THE APPA Newsletter

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

Pacifika: Young Perspectives on Pacific Island Art

May 1 through August 24, 2008

The first in a series of experimental, community-driven exhibits; Pacifika: Young Perspectives on Pacific Island Art explores the arts, cultures, and traditions of the people of the Pacific Islands now living in Southern California. Issues regarding migration, ceremonial tattooing, costumes and adornments will be explored through interpretive materials created by students of Carson High School’s Pacific Islanders Club and UCLA’s Pacific Islands Student Association (PISA).

Contemporary objects such as costumes – created and worn by students during dance performances and competitions – will be displayed alongside traditional examples from Pacific Asia Museum’s collection. For example, a 19th century Hawaiian necklace (lei niho palaoa), exquisitely created by a master craftsman (kahuna), will be juxtaposed with a 21st century necklace made from unconventional materials, such as plastic and paper.

Other objects from the museum’s collection include Samoan textiles made from bark cloth (tapa); a coconut-shell purse from Tonga; Fijian cowry-shell necklaces; and models of outrigger canoes which have a fascinating history as the main means of transport for all the Pacifika (Polynesian) peoples.

Additionally, the exhibit will include photographs and oral histories to provide context about what it means to be a Pacifika youth living in Los Angeles. Since first contact with the outside world in the late 18th century, the Pacifika peoples have shown great resilience and vitality in regards to combining traditional beliefs with new ideas.

This exhibit is curated by students from Carson High School’s Pacific Islanders Club and UCLA’s PISA, under the supervision of Christina Hellmich, Curator of the Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art and Curator of Oceanic Art at the de Young Museum of San Francisco.

This exhibition is sponsored by the James Irvine Foundation and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Julian Bermudez, Exhibition Coordinator

Related Events

Saturday, May 10, 1pm–4pm Free Family Festival: The Arts of the Pacific Islands

Family Festivals are always a lot of fun, and this will be no exception! Come celebrate Pacific cultures and the opening of the innovative new exhibition Pacifika:Young Perspectives on Pacific Island Art. Enjoy a dance “tour” of Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand and Tahiti, hands-on crafts, demonstrations, and more. This Free Family Festival is supported in part by a generous grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The James Irvine Foundation, Pasadena Arts and Culture Commission, the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division and Target.

The Byuti and Danger of Performing Transgender and Transnational Belonging

A colloquium with Allan Punzalan Isaac, Associate Professor of English, Wesleyan University, analyzing the film "Paper Dolls" (Bubot Niyar, Israel 2006) by Tomer Heymann.

Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

10383 Bunche Hall (10th floor)

UCLA Campus

Los Angeles, CA 90095

After the second intifada in 2000 Israel closed its borders and expelled Palestinians who were no longer welcome as service labor in Israel. 300,000 foreign workers were brought in to do jobs Israeli’s could not or did not want to perform including giving care to the elderly in Orthodox neighborhood. Neither Muslim nor Jewish, neither Arab nor Jew, 30,000 Filipino workers fill the service labor gap among Israelis. These depend on private family employment to maintain the legality of their stay in Israel. In the last five years, three Israeli films, both documentary and fictional, have featured Filipino caregivers and labor issues. This paper focuses on a recent documentary, Paper Dolls (2006), which provides a painfully moving account of the lives of Filipino transgender caregiver-drag performers in Tel Aviv. They are ineligible for citizenship but are also immediately deportable upon loss of employment. Their presence in the Israeli nation-state stands tenuously on fragile economic and affective relations in Israeli homes. The film goes beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to explore the emotional lives of these marginal figures in Israeli society.

