Min Jin Lee's Slow and Steady Path

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Min Jin Lee Works Best in the Silences

Min Jin Lee's 2017 novel Pachinko was an international smash hit. But it wasn't an overnight success. Like much of her writing life, Pachinko took the slow and steady path, reaching bestseller status about a year after publication. Ahead of the highly anticipated release of her third novel, American Hagwon, this fall, she talks about why being a "slow processor" is the best way forward in these unprecedented times.

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A new program unites West Coast readers for stories of Japanese American incarceration

A new program dubbed "the largest book club on the West Coast" is uniting libraries to explore an often erased chapter of the region. For the first time ever, patrons of over 140 different library systems across Washington, Oregon, and California are joining in for the "One Book, One Coast" program. The club's first pick, George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, follows Takei's childhood years imprisoned in incarceration camps in Arkansas and California during World War II.

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These Filmmakers Set Out to Make an Honest Film About BTS—and Got More Than They’d Hoped For

After a nearly four-year hiatus, BTS has surged back into the spotlight. But the group's return to the pinnacle of pop wasn’t easy, as revealed in the new documentary BTS: The Return, which follows the group's seven members as they gather in a Los Angeles studio to work on their comeback album, Arirang. Director Bao Nguyen and producer Jane Cha Cutler talk about the making of the movie and the close collaboration with BTS and Hybe, the group’s parent company, that brought it to life.

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Isa Briones sings "Who's Sorry Now" from JUST IN TIME

Watch Isa Briones singing her ass off in this rendition of "Who's Sorry Now" from Just in Time. The jukebox musical tells the story of legendary singer Bobby Darin. Briones, who also stars as Dr. Santos on the medical drama The Pitt, recently joined the cast on Broaday as Connie Francis. Anything to avoid doing her charts.

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Forget Cruise and Schwarzenegger: Why Chow Yun-Fat is cinema's greatest action hero

"What makes an all-timer action star? Some stand out with their dexterous, daredevil stunts – think Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible franchise. Others' chief selling point is their Herculean physique, as exemplified by the 1980s Hollywood trio of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. But set against these invulnerable, seemingly immortal beings, there's one truly remarkable action performer who has been happy to show that he is all too human -- Chow Yun-Fat, the star of some of Hong Kong's most pivotal, internationally influential action films."

Beam Me Up, Sulu: Where No Fan Had Gone Before

Feature documentary available February 17.

In 1985, Star Trek's George Takei joined a group of dedicated fans to make a student film deep in the California forest -- only for the footage to mysteriously vanish. Nearly 40 years later, the documentary Beam Me Up, Sulu, directed by Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider, unearths this lost film, revealing not just a piece of fan history but a broader story of representation, resilience, and the ongoing fight for inclusion in media and society.

Just how the heck did this guy, Stan Woo, get George Takei to be in his goofy Star Trek fan film? The documentary is a fun and moving exploration of fandom, dedication and diversity. I had the pleasure of being interviewed for the film, and as a Star Trek fan, I'm delighted to be part of this project.

First look at George Takei's autobiographical graphic novel

'They Called Us Enemy' due out in summer 2019.



Actor, author and activist George Takei, best known for playing Sulu in Star Trek, is teaming with IDW Publishing for a new graphic memoir about his childhood in American internment camps during World War II.

They Called Us Enemy revisits Takei's haunting childhood in American concentration camps, as one of 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. To be released in summer 2019, the memoir will be co-written by Takei, Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, with art from Harmony Becker.

Here's the first look at the cover art:

See George Takei in the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance

February 21 - April 1 at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo.



Los Angeles! Don't miss your chance to see the Broadway musical Allegiance, now on stage in Little Tokyo.

Inspired by true events, and starring George Takei, Allegiance is the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. An uplifting testament to the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Presented by East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance is running now through April 1 at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, with the Opening Night performance and reception on February 28.

George Takei Accused of Sexual Assault

By Jenn Fang. Cross-Posted from Reappropriate.



In stunning news for the Asian American community, beloved community activist and Star Trek star George Takei has been accused of sexually assaulting former male model and commercial actor Scott R. Brunton in a 1981 incident.

George Takei to guest star on 'Fresh Off The Boat'

Iconic 'Star Trek' actor will play "a charming ESL instructor."



