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How Asian is your Costco? Help us find SoCal’s most 'Asian Costco' for Lunar New Year
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the Los Angeles Times is asking some important questions: Which are the most "Asian Costcos" in SoCal? And how did Costco become such a hit in Asian American communities?

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Asian American eligible voters grew more than any other racial group since last presidential election
"The fact that Asian American eligible voter growth is five times that of the population overall is still striking and would seem to demand the attention of any campaign looking to expand its reach."

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How I honored the 300 who reached a refugee center in Asia only to die before trip to U.S.
Joseph Ruanto-Ramirez shares about working with the Khmer American community of San Diego to hold a ceremony for the nearly 300 refugees who were processed from 1980 to 1995 at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Morong, Bataan, Philippines, but died before they were able to cross the Pacific to come to the United States.

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Could 'Parasite' Star Lee Sun-kyun's Death Lead to a Social Reckoning in Korea?
The death of actor Lee Sun-Kyun, considered a suicide, has put a spotlight on Korea's current political and social climate, with potential ramifications for the country's status as a global soft superpower.

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An Open Letter to Independent Lens about "Beyond Utopia"
Concerned film producers say the documentary Beyond Utopia, which recently aired on PBS' Independent Lens, presents an unbalanced and inaccurate narrative about Korean history and North Korean society.

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Family drama and brutal fight scenes get equal footing in 'The Brothers Sun': 'It's a balancing act'
In Netflix's The Brothers Sun, which collides the Asian American family ethnoburb with gritty gangster action, the tone veers sharply from action to family drama to comedy and back again -- by design.

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Michelle Yeoh Still Kicks Ass (Not That We Ever Doubted It)
The Oscar winner on her new Netflix series, The Brothers Sun, and mothering onscreen and off.

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"Damn, lady!": "Brothers Sun" team on that ending, Michelle Yeoh's "torture" input and what's next
The Brothers Sun co-creator Byron Wu and director Viet Nguyen talk about Michelle Yeoh's power moves at the end of season one, and what could be next for the Sun clan in a possible second season.

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How Jenny Yang Scored Her First Action Role — Fighting Michelle Yeoh
Comedian Jenny Yang tells all about her path to Netflix's The Brothers Sun.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender showrunner opens up about making series without original creators
When Albert Kim first got the call from Netflix to work on the live-action series adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, his reaction was basically "Hell yeah!" But then it was "Holy shit! Do I really want to do this?"

Stephanie Hsu Gets 'Laid' in New Comedy Series

Peacock orders 'f-ked up rom-com' from writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order for the comedy Laid, starring Stephanie Hsu and from writers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna. Let me stop you right there -- I will absolutely watch this.

More here: Stephanie Hsu to Star in 'Laid' Comedy From Nahnatchka Khan for Peacock

But here's some more information. Laid revolves around a woman who finds out that her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her "sex timeline" to confront her past in order to move forward.

A Front-Row Seat to a Geo-Political Dance

S. Leo Chiang reflects on U.S., China and Taiwan relations in his short documentary 'Island in Between'

Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang was born in Taiwan, grew up in the United States, worked extensively in China and now lives in Taipei. This mix of experiences has given him a front-row seat to the complex, decades-long dance between these nations. In his short documentary Island in Between, Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the U.S. and China from the islands of Kinmen, just a few miles from mainland China.

Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands governed by Taiwan that were the front lines of the first and second Taiwan Straits Crises decades ago. They lie just a few miles from mainland China, and these days, locals are unsure what escalating tensions mean for the future.

Island in Between, part of the New York Times' Op-Docs series was recently announced on the short list for the 2024 Academy Awards, in the category of Documentary Short Film.

Watch it here:

'Soldiers of Christ' Cult Killing Shakes Korean Community

33-year-old Sehee Cho was tortured and killed during the group's "initiation" process."

In Georgia, members of a Korean religious cult were charged in the murder of a 33-year-old woman who was killed during the initiation process into a group that called itself Soldiers of Christ. Police say Sehee Cho was held captive for weeks, tortured and starved her until she died.