National borders and harsh state power are enacted most apparently on the most vulnerable members of society, such as the five Paper Dolls, who are not only caregivers but also perform a lip-synch act for the Filipino migrants in Tel Aviv. Their lipsynch act and name invokes multiple sets of mediations in gender and national belonging, but gestures towards a different sense of pleasure, danger and beauty/byuti, a concept elaborated on by Martin Manalansan in Global Divas (2004). Given the Israeli populace’s suspicion of all immigrants because of the increased bombing, these invited but custodial guest-workers of the Israeli nation-state become targets for police surveillance and detention. Yet they also offer alternative notions of belonging in the face of globalization. I argue that both the characters and the film narrative evinces a style of palabas (spectacular and emotional output) and damay (sympathy and engagement), terms deployed by Philippine cultural studies scholar, Patrick Flores, towards a political reimagining of diasporic belonging. “Filipino” as a category is not defined solely by the vexed history between the U.S. and the Philippines; other global labor locales also serve as important identificatory sites for this imagined community intricately bound to global labor that reimagines family and national ties. Reflecting the transnational aspect of Asian/American Studies, this project puts pressure upon the facile metaphorical elisions among the terms family, gender, and nation.

Allan Punzalan Isaac, Associate Professor of English at Wesleyan University, specializes in ethnic American and Asian American aspects of American literary and cultural studies. His book American Tropics: Articulating Filipino America (University of Minnesota Press, 2006) is the recipient of the Association for Asian American Studies Cultural Studies Book Award. In 2003-2004, he was a senior Fulbright scholar at DeLaSalle University-Taft in Manila. He teaches a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses in Theory and Literature, Asian American Studies, Critical Race Theory, and Comparative Race Studies.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

For more information please contact

Barbara Gaerlan Tel: 310-206-9163 cseas@international.ucla.edu www.international.ucla.edu

April 12, 2008 Koto Concert: HARUSAME "Spring Rain"

YUKIKO MATSUYAMA IN CONCERT

An evening of contemporary music where East meets West. Japanese traditional koto, taiko and Tsugaru shamisen and western instruments blend to create a refreshing new blend of world music.

Featuring: Yukiko Matsuyama (koto); John York (guitar, vocals); Diana Dentino (Keyboard); Gary St Germain (drums); Rev. Shuichi T. Kurai (taiko); Mike Penny (Tsugaru shamisen)

Saturday, 7:30 pm

Sozenji Buddhist Temple

3020 West Beverly Blvd.

Montebello, CA 90640-2215

Tel: 323.724.6866

Fax: 626.307-3839

Advanced Tickets: $18 / At the Door: $20

Call: (626) 307-3839 or (310) 818-6997 for tickets and information. Wesite: www.kotoyuki.com

Sunday, April 13, 2pm

“Chado & Clay: The Way of Tea and Clay” with Julie Hunter “Sori” Bagish

Chado, or the Way of Tea, is an ancient art form embodying the idea of ichigo ichie, (This moment, now). The scroll displayed at a ceremony, for example, is the poetic expression of the event’s time, place, and purpose. Rengetsu embodied this by her use of poetic calligraphy on both clay and paper. Ms. Bagish, a celebrated ceramicist and tea teacher, will explore these interactions, demonstrate Rengetsu’s inscription technique, and share Tea objects to touch. Free with admission please call ext. 31 to RSVP.

Pacific Asia Museum

46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena California 91101

(626) 449-2742

THAI TOWN 5K RUN/WALK

Sunday, April 13, 2008 8:00 AM

HOLLYWOOD BLVD. BETWEEN VERMONT AVE. AND WESTERN AVE.

THAI TOWN, EAST HOLLYWOOD AREA , CA

Post race festivities featuring, food, arts and crafts, performances, and raffle at Thai New Year Festival

Prices:

THAI TOWN 5K RUN/WALK: $25.00

Online Reg. Closes:

April 9, 2008 11:59 PM Pacific Time

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?EVENT_ID=1560124&CHECKSSO=0

or for html form:

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:5mU171oHQuEJ:eastsidescene.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/thai-town-5k-registration-form.doc+thai+town+5K&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=safari

April 15, 2008 Super, Girls!