Sooner or later, it had to happen, right? Sulu, meet the Huangs. Legendary Star Trek actor George Takei will guest star on an upcoming fourth season episode of the ABC comedy Fresh Off The Boat.

George Takei to Guest Star on 'Fresh Off the Boat'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the iconic actor and activist will play Bernard, "a charming ESL instructor for whom Grandma Huang (Lucille Soong) has a sweet spot." Love it. Ah, Uncle George, always the charmer.

"No whitewashing allowed": 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' is getting a movie adaptation

Jamie Ford's bestselling debut novel is being developed into a film, executive produced by George Takei.



Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, the best-selling debut novel by Jamie Ford, is being developed into a feature film, with none other than actor/activist George Takei serving as executive producer.

George Takei To Exec Produce 'Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet'; Diane Quon & Joseph Craig Acquire Rights

The acclaimed 2009 novel follows Henry Lee, a Chinese American boy in Seattle who falls in love with Keiko, a Japanese American girl, as she is sent to an internment camp during World War II. Decades later, when the belongings of Japanese Americans families are discovered in the basement of an old hotel in Japantown, Henry must reconcile the past and the present, and confront the choices he made many years ago.

According to Deadline, producer Diane Quon has acquired the film rights with Joseph Craig of StemEnt. The film is scheduled to start production in 2018 with Ford co-writing the script.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 16: They Call Us George Takei

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. Each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

This week, in an episode recorded live in Little Tokyo as part of Asian American ComiCon, we talk to legendary actor, activist and icon George Takei. Uncle George discusses art, aging, politics and love, and plays along with a very special edition of The Good, The Bad and The "OH MY."

Asian American ComiCon Summit on Art, Action & the Future

Saturday, July 15 at the Japanese American National Museum



What's up, fanboys and fangirls? If you are in Southern California, the Japanese American National Museum invites you to AACC: The Asian American Comicon Summit on Art, Action & The Future.

In a time where diversity and creativity are both under attack, this summit will feature diverse creators talking about where we're going next -- folks like Jeff Yang (CNN, They Call Us Bruce), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), LaToya Morgan (writer, Into the Badlands), Lewis Tan (Marvel's Iron Fist), and Keith Chow (The Nerds of Color). The program will include a special live recording of our podcast They Call Us Bruce, featuring a conversation with pioneering actor and activist George Takei.

The summit will also see the unveiling of New Frontiers, a brand new graphic anthology of original stories inspired by George Takei's life and legacy -- stories about incarceration and exclusion, representation and resistance, the digital world, and the struggle in the streets. AACC will include an Artists' Alley where leading comics creators will be available for commissions and signings.

It's happening Saturday, July 15 at the Japanese American National Museum. Here are more details:

George Takei's 'Allegiance' is headed to Los Angeles

East West Players and JACCC will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical in 2018.



Allegiance is coming to Los Angeles next year. East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance, with performances at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. from February 21 to April 1, 2018. Previews will run from February 21-25, with the Opening Night performance and reception on February 28.

With music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and a book by Marc Acito, Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione, Allegiance is inspired by the true childhood experiences of actor, activist and social media icon George Takei. The original Broadway production played on Broadway from 2015-16 at the Longacre Theatre in New York City.

Allegiance tells the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government's treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Sulu is gay in 'Star Trek Beyond'

John Cho reveals a significant new detail about his iconic character's private life.



Oh myyyy. Spoiler alert.

Sulu is gay in Star Trek Beyond and it's not a big deal. In the latest Star Trek movie, it is revealed that the USS Enterprise's helmsman, played by John Cho, is married and has a daughter with a same sex partner.

Okay, this is kind of a big deal, but I guess the movie is treating it like just another character detail about Hikaru Sulu's personal life in the forward-thinking future of Star Trek. We've already established that he's a badass and exceptionally good at his job. He's also a dad and married to a man.

The decision by director Justin Lin and screenwriter/co-star Simon Pegg to make Sulu gay was, of course, a nod to George Takei, who played the character in the original 1960s television series and beyond.

George Takei and John Cho want you to vote!

New Get-Out-The-Vote PSA urges AANHPI community to vote in this important election year.



George Takei and John Cho want you to vote! Just in time to close out AAPI Heritage Month, the two Sulus have come together for a new video PSA from Asian Americans Advancing Justice and APIAVote urging Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) to go vote in this important election year.

