April 15, 2003

MISSION STATEMENT:

Promote full utilization of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

ed. by Douglas Ikemi

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The internet site is at:

Our own domain name, apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/ gives you a menu of AP organization websites.

Back issues of the newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, and 2002 are available on the website if you want to look up some past event.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2003:

Evening meetings will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) 310/726-0100. April 16 6PM

June 11 6PM

Aug 13 6PM

October 13 6PM

Detailed, updated calendar is again available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats . Events go into the calendar that I don't mention here. Please send in information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.

Long range calendar items:

April 26 Na Lani Ehaat the Aratani/ Japan America Theatre, 7PM. Hula Halau Kaulana Ka Hale Kula 'O Na Pua 'O Ka 'Aina performs wonderful songs and hulas that were composed by and about the Hawaiian King Kalakaua and his family. Na Lani 'Eha, under the direction of Kumu Hula Randy Chang , pays tribute to the Beloved King. Tickets: $15/ balcony and $18/ orchestra. For further information call (626)712-6769 For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

April 27 Hiromi Hashibe & Wakana Kai Koto Group, Aratani/Japan America Theatre, Little Tokyo, 3PM, $20, 213-680-3700

April 27 Springtime in the Japanese Garden, 10:30AM-3:30PM. 6100 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys. $5, 818-756-8166.

April 27 14^th Annual LA Fiesta Broadway, 11AM-6PM, Downtown LA, Broadway, Hill, and Spring Sts., from 1^st to Olympic. 310-914-0015 www.fiestabroadway.net.

May 3 J-Town Beat Series, I Was Born With 2 Tongues at the Aratani/ Japan America Theatre 8:30PM. Chicago's hot Pan-Asian spoken word ensemble, I Was Born With 2 Tongues blasts into Los Angeles for a one-night-only performance, along with some of L.A.'s talented performance poets. Over the past few years, spoken word and performance poetry has become a strong conduit of creative expression for an up-and-coming generation of young Asian Pacific Americans. The 2 Tongues are at the forefront of this exciting movement, blending a fiery passion for empowerment with the rhythms of acoustic stand-up bass and mind-twisting wordplay. Opening for the 2 Tongues are the local poetics of the Balagtasan Collective and spoken word trio, zero 3. Tickets: JACCC Members: $16 orchestra, $13 balcony. Non members: $20 orchestra, $17 balcony. For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

May 3 Centenary Spring Festival, 10AM-4PM at 300 S. Central Ave., Little Tokyo. Japanese entertainment, including the mandatory taiko groups, and a variety of foods. Validated parking at Joe's Auto Park, 2^nd & Alameda.

May 4 Special Anime Screening Rare Screening of vintage clips, Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 2PM. A special screening of clips from the superhero Astro Boy collection, created by the "father of Japanese animation," Osamu Tezuka will be screened. Never released to the public and previously thought lost, number 3 of the Astro Boy series was recently re-discovered in a collector's vault. Vintage clips of anime classic, GIGANTOR will also be screened. Panel Discussion will be following the screening. Producer Fred Ladd, responsible for the introduction of Japanese anime/manga to the United States is the featured speaker along with anime experts Fred Patten, Jared Cook and Sadao Miyamoto. 2pm - Anime Feature, Panel - immediately following. 5pm - Vintage Clips, Admission Free. Tickets: $6 JACCC Members, 8 General Admission Non member. For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700. Also, vendor fair from 11AM-4PM.

May 10-11 Family Funfest, Kodomo no Hi- 20th annual Childrens Day Celebration, Chibi K, Kids for Kids Fun Run, San Tai San, basketball tournament, Mothers Day Hawaiian Style, Darlene Ahuna Concert, The Post War Japanese Anime/Manga Exhibit (Continues), Kids Taiko Konference. A weekend of fun for the entire family! Join us as Kodomo no Hi celebrates its 20th anniversary in Los Angeles. A fun and culturally-rich celebration of a traditional Japanese holiday for the entire family. Bring your family to the JACCC where the fun and excitement spill out into the streets with our annual Chibi-k: Kids for Kids Fun Run and the San Tai San: 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. On the Plaza, the Asian Pacific Arts & Crafts Faire offers traditional handmade Japanese craft items, a variety of ethnic foods, children's games, origami, calligraphy, papermaking workshops and entertainment. Other special activities include the first ever Kids Taiko Konference and a Skate Park cosponsored by LA City Councilwoman Jan Perry. The Post War Japanese Anime/Manga Exhibit in the George J. Doizaki Gallery offers workshops and lectures led by professional illustrators and animators.