Screening of a documentary on the dreams & disappointments of the young women who participated in the megahit "Super Girl Singing Contest" -- and a audience discussion with Jian Yi, the filmmaker

Tuesday, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

2250 Public Policy Building

UCLA

Los Angeles, CA 90095

Director / Cinematography / Editing: Jian Yi

Length: 160 minutes Production: 2007

Synopsis: Instant fame or eternal obscurity? A story of young women struggling to live up to their dreams in the summer of 2006

This is the first independent documentary on a veritable cultural phenonemon: the TV show Super Girls Singing Contest, which for two short years was among the most popular programs anywhere and anytime. It drew an audience of around 400 million, who watched--by all accounts, enthralled--80,000 contestants aged 18 to 20 or so compete in a program patterned on of Amerian Idol.

By the end of the first season (in 2005) there were rumors the show would be banned. Jian Yi picked up his camera before it was too late. (In fact, the government banned the show after the 2006 season.) Shooting the second season of Super Girls was a window into a society in transition. As Jian Yi explained, "“The film shows the huge changes that have taken place in China. When I was in school, everyone was as poor as me. The difference back then, in the 1970s and 80s, was that status came if there were state officials in your family. Now China is increasingly adopting capitalist values and the two ideas are colliding. The young people in this film are looking to be super-rich and to forge super-connections. There is a new self-confidence about them, and a sense of booming prosperity. That has never existed in China before."

Jian Yi (who was born in Jiangxi in 1975) is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and of the Beijing Broadcasting Institute (BBI). He started his first job when he got a lecturing position at BBI in 1999. In 2003, he joined the EU-China Training Program on Village Governance as a communication specialist, filmmaker, and photographer. In 2005 he cofounded the China Villagers’ Documentary Project together with filmmaker Wu Wenguang. Jian Yi started his China Dreams documentary series in 2005. Super, Girls! is the first independent documentary on the Super Girl Singing Contest.

For more information please contact

Richard Gunde Tel: 310 825-8683 gunde@ucla.edu

Sponsor(s): Center for Chinese Studies

Friday, April 11, 7:30pm

Colin Thubron Shadow of the Silk Road

Universally acknowledged as one of the world’s best living travel writers, Colin Thubron records a journey along the greatest land route on earth. Making his way by local bus, truck, donkey cart and camel, Thubron covered 7,000 miles in eight months – perhaps the most arduous and ambitious endeavor he has undertaken in forty years of travel.

Reservations strongly recommended, as this will be Mr. Thubron’s only local engagement. Program co-sponsored by Asia Society Southern California.

Pacific Asia Museum

46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena California 91101

(626) 449-2742

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

Saturday, April 19, 2pm

Mariko Kitakubo Tanka Performance/Reading

In a rare bilingual performance, Mariko Kitakubo, a leading Japanese poet and performance artist, will present her tanka (Japan’s oldest and most popular poetry form) accompanied by Linda Galloway reading the English translation. Program co-sponsored by the Southern California Haiku Study Group.

Reservations strongly recommended as space is limited in the Japanese Gallery

Pacific Asia Museum

46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena California 91101

(626) 449-2742

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

April 11-17,18-20 Japan Film Festival

Visual Communications is proud to be a supporter of the Japan Film Festival, happening April 11- 17 at the ImaginAsian Center in Downtown Los Angeles and April 18 - 20, in Irvine, at the Starplex Cinemas, From anime to award-winning films to Kurosawa classics, the 2008 Japan Film Festival is a prime example of Japan's most prolific writers and directors in a variety of genres sure to mesmerize movie-goers of all tastes.

Among the list of feature films to be presented are: the hit, "Hula Girls," (VC FILMFEST 2007 feature) directed by Sang-il Lee; "Yunagi City, Sakura Country," the live action adaptation of writer Fumiyo Kono's award-winning manga "Yunagi no machi, Sakura no kuni" directed by Kiyoshi Sasabe; "Always: Sunset on Third Street," directed by Takashi Yamazaki; winner of the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival's Netpac Award, Kaori Momoi's "Faces of a Fig Tree" [Ichijiku no Kao] and many more!

For those diehard Kurosawa fans, the Japan Film Festival will feature a retrospective of the film master, including "The Hidden Fortress" and "Sanjuro."

Japanese animation fans will also be able to get their fix with "Atagoal Cat's Magical Forest" [Atagoal wa Neko no Mori]; writer Masamune Shirow's much-anticipated "Appleseed: ExMachina"; and the just-released "One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta"; plus, a collection of never-before seen shorts from independent animation promotion company "Anime Innovation Tokyo."