Officers discovered Cho's decaying body in the trunk of a car, left in the parking lot in metro Atlanta's busy Korean business district. Video evidence shows the group beating Cho with a belt and putting her in ice baths. Seven individuals, including the group's leader Joonho Lee, face charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another.

They Call Us Bruce 224: They Call Us New Year 2024

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome back our pals Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter and Dino-Ray Ramos of DIASPORA to take one last look back at the year that was, plus a look forward, with a special super-sized edition of The Good, The Bad, and The WTF (What's The Future). We discuss, among other things, the post-Everything Everywhere All at Once Multiverse, messy Asians, controversies, Beef, Past Lives, Joy Ride, Shortcomings, Elemental, hopes, dreams, fears, and much more. This episode is sponsored by the Netflix series The Brothers Sun.

House Bill Aims to Restart "China Initiative"

Controversial Trump administration program targeted Chinese academics for possible espionage.

The Department of Justice ended a controversial program nearly two years ago called the China Initiative, which targeted mostly ethnic Chinese academics and their links to China. The program was stopped in 2022 after criticism of racial profiling. Now, a proposed House spending bill wants to bring the initiative back.

More here: House bill aims to restart controversial DOJ program that targeted Chinese academics

So yeah, we're still doing this. The China Initiative, created during the Trump administration, was an effort to investigate and prosecute Chinese espionage in the United States, and targeted academics and scientists of Chinese descent who found themselves under scrutiny for past affiliations with Chinese institutions.

About 90% of the more than 70 cases prosecuted under the initiative involved people who were ethnically Chinese. Just about a quarter were convicted and usually for much lesser charges. In February 2022, the Department of Justice ended the China Initiative, citing in part racial and ethnic bias, though the FBI says it still has more than 2,000 cases related to China. The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment. And now a proposed House spending bill wants to restart the initiative.

In some cases where the Justice Department was unable to find evidence of espionage, officials brought lesser charges, only to drop them -- but not before damage was done to the scientists' reputations and careers. The suspicion extends to national security employees with ties to Asia, who are regarded as potential intelligence threats because they have family members in, say, China or Taiwan.

More here: Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions

'Beef' Wins Big at the Golden Globes

Netflix series wins Best Limited Series and lead acting categories for Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.

The Netflix road rage drama Beef cleaned up with historic big wins at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, taking home trophies for Best Limited Series, and Best Actor and Actress for Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.

Ali Wong is the first actress of Asian descent ever to win in Best Actress in a Mini-series or Motion Picture for TV. Steven Yeun is only the third actor to win in the category. And Wong and Yeun are only the third duo in Golden Globes history to win both lead limited series acting categories.

Beef won the award for Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture -- the first-ever honor for a show created by and starring Asian Americans. Accepting the award, series creator Lee Sung Jin thanked the nameless driver involved in the road rage incident that inspired the show.

They Call Us Bruce 223: They Call Us K-Culture

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we close out 2023 and welcome critic and commentator Jae-Ha Kim to talk all things "K" -- from K-dramas to K-pop, and all the other ways Korean pop culture has spread its infectious K-embrace across the globe. We discuss the best K-dramas of the year (according to Jae-Ha), what happens when BTS takes a break for military service, and the recent tragic death of Lee Sun-kyun. I also admit -- nay, declare -- my love of NewJeans.

They Call Us Bruce 222: They Call Us Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome James Wan, filmmaker behind iconic movies like Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Furious 7, Aquaman and now, its sequel, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. He talks about his journey from making indie horror flicks to tentpole blockbusters, shares his tricks for avoiding sequel-itis, and attempts to say something bad about Randall Park. Presented in partnership with Gold House.

They Call Us Bruce 221: They Call Us Blue Eye Samurai

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome two of the creators behind the Netflix animated action series Blue Eye Samurai, co-creator/co-showrunner Amber Noizumi and supervising director/producer Jane Wu. They discuss some of the personal connections that sparked the tale of mixed race warrior Mizu, bringing a decidedly Asian American take on an Edo-period samurai story, and the lengths they went to assemble the personnel for one of the most badass shows you'll ever see.

