-6 p.m. 622 S.
Washington St., Seattle 98104. (206) 624-3925.
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
COMPUTER
Systems Analyst
Implements and maintains Hoganrelated systems for banking. Requires
BA/BS in CS, Math, Eng., MIS, CIS + 2
yrs exp. developing Hogan systems in
banking environment, utilizing Hogan
Umbrella;
installing,
maintaining
& customizing Hogan modules;
accessing DB2 DBs thru Hogan app’s
& dev’g interfaces b/w Hogan app’s &
other systems; using SQL/COBOL &
DB2 utilities to manipulate & retrieve
data. Two positions in Seattle, WA
include competitive salary and
outstanding benefits.
Gardener I
$17.78 - $19.19/hour
Plus Excellent Benefits
Maintain landscaped areas along
high-volume traffic corridors for the
Seattle Department of Transportation.
Prune street trees, maintain median
and lawn areas, apply pesticides, and
control weeds. Lead volunteer groups
to renovate shrub beds and plant
annuals and perennials. Requires two
years of experience in landscape construction or maintenance, the ability to
obtain a Public Pesticide operator’s
license and Flagger certification, and
willingness to work a 6 AM to 3:30
PM schedule. For more information
and an Online Application Form, visit
www.seattle.gov/jobs
by 12/10/06.
The City is an Equal Opportunity
Employer that values diversity in the
workforce.
Please apply online referencing Job
Number 415531, Source Type as
Newspaper and Source Name as
International Examiner at wamu.com/
careers.
Washington Mutual is an Equal
Opportunity
Employer.
Anyone
needing accommodation to complete
the interview process should notify the
Recruiter.
Contracting Manager
$5,968 to $8,950/month
Plus Excellent Benefits
Manage a staff of 15 and oversee the
advertising, award, and administration
of public works contracts for the City of
Seattle. Ensure that contracts comply
with legislation, social equity requirements, and City policies. Analyze
procedures to determine their effectiveness in meeting race and social
justice initiatives and organizational
goals. Make presentations to policy
makers, program beneficiaries, businesses, and the public. Requires a
bachelor’s degree in Business, Public
Administration, or a related field, and
at least five years of experience in
program or project planning, research,
development, or implementation.
Contract management experience
and a relevant graduate degree are
highly desirable. For more information and an Online Application Form,
visit www.seattle.gov/jobs by 12/17/
06. The City is an Equal Opportunity
Employer that values diversity in the
workforce.
Gardener II
$20.89 to $22.51/hour
Plus Excellent Benefits
Seattle Parks & Recreation needs
Senior Gardeners to plan and lead
crews on landscape installation and
restoration projects. Perform plant
propagation, soil preparation, turf
repair, pruning, fertilizing, pest management, and transplanting. Inspect
and evaluate park landscapes, and
recommend and design improvements.
Requires three years of experience in
landscape construction or plant propagation, with the ability to lead a crew.
Experience providing tours and public
talks is a plus. For more information
and an Online Application Form, visit
www.seattle.gov/jobs
by 12/31/06.
The City is an Equal Opportunity
Employer that values diversity in the
workforce.
Custodian
Be a part of a world-class team as you
make the Convention Center shine!
WA State Convention & Trade Center
is looking for Full-Time Custodian.
Custodians are responsible for the
cleaning and maintenance of the
interior and exterior areas of the facility. Requires HS diploma or GED & at
least one-year exp in a custodial position in a service or hospitality environment. Hourly wage: $14.86. We offer
paid medical/dental benefits, pension
plan and transportation subsidies.
Visit www.wsctc.com for further info
or to download an app. Apps are
also available at the WSCTC Service
Entrance, 9th and Pike, Mon-Fri, 8a5p. Apps must be completed for consideration. Jobline: (206) 694-5039.
EOE.
Visit our website:
www.iexaminer.org
EMPLOYMENT
December 6 - 19, 2006 —— 15
EMPLOYMENT
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
is expanding services to better serve
the APA community and seeks:
Setup Supervisor
WSCTC seeks a client-focused professional to assist the Special Services
Manager in the day-to-day supervision of the setup functions of the
facility. This position supervises setup
crew chiefs and staff. The Set-Up
Supervisor will have flexible hours with
primary responsibility on the swing and
graveyard shifts.
Requires an Associate’s degree from
a two-year college or technical school
and three years experience in a supervisory capacity of large room/event
setup and conversion operation; or
equivalent combination of education
and experience.
Visit www.wsctc.com for further info or
to download an app. Apps are also
available at the WSCTC Staff Entry,
9th & Pike, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm. Only
completed WSCTC applications will be
considered. Jobline: (206) 694-5039.
EOE.
BH CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
Supervises BH Clin Case Mgrs in
providing culturally relevant & competent treatment, counseling & followup svcs Asian/Pac Islander clients w/
long term mental illness. MSW + 3 yrs
counseling & 1 yr supervisory exp;
MHP required..
BH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COOR
Oversees daily operation of housing
programs/projects and grants; monitor program needs, provides housing
svcs to clients and coordinates svcs
to achieve program targets & goals.
BA & 1+ yrs exper supportive housing & mental health.
CHEM DEP COUNSELOR
(FT) Provides alcohol & drug screening for Comm Svc Office clients; provides service referrals, care coor &
follow up svcs for CSO clients needing beh health svcs; trains & consults
CSO staff on chem dep issues MSW
& CDP + 1 yr exp preferred.
RN
(PT) Assess/evaluates safety & efficacy of client svc plans for elderly
and disabled clients. Provides medical input & consultation. Bilingual in
API lang helpful.
VOCATIONAL CASE MGRS
2 FT positions provide training & job
placement help for limited and native
English speaking clients seeking
jobs. BA + 3 yrs. employment exper
& bilingual pref.
Competitive compensation/benefits
package & fulfilling work environment. To apply send resumes to
Asian Counseling & Referral Service,
Attn: HR, 720 8th Ave S, Ste 200,
Seattle, WA 98104. EO