In addition to the feature films, the 2008 Japan Film Festival has opened its doors to young filmmakers in Japan as well as in the US to submit their films to be screened at our independent showcase during the weeklong festival.

The Japan Film Festival hopes to strengthen the understanding of contemporary Japanese culture within America as well as encourage communication and the exchange of ideas between Japan and the U.S. For tickets and more information, please visit www.jffla.org.

April 12 The Nikkei Experience: Curtiss Takada Rooks on Hapa Issues

2PM

In September 2007, Hapa Issues Forum bid its final farewell. This program seeks to explore Nikkei identity through the lens and lives of multiracial Japanese Americans.

Presented by DiscoverNikkei.org with the generous support of The Nippon Foundation.

http://www.ci.monterey-park.ca.us/home/index.asp?page=812

April 13, 2008 Vietnamese Cinema 4 Symposium on Filmmaking: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Discussion with nine Asian Americans in the film industry and the screening of three short films.

Sunday, 2:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Northwest Auditorium

(on Charles Young Drive West, near Deneve Drive)

UCLA Campus

Los Angeles, CA 90095

The distinguished guest panelists include: Timothy Linh Bui (Writer/Director/Producer, “Powder Blue”, “Green Dragon”), Elyse Dinh (Actress, “Green Dragon”, “Running in Tall Grasses”), Abraham Ferrer (Exhibitions Director, Visual Communications), Stephane Gauger (Writer/Director/Producer, “Owl and the Sparrow”), Elisabeth Huynh (Fox Film Acquisitions), David Ngo (Director, “The Queen from Virginia: The Jackie Bong Wright Story”), Ham Tran (Writer/Director/Producer, “Journey from the Fall”), Bao Tranchi (Costume Designer, “Journey from the Fall”, “America's Next Top Model” Cycle 7, “Charlie’s Angels”), and Christopher Wong (Composer, “Journey from the Fall”, “The Rebel”).

Screenings of three short films: "Break-up Therapy" by David Ngo, "Oh Mommy!" by Jenni Trang Le, and "Spray It, Don't Say It" by Tuan Andrew Nguyen.

This program is an alternate-year offering of the Vietnamese International Film Festival.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

Special Instructions

Parking at UCLA costs $8.

For more information please contact

Barbara Gaerlan Tel: 310-206-9163 cseas@international.ucla.edu www.international.ucla.edu/cseas/

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies, UCLA Vietnamese Language and Culture and the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association.

April 19,20 he 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival Committee and the City of Monterey Park are pleased to present the 11th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on April 19 & 20, 2008 at Barnes Park, located at 350 S. McPherrin Avenue; Monterey Park, CA. Entry to the Festival is FREE.

Planned and coordinated by community volunteers, the Cherry Blossom Festival strives to provide a cultural arts event that offers a forum for learning, entertainment, fun, and support of community.

So take the time to see, hear, and taste a bit of the Japanese and Japanese American culture through a first-hand experience of watching traditional Japanese dancing, hearing the resounding beats of the taiko drums, observing the mastery and various skills of martial arts, participating in the ancient art of the tea ceremony, or buying hand-made crafts or food with an Asian flair. Other highlights of the Festival include games & crafts for children, and numerous cultural displays.

Civic Center: 320 West Newmark Avenue

Barnes Park: 350 S. McPherrin Avenue (directly behind Civic Center)

April 19-May 25, 2008 TRAPEZOID:

Lodestone’s first presentation of a play in the science-fiction genre, TRAPEZOID tells the story of a Korean American poet in love hired by a technology think tank to put the “art” in artificial intelligence. When the robot creation falls in love with the human creator, it's man-made versus mankind with sometimes comic and sometimes tragic results.

