April 1, 2003

Astroboy Birthday (see below)

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.

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ed. by Douglas Ikemi

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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.

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APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2003:

Evening meetings will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) 310/726-0100. Noon time meetings will be on Raytheon premises

April 16 6PM

May 14 noon R1/6E10

June 11 6PM

July 16 noon R1/6E10

Aug 13 6PM

Sept 10 noon R1/6E10

October 13 6PM

Nov 12 noon

Detailed calendar is available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats [will get around to updating sometime, now that I've done my income taxes!]. 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 10 The Asian Ski and Board Club of LA is having their monthly meeting at Back Home in Lahaina, on Sepulveda Blvd., in Manhattan Beach at 7:30 p.m. 916 N. Sepulveda Blvd 90266 Phone: (310) 374-0111

April 13 Hanamatsuri Celebration, JACCC, Little Tokyo. 11AM-12PM lecture on Buddhism in Garden Room. Ceremony 1-4PM JACCC Plaza.

April 15 ABL and LA Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown, $20 for non-members.

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

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 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 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

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:

April 19 Pakistan Festival

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

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This Weekend (and earlier)

April 2 The History of Tea Since the Tang Dynasty & the Recent Revival of the Tea Ceremony in China. Jimmy Huang speaks on the history of tea & its recent renaissance. Tea culture in China has a two thousand year history. The Chinese tea ceremony long predates the Japanese ceremony. Tea culture is currently enjoying a renaissance in urban centers in Taiwan and China and has also come to America's shopping malls. Jimmy Huang -- owner of eight West Coast tea shops -- will discuss the history of tea, its varieties, processing, lore, and the traditional ceremony. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Castelar Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 840 Yale Street. Castelar Elementary School is located in LA's Chinatown. Park on the playground, enter on College St. between Hill and Yale Streets. Please contact Randy Bloch, 323 222-0856, www.chssc.org.

April 3 APEX Cultural Affairs - Pages and Plates (April). APEX is proud to host Pages & Plates, a Cultural Affairs series to celebrate Asian America. Pages & Plates is a combination of a book club and a restaurant club. APEX members are invited to dine at a restaurant and to discuss the book of the month. At the conclusion of the meal, members will be able to review the restaurant and the book. Reviews will then be posted on the APEX website. By tying together the love for literature with the love for food, APEX hopes that Pages & Plates enables its members to discover a new dimension of Asian America. Pages and Plates are held every first Thursday of the month. The book for April is "A Single Square Picture: A Korean Adoptee's Search for Her Roots" by Katy Robinson. We encourage members to finish the book and contribute to the discussion. However, folks who want to participate without having read the book are welcomed. 7pm-9pm, Woo Lae Oak of Seoul, 623 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, 90005, 213-384-2244. Free, RSVP required as seating is limited. APEX members get priority seating. Contact Charles Ferrari at jcharlesferrari@mac.com

April 5,6 Bunka Sai Japanese Cultural Festival at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Ken Miller Recreational Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. 310-328-1238, 11AM-5PM, News Reporter Tricia Taksugi MCs on Saturday.

April 5 Spirit of Nature, 5^th Annual Celebration of Asian Pacific Culture, Music Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Mt. San Antonio College, 8PM, 909-468-4050.

April 6 Youth Olympics Committee Meeting. Want to get more involved in the 9th Annual APEX Youth Olympics on May 31, 2003? Come and learn how you can get participate in the committee as either a member or in a leadership role as a coordinator. If you can't make it and still want to get involved, email James at james@apex.org. 1:00pm - 3:00 pm, Relaxtation Café, 1108 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA (310) 824-1268 Contact: RSVP James Tai, APEX Chair of Youth Olympics, at james@apex.org

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Last Weekend

I went up to see the Shinzen Japanese Garden at the north end of Fresno last Saturday, after attending the Ani-Jam Japanese animation mini-convention. The area around the 99 was one of the most anti-Asian areas in California before World War II. How times have changed.

Sunday I caught the tail end of the Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival. This year it moved outdoors to Victory Park, in the NE quarter of the city. An improvement, I think. In a couple of weeks I'll be able to compare it to the one in Monterey Park. In the meantime, I can go to the Torrance Japanese sister city festival this weekend, and the Astroboy birthday party in Little Tokyo.

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Better Luck Tomorrow opens on April 11, 2003

APEX would like to thank everyone who attended the Community Screening of Better Luck Tomorrow last Thursday at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. We hope that everyone will support this great film in the box offices on April 11, 2003. If anyone would like to share his/her experience with the community film screening with APEX by submitting an article to our upcoming APEX Newsletter, Xchange, please e-mail your article to kelly@apex.org, APEX Director of Strategic Marketing/Co-Chief Editor of Xchange. In our lifetime, it is rare that we bear witness to an event, much less be a part one, that might change society. When the film "Better Luck Tomorrow" on April 11, 2003; it will be one of those events. The release will set a benchmark for a number of "firsts". 1) It is the first Asian American film ever to be picked up at the Sundance Film Festival. 2) It is the first film ever purchased and distributed by MTV Films. 3) It is the first all Asian-American cast to be widely distributed by a studio in a long time. It is because of all these "firsts" that we want to shed light on just how essential it is that our community support this film. The first weekend's attendance will determine whether or not we'll be setting a benchmark record for "firsts--and lasts". "Best and most provocative--a funny-sexy-scary powerhouse." -Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Magazine. "Extraordinarily accomplished and thought-provoking."- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times. Check your local listings for correct times and theater changes.

