After 80 years full of changes, this is how Uwajimaya's flagship store in Seattle stands today.
By Stacy Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly
“You do it every day because it’s the right thing to do.”
This is what former CEO of Uwajimaya Tomio Moriguchi said when prodded about the store’s upcoming 80th anniversary celebration. Though he prefers to step back from the limelight, Uwajimaya’s legacy and impact on the ID is undeniable to many. Read the full story
Mayumi Tsutakawa has racked up a large number of achievements during a career spanning several different fields. Straight out of grad school, she became the first Asian American female reporter at a daily newspaper in the Seattle area. She later wrote and edited several anthologies, including the first anthology of Asian American women’s writings. Read the full story
As the publisher of Sasquatch Books, Gary Luke feels a sense of honor and responsibility to make his company an outlet for diverse perspectives.
“Whoever decides what gets published is, in many ways, acting as a gatekeeper. I think the culture is better served by more varied gatekeepers,” said Luke.
And in a world driven by the Internet, Luke says he doesn’t feel threatened.
“It’s less about the books and more about the reading,” he said. “At some point I’m sure much of reading will take place on some device, and that would be fine as long as people are reading. The thing is that when people stop reading, then you’re in trouble.” ♦
Meet Gary Luke on Oct. 11 at China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. He is one of Northwest Asian Weekly’s nine honorees for the Asian American Pioneer Dinner. See ad on page 2 for details.
Pedestrians and tenants were given a fright Tuesday, Aug. 22 went the face of Jackson Apartments fell down onto the sidewalk.
By Stacy Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly
May Xie was working in her herbal store on Jackson Street, Yuan Sheng Heng, when she was stunned by an immensely loud boom. She wondered if a woman cooking on the top floors of Jackson Apartments had accidentally set off some kind of gas explosion. Read the full story
From the left: ACRS Deputy Director Janet SooHoo, NAAPIMHA Board President Dr. Francis Lu, ACRS Executive Director Diane Narasaki, NAAPIMHA Board Member David Ja, Ph.D., NAAPIMHA Executive Director DJ Ida, Ph.D. and NAAPIMHA Board Member Chong Suh, Ph.D.
The Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) had a benefit dinner and auction at the Seattle Sheraton entitled “Faces of Community, Masks of Tradition,” on Saturday, Sept. 13. Hosted by Lori Matsukawa, the event also featured Garfield’s Jazz Combo, a three-course dinner, a dance from Long Life Association and several silent auctions. Attendees were able to pick from lavish vacation packages, to a pig roast for 40, to a Washington sailing cruise, to a sweet dessert auction.
The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association board flew across the country to honor ACRS and attend the anniversary dinner.
ACRS raised $200,000 that night. ♦
From left: Luly Yang, the Academy's fashion design program chair Monir Zandghoreishi, "Project Runway" contestants Nick Verreos and Sweet P.
Seattle hosted the Imagine! Design Expo at the International Academy of Design & Technology campus in Tukwila, Sept. 8. Designer Luly Yang was recognized for her contributions. Yang is widely known for her exquisite couture and bridal collections, as well as her downtown studio boutique located at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
In her acceptance speech, Yang said, “I am honored to be the first in the Northwest to be considered by the Academy for a lifetime achievement award in fashion design.” ♦
Over 180 community members gathered at Kin On Health Care Center on Sept. 7 to celebrate the success of Kin On’s First Annual Sports Tournament. Combining all three sporting events (badminton, soccer and table tennis), over $22,000 in net proceeds was raised in support of Kin On’s mission to provide culturally and linguistically relevant long-term care services to the Asian elderly community. ♦
Akihiko Hoshide (left) and his wife Satomi Hoshide pose for a picture at the reception hosted by the Japanese consul general in Seattle, Sept. 15-19
Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, accompanied by his wife Satomi, visited Seattle to participate in the annual Planetary Congress that took place Sept. 15-19.
On this occasion the consul general of Japan, Mitsunori Namba, hosted a welcome reception at his official residence on Queen Anne Hill, inviting about 60 guests from the local Japanese and Japanese American community, among others.
Hoshide was born in Tokyo and lived in New Jersey as a child for four years. During this time in America, when Hoshide was 4 years old, his father took him to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida where he saw his first space rocket – and the rest is history. ♦
Dr. Benjamin Chu
The American Legacy Foundation recently appointed Dr. Benjamin Chu as the chairman of their board of directors. Dr. Chu is one of the three medical doctors and the only Chinese American to receive the chair title. “I am honored to take on the leadership of the foundation’s board, allowing me to continue to help educate the American public that tobacco is the number-one preventable cause of death in our country,” Chu said.
American Legacy Foundation is a national independent public health foundation dedicated to keeping young people from smoking and helping adult smokers quit. ♦
By Steve Clare
Northwest Asian Weekly
Having traveled alone to New York City, Ye Xian (An Nguyen) hopes to earn money to send home to her ailing father by working in a beauty salon run by Mrs. Su (Tsai Chin), her father’s distant cousin. But the bitter and manipulative Mrs. Su doesn’t actually run a beauty salon. She runs an X-rated massage parlor. Read the full story
Peter Nguyen and his sister Nancy (left) Dec. 2007. (Photos provided by Peter Nguyen)
By Betty Wang
Northwest Asian Weekly
It’s grandma’s birthday banquet and your aunt on mom’s side smiles warmly at you in greeting … and then exclaims that you need to get pregnant already (also, you look like you’ve gained a few pounds). At some point in your life, you’ve come across a remote control enveloped in Saran wrap. Read the full story
Alvin Wong gets the Earthwalkers logo painted on his face by professional Malinda McDonnell, Aug. 28. (Pictures provided by Caroline Li)
By Amy Phan
Northwest Asian Weekly
On a warm Thursday night, Aug. 28, a dimly light Toi club was abuzz with unexpected conversations. Amid the happy hour well drinks, unlikely people from all walks of life gathered in celebration of the party’s occasion, the one-year debut of Earthwalkers Magazine. Read the full story