Written by Nic Cha Kim

Directed by Scott Horstein

Produced by Stephanie Chang & Vic Chao

Cast: Julia Cho, Antonia Grace Glenn, Alberto Isaac, Lanny Joon, Elaine Kao, Charles Kim, Leonard Wu, Elpidio Ebuen, John Fukuda, Grace Kim, Stephanie Lincoln, Brian P. Nichols & Enoch Wu

Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sundays 2 PM

(Low-Priced previews April 17-18 at 8 PM)

$16 for general admission

$14 for students/seniors.

Group rates of $12 each are available for reservations of ten or more.

Tickets for the April 19th Opening Night Gala with a post-show reception are $25.

All Sunday matinees (except May 25) will be pay-what-you-can admission with a $1 minimum.

GTC BURBANK

1111-B W. Olive St.

Burbank, CA 91506

(inside George Izay Park, just west of S. Victory Blvd.)

http://lodestonetheatre.org/Lodestone/4237E87D-9684-4191-A592-35CD2AB9C1A0.html

April 20 The Okinawan Association Performing Arts Committee presents UTAYABIRA WUDUYABIRA in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive.

2PM

Tickets are $15. Call the Theatre Box Office at 310.781.7171.

Traditional Okinawan instruments will be featured in this evening of music and dance.

Box Office hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets may be purchased over the phone (using a credit card) by calling 310.781.7171, or in person at the Theatre Box Office. All persons entering the Theatre must have a ticket. All ticket sales are final and cannot be exchanged or refunded. ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY PRESENTERS

Torrance Cultural Arts Center

3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, CA 90503

Sunday, April 20, 2008 2:30pm

SUSHIMASTERS

Los Angeles Regional Competition

Mark you calendars! Join us for a spectacular afternoon of unforgettable taste sensations and culinary virtuosity as top Southern California sushi chefs compete for the regional title in the first Los Angeles SushiMasters competition. Think Iron Chef, sushi-style!!

The live competition on the Aratani/Japan America Theatre stage will be followed by a tasting of gourmet delights with complimentary Japanese beer and sake on the JACCC Plaza.

This event is brought to you by JACCC and The California Rice Commission.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre

$65 general admission, $75 reserved seating

Tickets include complimentary tasting & sampling after the competition

For more information call (213) 628-2725

Charge by phone (213) 680-3700

Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday,12-5pm

Buy tickets online

Watch video clip (coming soon)

www.sushimasters.com

www.calrice.org

Japanese American Cultural and

Community Center

244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505

(between 2nd and 3rd Streets)

Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), CA 90012

(213) 628-2725

April 24 Asian New Media

7:30PM

Film screening and panel discussion featuring time-based and media artists. Contact Peter Mays at Gallery 825, peter@laaa.org, or 310.652.8272.

http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/

April 24, 2008 Chinese Cinema at 100: Art, Politics and Commerce

In conjunction with a recently completed book manuscript entitled Chinese Film at 100: Art, Politics and Commerce, edited by ZHU Ying and Stanley ROSEN, this conference will bring together many of the contributors to that volume, as well as other leading specialists on Chinese film.

Thursday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Davidson Conference Center

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Broad topics to be addressed include the Chinese Film Industry and its Local and Global Market; Film Art: Genre and Authorship; Film Culture and Film Discourse; and Previously Underrepresented and Emerging Topics.

Since the conference will address not only the aesthetics of Chinese film, but also examine commerce and politics, in addition to academic panels there will be panels and roundtables which include filmmakers and film executives from China and Hollywood. One such panel will bring together practitioners based in Hollywood, particularly those originally from China, who will discuss their experiences in marketing their films to China. A parallel panel will include practitioners from China, who will discuss their experiences in marketing their films both in China and overseas.

April 26, 27 Bunka-Sai Japanese Festival

Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive N.

Contact Hazel Taniguchi 310-328-1238

April 26, 2008 Ten Years After: Reformasi & New Social Movements in Indonesia, 1998-2008

U.C. Berkeley / UCLA Joint Conference on Southeast Asian Studies

Saturday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

U.C. Berkeley campus

Berkeley, CA 04720

In May 1998, following months of protests, and triggered by the outbreak of rioting in Indonesia’s major cities, the authoritarian New Order regime of President Suharto collapsed after more than thirty years in power. Since these tumultuous events took place, Indonesia has experienced profound change at many levels in society, often at a rapid pace. As the tenth anniversary of the fall of the New Order approaches, the Center for Southeast Asia Studies at UC Berkeley and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA will hold a joint conference that will examine the new forces for change that have emerged in Indonesia over this past decade and the transformations that have occurred, while also reflecting upon the New Order and its legacies.