Where: April 11, 2003: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco

April 18, 2003: Washington D.C., Boston, Houston, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis

LOS ANGELES

AMC Century 14, Century City Mall, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, LA, CA 90067, 310 - 289-4262

Pacific ARCLIGHT Hollywood, 6360 Sunset Boulevard (at Vine), Hollywood, CA 90026(323) 464-4226

ORANGE COUNTY

AMC 30 at the BLOCK, 20 City Boulevard West, Orange, CA 92868 (714) 769-4262

Costs: The power of cinema is colossal.Show Hollywood that Asian Americans exist. Contact: Visit http://www.betterlucktomorrow.com for more details on the film and how to help.

MTV Films' vice president, Michael Cole summed it up best, "You've got a universal story in terms of what these guys are experiencing, and I think that's why people respond to it so strongly. It's told from a perspective that we haven't seen before and that we often don't see." He observes, "I thought ["BLT"] was incredible for our brand and for our audience. When I saw the movie I just said: 'You know, we really need to buy this movie. This movie is what we are.'"

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Jeanette Nishikawa, executive director of the Disabled Resources Center in Long Beach, was selected as Woman of the Year of the 54^th Assembly District (group picture at http://www.drcinc.org/Staff/Nav/staff.htm)

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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.)

Musical revisits dust and tears of Manzanar

By Lynne Heffley, Times Staff Writer

March 28 MOVIE REVIEW

'Fulltime' palls by halftime

In a sense, the action film from Hong Kong seems to exist only to make arch references to other action movies.

By Manohla Dargis, Times Staff Writer

March 28 ART

Audience for Islamic art is growing

As war threatens Iraq’s treasures, LACMA prepares ‘Legacy of Genghis Khan.’

By Suzanne Muchnic, Times Staff Writer

March 26 WORLD CINEMA

Secret life of Johnnie To

He may have an accountant's look, but see what goes on in the mind of this Hong Kong action director.

By Scarlet Cheng, Special to The Times

April 1 ORANGE COUNTY

Fears of Respiratory Syndrome Cut Into Asia Trips, Tour Operators Say

Some Californians are also avoiding local ethnic enclaves in case travelers have brought SARS here.

By Mai Tran and Jia-Rui Chong, Times Staff Writers

March 30 THE NATION

Affirmative Action Case Splits Asian Americans

University's policy, set for debate in high court, is seen as needed and as limiting, lawyers say.

By David G. Savage, Times Staff Writer

March 30 WAR WITH IRAQ / THE ARMED FORCES

Muslim GIs Also Battle Prejudice

A grenade attack in Kuwait only made the post-9/11 environment more difficult for many, but their faith, and loyalties, remain strong.

By Faye Fiore and Eric Slater, Times Staff Writers

March 28 Exploring timeless lessons

Operatic dance performance of ancient Hindu classic looks at the price of war.

By Pam Noles, Inland Valley Voice

April 1 Fighting for Their Citizenship

About 37,000 in the U.S. military have green cards. A fast track to naturalization is the goal for many; others seek education, careers.

By Rich Connell and Nora Zamichow, Times Staff Writers

March 31 LOS ANGELES

Keeping Traditions Leads to American Dream

Immigrants of Japanese ancestry who have built businesses based on old ways are honored.

By Julie Tamaki, Times Staff Writer

March 31 COMMENTARY

Racial Preferences as Slavery Reparation

Michigan case opens broader questions.

By Stuart E. Eizenstat, Stuart E. Eizenstat was President Carter's chief domestic advisor and held a number of senior positions in the Clinton administration. He is the author of "Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labo

March 30 Her World

For this cartoon hero, life is a fantastic journey

March 30 THE NATION

Giving Wings to the Peace Movement

By Tomas Alex Tizon, Times Staff Writer

March 25 TELEVISION REVIEW

Series delves into a secret past

A three-part program traces the struggle of Chinese immigrants to America in the mid-19th century, largely ignored by history books.

By Josh Friedman, Times Staff Writer

April 1 THE WORLD

U.S. Issues Annual Report on Rights

The State Department criticizes China, Israel and the Palestinians, among others.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-report1apr01.story

March 31 War Worries Don't Cloud Sunny Iranian Festival

A crowd of nearly 15,000 attended a Persian New Year celebration at Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks.

By Holly J. Wolcott, Times Staff Writer

March 29 Teens working to 'Stop the Hate'

A student panel and group sessions during an assembly at Corona del Mar High were designed to fight prejudice.

By Christine Carrillo, Daily Pilot

March 28 FBI Chief Defends Agents' Questioning of Iraqis in the U.S.

The program has helped identify possible targets in Iraq, Mueller says. Interviewees are called cooperative, but others say they feel victimized.

By Richard B. Schmitt, Times Staff Writer

People not wishing to attend marches that could become confrontational attend 'peace poetry' readings, stand solo with placards.

By Anne-Marie O'Connor, Times Staff Writer