May 11 J-Town Beat Series Darlene Ahuna in Concert, 4PM, Special Appearances by Halau Keali'i 'O Nalani and Na Kupuna Wahine O Hema Dancers. The award-winning Halau Keali'i O Nalani, under the direction of Kumu Keali'i Ceballos, opens this special Mother's Day Hawaiian Style concert. This celebrated ensemble has captured numerous prestigious awards for it's precision and authentic Hawaiian dance. Darlene Ahuna headlines the concert with her celebrated trio. This multiple award-winning artist follows in the tradition of great Hawaiian singers Genoa Keawe, Lena Machado and Linda Dela Cruz. Winning the coveted Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Best Female Vocalist and Single of the Year, Ahuna began her career as the singer of hula master Uncle George Na'ope's group in 1979. Ahuna's voice is powerful yet graceful and unaffected, evoking the Hawai'i of yesterday. Her music is distinctly Hawaiian, many songs from her hometown of Hilo, some written by her great-aunt Helen Parker ("Akaka Falls"). Ahuna is a beautiful voice bringing the sound of old Hawai'i alive. Clarice Nuhi directs Na Kupuna Wahine o Kaleponi Hema Dancers, a special ensemble of dancers from the southern California area, for this special return appearance for this Mother's Day Hawaiian Style concert. JACCC Members $25 orchestra, $22 balcony. Non members: $30 orchestra, $27 balcony. Bring your whole Family! Special Family Package Minimum of 4 persons: $25 orchestra, $22 balcony (per person) For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

May 17 First Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in West Covina. Koto player June Kuramoto, formerly of the jazz band Hiroshima, headlines "A Concert in the Park." Festival is co-hosted by the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center. 11AM-6PM at the Civic Center Courtyard, 1444 W. Garvey Ave., West Covina, 91793. Cal 626-960-2566.

May 24 Memorial Day Service, Memorial Court. Coordinated by the Japanese American Korean War Veterans in associiation with The American's of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance and the Japanese American Viet Nam Veterans. A memorial service will be held in the Memorial court. Please note: The event is on Saturday not Monday. More details to follow.This event is open to the public

May 30 Taue: Rice Planting, A Fine Day for a Field Trip, 10am ~ 1pm, Location: JACCC Plaza. It's time to start planting our rice seedlings. As part of an ongoing educational programming series, Kome Kome: Celebrating Rice in Japanese Culture, the JACCC invites school children to come and help plant rice on our plaza. Last year, over 400 students participated in the Taue field trip. Students learn not only how rice is grown, but also participate in the transplanting of the rice seedlings and make a cultural craft to take home. Free and Open to the Public. For children ages 7-12 years. Advance reservations required call (213) 628-2725 x 112

June 1 Oodles of Noodles Festival, 12noon-4PM, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 310-618-6342.

Sept 12-14 Hollywood Bowl: Treasures of China Three Performances at the Hollywood Bowl with The Peking Acrobats. Three performances of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Peking Acrobats mark the final weekend in the 2003 season of the Bowl. The Peking Acrobats will be making their Bowl and orchestral debut. For more information on The Peking Acrobats (a registered trade name), visit www.iaipresentations.com/pacrobat.html. 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 90078, 323 850-2000, www.hollywoodbowl.org

The Pacific Asia Museum (46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91101, 626-449-2742) Family Festival schedule for 2003, Saturdays, 1-4:

May 17 Buddha’s Birthday

June 21 Gods and Goddesses

July 19 Calligraphy

Aug 16 Strings of Asia

Sep 20 Myanmar

Oct 18 Vijaya Dashimi

Nov. 15 Himilayan Festival

Dec 13 Pasko Sa Nayon

--------------------------------------

This Weekend (and earlier)

April 19 UCLA Nikkei Student Union 17th Annual Cultural Night, 7:00PM to 10:00PM Royce Hall (located on the UCLA Campus) The Nikkei Student Union's Cultural Night educated both participants and audiences about issues like internment, the bombing of Hiroshima, inter-racial dating, as well as modern adaptations of traditional Japanese fables. Cultural Night has evolved into a full theatrical production that takes months of preparation.  Each year the Nikkei Student Union incorporates new and different aspects of Japanese American culture to share with the audience. uclanikkei.com

April 19 Pakistan Festival at the Pacific Asia Museum, 1-4PM.

----------------------------------------

Last Weekend

I caught the tail end of the Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival

-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------

LA Times: (The Times are requiring registration again, but you might as well sign up for the free on-line access to their articles. This week they may even be accessible without registration.)

April 11 Spying Case Stuns Chinese American Leaders

The accusation that high-profile businesswoman Katrina Leung was a double agent triggers fears of an ethnic backlash. By K. Connie Kang, Times Staff Writer

April 12 WAR WITH IRAQ

Koreatown Trees Sprout Ribbons for U.S. Troops

Residents tie yellow strands around hundreds of trunks as a show of support.

By K. Connie Kang, Times Staff Writer

April 14 Sikhs Mark New Year, Fight Post-Sept. 11 Bias

Facing rise in threats, temples plan education campaigns, lobby for new hate-crime laws.

By Richard Fausset, Times Staff Writer

From the Washington Post:

April 16 Kung Fu Hooey: Chow Yun-Fat's Mixed-Up 'Monk'

'Dragon,' Breathing Life Into an Old Tale

Ensemble Merges Jazz, Dance, Martial Arts