This is a two-day conference, Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2008.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

For more information please contact

Barbara Gaerlan Tel: 310-206-9163 cseas@berkeley.edu ias.berkeley.edu/cseas/

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies, U.C. Berkeley Center for Southeast Asia Studies

April 26, 27 Welcome to the 13th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the country’s largest celebration of the written word.

For one weekend in April, people who love books will gather with people who love to write, publish and sell books. And, there’s nothing like it anywhere.

0. 140,000 attendees

0. 450+ authors

0. 300+ exhibitors

0. 900+ volunteers

0. 100+ author panels

0. 6 outdoor stages

0. 2 children’s areas

For more literary fun and surprises, join us on Friday, April 25 for the 28th Annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. This special evening will honor some of the finest books of 2007 and their writers, and kicks off the Festival of Books on Friday, April 25. For more information, click here.

Don’t miss the next exciting chapters of two extraordinary 2008 literary events — the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes.

Los Angeles Times  FESTIVAL OF BOOKS at a Glance

IN ASSOCIATION WITH UCLA®

Saturday, April 26 • 10 am to 6 pm

Sunday, April 27 • 10 am to 5 pm

UCLA Main Campus

Admission to the Festival of Books is free. Parking is $8.

39th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, April 26, 2008

The 39th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage is scheduled for April 26, 2008, at the Manzanar National Historic Site, beginning at noon. The popular Manzanar At Dusk program begins at 4:30 PM (venue to be announced at a later date).

http://www.manzanarcommittee.org/pilgrimages/manz2008/2008flyer.pdf

Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2008

LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

A Visual Communications Production

24th Edition

May 1-8, 2008

Wednesday, May 7 - Film screening at Aratani/Japan America Theatre

Thursday, May 8 - Closing Night & Awards Ceremony at Aratani/Japan America Theatre

Visual Communications will present the 24th edition of The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, May 1-8, 2008, at the Directors Guild of America, Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre, and Aratani/Japan America Theatre, among others. The Film Festival will include the latest new works by established and emerging filmmakers and video artists; a slate of provocative and highly entertaining feature-length productions showcasing the talents of Asian American acting and producing talents; new works by Asian international artists; and filmmaker seminars, panel discussions and symposiums on topics relevant to Asian Pacific cinema.

The Film Festival once again is proud to present two of its most prestigious events at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre, host venue to the 1st Festival back in 1983. On Wednesday, May 7, the Film Festival continues and expands its commitment to nurture and promote new Asian Pacific American filmmaking talent through the World Premiere screening of works by Visual Communications' 2008 Armed with Camera Fellowship. Then be sure to join us on Thursday, May 8 as the Film Festival presents the annual Filmmaker Awards for feature-length and short films, and Festival Audience Awards for favorite feature-length narrative and documentary film, to be allowed by the local premiere of the Closing Night feature and Reception.

For complete program and ticket information call Visual Communications at

(213) 680-4462 x. 59 beginning April 2008 or visit www.vconline.org

Japanese American Cultural and

Community Center

244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505

(between 2nd and 3rd Streets)

Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), CA 90012

(213) 628-2725

Lotus Steps 2008

Saturday, May 7, 2007

UCLA Royce Hall

7:00pm Chinese Cultural Dance Club at UCLA to Present its Nineth Annual Dance Production, Lotus Steps 2008: From Within...

In addition to producing Lotus Steps, CCDC organizes free dance instruction, mentoring programs for adopted children from China, and educational programs for disadvantaged and at-risk adolescents in the Los Angeles community.

For additional information about either Lotus Steps 2008 or CCDC, please contact Helen Cheng, Lotus Steps Production Manager of Public Relations at ccdc.publicrelations@gmail.com.

