May 6, 2003

May is Asian PacificHeritage Month

http://www.apahc.org/

http://www.cssd11.k12.co.us/springcreek/home_page/cultural_diversity/asian_pacific_american_heritage_month.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/asianhistory1.html

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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

(dkikemi@mac.com, dkikmei@pacbell.net, dkikemi01@sprintpcs.com

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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.

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 13-July 27 The Legacy of Genghis Khan, Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353 at LACMA, www.lacma.org/khan/index_noflash.htm

May 13 Shakuhachi Concert by Shohei in the Garden Room of the JACCC in Little Tokyo. 7PM. $20, call 213-819-4100, info@culturalnews.com.

May 14 Nisei Widows Club starts at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 N. Judge John Aiso in Little Tokyo. $20-60, 213-625-7000, www.eastwestplayers.org

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 17 Kawai America presents Tamaki Kawabuko, violinist, Borris Andrianov, cellist, and Vadim Rudenko, pianist at 7:30 PM in the Armstrong Theater in Torrance. $25. Also performing on May 20 in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for $30.

May 18 Museums of the Arroyo, 11AM-5PM. Visit the Gamble House, Heritage Square, Lummis House, Pasadena Museum of History, and the Southwest Museum for free. 213-740-8687.

May 18 Okinawan Traditional Music and Dance presented by Geinu-Bu at the Armstrong Theater, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance, 2PM. $15. Call 310-532-1929

May 18 The Teahouse of the August Moon at the Huntington Beach Library Theater, 7111 Talbert St., 92648, 7PM, $15, www.fireroseproductions.com, www.teahouseoftheaugustmoon.com, wwwhbsistercity.org.

May 19 Rakugo Comedy with English subtitles, 7:30 PM at the Zenshuji Temple, 123 S. Hewitt St., near Little Tokyo, 90012. $10, call Mr. Misawa at 310-828-0756.

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 24 US Sumo Season kicks off at UCLA with the UCLA Sumo Open, 1PM in the John Wooden Center. Call 310-288-3641, www.usasumo.com.

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

April-May In a new collaborative project involving Little Tokyo businesses, non-profit organizations and local artists, the JACCC presents "At Home in Little Tokyo." Businesses are used as non-traditional venues for video installations and visual arts exhibitions and local artists are utilized as creative resources to enhance and add to the vitality of Little Tokyo. Participating businesses include Oiwake Restaurant ,Mitsuru Grill, Suehiro Restaurant ,Fugetsudo and Little TokyoKoban ; artists and arts organizations include the JACCC, Visual Communications, Hirokazu Kosaka, Qris Yamashita, Karen Toda and Tuesday Night Café. April 21 ~ May 4, 2003, 12pm ~ 1pm, Oiwake Restaurant 122 Japanese Village Plaza, Suehiro Restaurant 337 E. First Street, Little Tokyo Koban 307 E. First Street. May 1 ~ 16, 2003, Mitsuru Grill 316 E. First Street May 20, 2003, 7pm,Oiwake Restaurant 122 Japanese Village Plaza. May 2003, Fugestudo 315 E. First Street. For more information call 213.628.2725, ext 127 or Email at info@jaccc.org

May 31, 9th Annual APEX Youth Olympics 2003. Come join us at the 9th Annual APEX Youth Olympics to help inspire and motivate today's youth to excel in education, community and personal growth! The Mayor of Los Angeles has proclaimed the month of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month and this year APEX Youth Olympics will represent the last event for APH Month. APEX Volunteers are needed to help in the days activities with the SNAPY youths. The Service Network for Asian and Pacific Islander Youth (SNAPY) serves as the umbrella agency for 14 different youth agencies, most of which are affiliated with the United Way. SNAPY targets the needs of at-risk Asian and Pacific Islander youth in Southern California. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Lorena at lorenalung@yahoo.com. When: 8am - 4pm. Where: Corsair Stadium @ Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405. Costs: FREE! Your Time & Enthusiasm! Contact: James Tai, APEX Chair of Youth Olympics, at james@apex.org

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

June 8 Tribute Concert of Kabuki Music for late Nagauta master, Kineya Kichisaburo. 2PM at the Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. $25 call 213-680-3700

June 28 Satori Daiko concert at the Japan America Theater in Little Tokyo, 8PM, $20. call 213-680-3700, 626-307-3839.

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

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This Weekend (and earlier)‎

May 1-8 VC Film Fest, 213-680-4462x68, www.vconline.org.

May 2-15 The 1st Annual L.A. Anime Festival at the Egyptian Theater, Hollywood http://egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2003/anime1.htm

May 7,8 Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival at the Aratani/ Japan America Theatre www.vconline.org/FF03/index.html (part of VC Film Fest)‎

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 10 Lodestone Theatre Ensemble presents All-Star Asian American Comedy Jam at Rosen Brewery Restaurant 400S. Western Ave in Koreatown, $20-25 323-993-7245, www.lodestonetheatre.org

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

The movie Onmyoji (www.onmyojimovie.com) is showing at the Regent Showcase Theatre, 614 North La Brea Blvd. in Hollywood, 90012, 213-624-8658. For more reviews, www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Onmyoji-10002678/.

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Last Weekend

Friday night I went to the Egyptian Theatre to see the Japanese animated film "The Cat Returns" from the same people who brought you "Spirited Away". It was the opening of the LA Anime Festival and the film's director and producer were there for a live interview. On Sunday at the JACCC I saw "Tree of Palm" which is a Japanese twist on Pinnochio.

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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.)‎

May 5 Immigrants Less Supportive of War

By Teresa Watanabe, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-war-poll5may05,1,2882776.story

May 4 A Fever Pitch of Fear

Misconceptions about SARS are taking a toll in Chinatowns across the country. 'It's starting to get irritating,' says one Bay Area merchant.

By Shawn Hubler, David Pierson and John J. Goldman, Times Staff Writers

http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-stigma4may04.story

May 2 Feeling the Boot Heel of the Patriot Act

By Jason Halperin

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-halperin2may02.story

May 4 Japan's Royals Balance on a Tenuous Throne

Although the palace is more open with the public, it is irrelevant to the young. And the lack of a male heir spells concern.

By Natalie Obiko Pearson, Associated Press Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-adfg-palace4may04.story

May 3 International Space Station Proves a Diplomatic Success, if Nothing Else

Cooperation has been essential to its survival while NASA's shuttle fleet is grounded.

By Nick Anderson and David Holley, Times Staff Writers

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-space3may03.story

May 2 COMMENTARY

Appetite for Authoritarianism Spawns an American Gulag

By Jonathan Turley

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-turley2may02.story