Gil Asakawa's Nikkei View

May 29, 2013

Jason Chu’s “Battle Scars” powerful music video about bullying, violence and the power of love

Bullying, guns and violence in schools isn't just an Asian or Asian American issue. It's am across-the-board societal issue, and Chu's message of love, although maybe idealistic, is a good start, especially considering the level of violence across the country in just the past few months. Kevin Lien adds haunting vocals, and the video tells its story with grace and...

May 3, 2013

Hip-hop artist Jason Chu’s spoken-word tribute to Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Powerful stuff: Hip-hop artist Jason Chu has posted "A Thousand Names," a spoken-word tribute to Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month that's worth seeing more than once to absorb the flow of poetry and the meaning of his words. He nails the story of family dynamics, immigrant hopes and dreams and generational passage of culture and identity.

April 4, 2013

Rapper Jason Chu’s “Much Love” gets in your head

Nice work by hip-pop rapper Jason Chu. Memorable wordplay, beats and melody, and a video that appears to be one remarkably loooong camera shot following Chu from a fashion shoot in a warehouse to an alleyway. ...