Advanced Entrance (AE) tickets are a fantastic way to guarantee great seats to our show! Two AE tickets can be reserved with an individual contribution of only $50! There's no limit to how much you can contribute, but there are a limited number of AE tickets available. Hurry and secure the best seats in the house to our event. Download our contribution brochure and follow the instructions to reserve your AE tickets.   General Admission tickets will be available at the UCLA Central Ticket Office and through our website . General Admission tickets are FREE!   Tickets are required for admission. Non ticket holders will be placed in a standby line and granted admission to the auditorium starting at 6:45 pm, space permitting.

http://www.ccdcbruins.com/lotus/lotus.htm

Saturday, May 10, 2008 3pm

THE COLBURN DANCE INSTITUTE SPRING CONCERT

The annual Colburn Dance Institute Spring Concert will be performed for the first time at the Aratani/japan America Theatre. Featuring a combination of classical and contemporary choreography, the students of the Professional Training Program will showcase the work of Jiří Kylián, George Balanchine and Marius Petipa amongst others.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre

Admission Free

Reservations required

Call the Colburn Box Office at (213) 621-1050

www.colburnschool.edu

Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 2008

LITTLE TOKYO FUNFEST

DAY ONE: Saturday, May 17, 10-4pm

JACCC Plaza, Center Building, & San Pedro Street

Admission Free

Day one of Little Tokyo Funfest kicks off with JACCC'S Asian Pacific Arts & Crafts Faire, the 10th Annual San Tai San Youth Basketball Tournament and Nikkei Community Day.

10th Annual San Tai San Youth Basketball Tournament

For girls and boys ages 7-12 years old

For information and online registration go to http://reccenter.ltsc.org

Come out to play ball on the streets of Little Tokyo! Children ages 7-12 are invited to register teams for our outdoor 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. All teams play at least 2 games and everyone gets a goodie bag, t-shirt, and tournament raffle ticket.

2nd Annual Nikkei Community Day

Sponsored by Ties That Bind

Japanese and Japanese Americans from all over the Greater L.A. Area come together for an amazing festival of Nikkei heritage and culture. Join community leaders as they share their ideas on "The State and Future of the Nikkei Community," visit community information booths, watch performances on stage and participate in workshops.

DAY TWO: Saturday, May 17, 10-4pm

25TH ANNIVERSARY CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATION

JACCC Plaza, Center Building, & San Pedro Street

Admission Free

Day two continues with our Asian Pacific Arts & Crafts Faire, with live entertainment, craft vendors, delicious food, and childrens' crafts and games. along with our annual Chibi-K: Kids for Kids Fun Run and Cultural Discovery Workshops.

Chibi-K: Kids for Kids Fun Run (Rain or Shine!)

For children ages 4 to 12 years

Everyone is invited to participate in this fun run through the streets of Little Tokyo. Registration includes a Chibi-K Run T-shirt, and goodie bag.

Online registration for Chibi-K (coming soon)

For schedule and phone registration contact Jessie Kikuchi at (213) 628-2725 x142

or jkikuchi@jaccc.org

Cultural Discovery Workshops, 11-3pm

Workshops for the entire family! Led by local artists and professionals, these hands-on workshops are a unique opportunity for parents and children to experience a variety of cultural traditions all in one day! A perfect event for the whole family!

Online registration for Cultural Workshops (coming soon)

For schedule and phone registration contact Jessie Kikuchi at (213) 628-2725 x142

or jkikuchi@jaccc.org

Saturday, May 24 - Sunday, June 29

AJA 22nd ANNIVERSARY

AJA XXII marks the 22nd year of the JACCC s annual spotlight on contemporary art.

Activating and manipulating the space of the Doizaki Gallery and the JACCC Plaza marks the return of award-winning landscape architect Calvin Abe to the Artist of Japanese Ancestry (AJA) series for the second time.

Honed by his many years of experience, Abe's exciting new installation piece titled Shreddings Part III: Defuragu is an innovative look into our current eco-system. This visually powerful and interactive installation promises to take gallery-goers on an introspective journey.

George J. Doizaki Gallery and JACCC Plaza

Admission Free

Gallery Hours: Tues-Fri, 12-5pm, Sat-Sun 11-4pm, or by appt. Closed Mondays and Holidays

For information or to schedule an appointment beyond normal gallery hours contact

Gavin Kelley at (213) 628-2725 x.133 or kelley@jaccc.org

Japanese American Cultural and

Community Center

244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505

(between 2nd and 3rd Streets)

Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), CA 90012

(213) 628-2725

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Anniversary Dinner

The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center cordially invites you to attend its 28th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner. Sunday June 1, 2008, at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. We will be honoring Councilperson Jan Perry and Media News Anchors Frank Buckley, Rob Fukuzaki, Susan Hirasuna, David Ono, and Gordon Tokumatsu.

For ticket and sponsorship information call (213) 680-2725.

Saturday, June 7, 8pm

ASIA AMERICA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Japanese national treasure Sadao Watanabe returns in a very special appearance with the full Asia Symphony Orchestra. Also featured in the program will be Beethoven's Symphony #6 in F Major "Pastorale" and the World Debut of "Dolores Del Carmen" for Spanish guitar and Orchestra composed by music director David Benoit.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre

$75 VIP with reception /$50 Premiere tickets/ $35 general admission

For more information call (213) 628-2725

Charge by phone (213) 680-3700

Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday,12-5pm

Buy tickets online (coming soon)

www.asiaamericasymphony.org

Saturday, June 7, 1pm

“Chinese Pioneers in the San Gabriel Valley”

The San Gabriel Valley is the destination of many Chinese immigrants, but this is not a new phenomenon. A hundred years ago, small Chinese communities thrived in Pasadena and elsewhere. Join Professor Susie Ling as she discusses the history of Chinese Americans in the San Gabriel Valley, and their contemporary concerns. Susie Ling is an Associate Professor of History/Asian American Studies at Pasadena City College and an active member of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Free with admission; call 626.449.2742 ext. 31 to RSVP.

Sunday, June 29, 1pm

Special film screening and Aurora Borealis Photography Show

AURORA FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER FILM SCREENING

The Aurora Foundation will hold a special screening of the film Bizan (2007)

directed by Isshin Inudou. Based on the novel by Masashi Sada the film starts

Nanako Matsushima, most known for her leading role in The Ring. Set in Tokushima, Bizan tells a universal story of familial love and emotional healing with lots of local flavor.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre

For ticket prices, tickets, and information contact the Aurora Japanese

Language Scholarship Foundation at (323) 882-6545

Saturday, June 21

A benefit concert for the Theatre

SOUNDS & VOICES OF J-TOWN

Save the date for this benefit concert celebrating the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. Bringing together extraordinary talent from the API community, featured artists include acclaimed Jennifer Paz (Flower Drum Song & Miss Saigon), a rare in-concert performance by Mariko Nishizu, and compelling poet/activist Traci Kato Kiriyama.

These artists and other special guests honor the main stage that has been home to

Asian Pacific Islander performing artists for over 25 years. There will be a post performance reception following the concert.

Proceeds from the concert will go towards theatre equipment upgrades.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre

Special VIP Seating $100*

$50 orchestra, $45 balcony

*(tax deductible to the extent permitted by law)

Japanese American Cultural and

Community Center

244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505

(between 2nd and 3rd Streets)

Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), CA 90012

(213) 628-2725

See LA Library DiverseCity events at http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/events/diversecity/index.html

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

This Weekend (and earlier/later)

April 5 Neglected Legacies: Japanese American Women and Redress: Organizing the Community.

REDRESS REMEMBERED (Part 2 of 3)

2PM

Panel presentation about the role of Japanese American women in the redress movement. Each panelist will speak about a specific individual's contributions - Joy Morimoto on Sox Kitashima; Sharon Yamato on Michi Weglen, and Diana Meyers Bahr on Sue Kunitomi Embrey.

Presented in collaboration with the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy and Dr. Lane Hirabayashi, George & Sakaye Aratani Professor of the Japanese American Internment, Redress and Community, Asian American Studies, UCLA.