The video also features the likes of Constance Wu, Vincent Rodriguez III, Sonal Shah and Joey "Q" Quenga, and highlights both the historic injustices that AANHPIs have faced in the United States, as well as the some of the many contributions our communities have made to this country.

Check it out:

George Takei: Why I Love A Country That Once Betrayed Me

Uncle George talks about Japanese American incarceration.



This week marks the anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the United States government's mass incarceration of thousands of innocent Japanese Americans during World War II. One of those internees was famed actor/activist George Takei, whose family was removed from Los Angeles and forced into a camp in Arkansas when he was just a boy.

In this animated mini-version of his TED Talk, Uncle George shares his early recollection of being forced behind barbed wire, and reflects on both the strength and fallibility of American democracy:

'Allegiance' Original Broadway Cast Recording

Starring Lea Salonga, George Takei and Telly Leung



The original cast recording of the Broadway musical Allegiance, starring George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, with lyrics and music by Jay Kuo, is now available digitally and in stores.

Allegiance (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Inspired by true events, Allegiance is the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government's treatment of her people.

Allegiance is the story of one family's resilience in the face seemingly insurmountable odds, following the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Here's a preview of the album:

The Best Damn Sulu Action Figure Ever

The One:12 Collective Hikaru Sulu by Mezco



Toymaker Mezco recently dropped a first look at its upcoming figure for the USS Enterprise's chief helmsman, Hikaru Sulu, from the original Star Trek series. This might just be the best damn Sulu figure ever. Geek out.

The One:12 Collective Hikaru Sulu is digitally modeled and sculpted to craft an exceptional facial likeness to George Takei, with over 28 points of articulation, numerous accessories as well as interchangeable parts.

'Allegiance' announces Broadway closing date

George Takei's musical about the internment of Japanese Americans will close on February 14.



Bummer. Allegiance is closing its run on Broadway. The musical, inspired by George Takei's experience in an internment camp during World War II, will play its final performance on February 14.

But it's not all bad news. This isn't the last you'll see of Allegiance. While the show's lights are darkening on Broadway, producers announced a national tour and international production of the musical are in the works.

ALLEGIANCE to Close on Broadway in February; Tour & International Productions in the Works

Allegiance is a multigenerational tale of love, loss and heroism, following one Japanese American family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

The musical marks Tony and Olivier award-winner Lea Salonga's long-awaited return to Broadway, alongside George Takei in his Broadway debut at age 78 and Glee star Telly Leung. The cast also includes Katie Rose Clarke, Michael K. Lee, Christopheren Nomura and Greg Watanabe.

'Allegiance' has been saving a seat for Donald Trump

George Takei calls on Trump to denounce racial/religious profiling and invites him to his Broadway musical.



Donald Trump has a standing open invitation to attend a performance of the Broadway musical Allegiance, issued by star George Takei himself. They've even been saving a seat for him at every performance.

Last week, Takei issued a video response to Trump's recent comments regarding both the Muslim community and Japanese American internment camps. The Republican presidential candidate called for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. and could not definitively say whether or not he would have supported the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. His supporters seem to think it was a good idea.

First look video highlights from Broadway's 'Allegiance'

Watch Episode 7 of the behind-the-scenes documentary webseries 'Trek to Broadway.'



The new Broadway musical Allegiance, currently in previews at The Longacre Theatre, opens on November 8. Inspired by George Takei's true-life experience in an internment camp, Allegiance follows one Japanese American family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

Allegiance stars George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii San, Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura and Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; with book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo.

Here's a new first look video with musical highlights from Allegiance:

First Look Photos from the Broadway musical 'Allegiance'

Watch Episode 6 of the behind-the-scenes documentary webseries 'Trek to Broadway.'



I am jealous of anyone who's been able to watch the new Broadway musical Allegiance, currently in previews at The Longacre Theatre. Inspired by George Takei's true-life experience in an internment camp, Allegiance follows one family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

Allegiance stars George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii San, Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura and Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; with book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo.

Check out these brand-new official first-look photos from Allegiance:

An untold American story comes to Broadway in 'Allegiance'

Watch Episode 5 of the behind-the-scenes documentary webseries 'Trek to Broadway.'



Previews for Allegiance, the new Broadway musical inspired by George Takei's true-life experience in an internment camp, begin tonight at The Longacre Theatre. Starring George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, Allegiance follows one family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

Here's a glimpse of what you'll see in Allegiance: