Here's an update to my post of a few weeks ago, about the use of yellowface to have white actors playing Asian characters in "Cloud Atlas." MANAA, the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, adds its voice to the chorus criticizing the big-budget Hollywood sci-fi for its ridiculous and laughable depiction of Asians: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Guy Aoki (818)...
Over the years, I've been surprised that many Japanese Americans aren't interested in Japan or even visiting Japan, mostly because they’re embarrassed that they don’t speak Japanese, or they feel entirely American. I think it's more important than ever for Japanese Americans to follow events in Japan. The fact is, Japan is on the precipice of some potentially treacherous political turmoil. Most...
As an outsider to the anime and manga community Erin and I are drawn to Nan Desu Kan, Denver's anime convention that celebrates its 16th year this weekend at the Marriott in the Tech Center, in large part for its attendees' passion for cosplay. We're not that familiar with the plethora of contemporary anime titles (though I did grow up...
It was the right song for the occasion: Duo Sokyo ended a brief concert marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of more than 3,000 cherry trees to the United States as a symbol of friendship, with the traditional Japanese folksong that is probably best-known in the west, "Sakura," or "Cherry Blossom." Duo Sokyo, Yoko Hiraoka playing the koto, a traditional...
Yellowface is back in Hollywood, and it's as big, ugly, blatant and offensive as ever. Racebending wrote about this a couple of weeks ago in "The Cloud Atlas Conversation: Yellowface, Prejudice, and Artistic License," but as more and more people see the trailer for the new sci-fi flick "Cloud Atlas" (the film just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival) the outrage...
To lead up to October, which is National Domestic Violence Month, the Boston-based Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK)'s Youth Empowerment Project produced a rough-around-the-edges but sweet public service announcement video to educate people about how casual sexist attitudes can lead to abusive and violent behavior: I think it's cool that young Asian Americans created the PSA....
During a recent trip to Los Angeles, Erin and I took the time to visit Universal Studios and play the part of tourists. The highlight -- hands down -- was "Transformers The Ride-3D," an immersive thrill ride that took our breath away with its realism and extreme excitement. The ride takes the characters from the hit series of sci-fi action films...
Scooter Braun, the management guru behind Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen, today announced he's signed Korean rap artist Park Jae-Sang, better-known as PSY, the dude with the huge viral video hit, "Gangnam Style" (see above). The goofy, annoying techno-dance thumper with the horsey-straddling giddyup choreography is unavoidable -- with more than 107 million views as of this writing, it's become...
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