Read These

There's No Christmas Lunch Like a Korean American Church Lunch
Miyuk guk, good vibes only: After-service meals have long been key spaces for first-generation immigrants establishing themselves in the United States. But younger Koreans are finding less need for them.

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Can a play solve the mystery of the Monterey Park mass shooter? Survivors aren't sure
A new play tries to make sense of the mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park. While the play aims to help a community heal, it was created with limited input from those tied to the massacre -- and despite the concerns of many survivors.

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America Loves Chinese Restaurants, but Michelin Gave Just One a Star. It's in San Francisco
Chef Brandon Jew's restaurant occupies a lonely position among all the top-tier establishments in America.

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The Bitter Taste of 'Not Too Sweet'
No one is louder about good desserts being "not too sweet" than the Asian American diaspora. Asian Americans have claimed the phrase as a defiant shorthand and a cheeky rallying cry. But is that maxim really true?

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Pittsburgh baker honors Asian American activists with cookie portraits
Jasmine Cho turns cookies into works of art. As part of her mission for social justice, the Pittsburgh baker creates detailed portraits of unsung Asian American heroes.

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Shohei Ohtani: What it means that the new face of MLB is Asian
"If you want to be a dominant offering, then you have to be international and representative of people who are not considered the archetype of said sport," said a marketing expert.

They Call Us Bruce 220: They Call Us The Golden Screen

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, recorded live at Bās Bookshop in Honolulu, we celebrate the release of Jeff's new book The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America, which explores the history of Asian Americans on the silver screen, and the iconic films that have shaped Hollywood, representation, and American culture. We talk about why this moment in representation seemed like the right time for this book, how Jeff chose the movies that "made the cut," and a reconsideration (or reimagining) of Long Duk Dong. Also, in The Good, The Bad and The WTF, we offer some unpopular opinions about Asian American cinema. Special thanks to Aly Ishikuni-Sasaki and the team at Bās Bookshop.

Read These

32 Best K-Dramas of All Time
These are the 32 best K-dramas of all time, according to Jae-Ha Kim.

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I won the National Spelling Bee. This is what it takes to master spelling.
"The secret to spelling is understanding the 'how' and 'why' of language."

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Lucy Yu’s thriving New York bookstore burned down. How can she rebuild without burning out?
Lucy Yu, who runs what's believed to be New York City's first Asian American woman-owned bookstore, lost her brick-and-mortar business to a fire earlier this year. The Guardian asked three experts to consider Yu’s predicament and share their advice on her plan to reopen Yu & Me Books in its original location in Chinatown.

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Qui Nguyen Was Done Writing Plays. His Family Pulled Him Back In
With Poor Yella Rednecks, playwright Qui Nguyen continues to tell his Vietnamese American family's immigrant story. Maybe one day his parents will even see the shows.

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Disney Rejected Her a Few Times. The 'Wish' Director Just Kept Trying.
After she was finally hired by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Fawn Veerasunthorn worked her way up the ranks, and has applied that lesson of perseverance to her new film.

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How Greta Lee, not Greta Gerwig, came to star in 'Past Lives'
Greta Lee describes Past Lives as the role of a lifetime: "[Celine Song] gave me the space to use my full facility, no strings attached, and without being burdened by having to do this extraneous labor. Just getting to act."

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Meet Charles Melton, the Breakout Star of May December'
Ex-Riverdale star Charles Melton transformed himself for Todd Haynes's new drama May December. As an actor, he's caught between wanting to be seen and wanting to disappear.

They Call Us Bruce 219: They Call Us The Mash-Up Americans

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome our old friend Amy S. Choi of The Mash-Up Americans, who talks about starting her podcast/media company with a question ("Why not us?"); bringing the Mash-Up lens to the images and stories that don't get told in overly simplistic news verticals; and the latest season of their podcast, which aims to give you The Ultimate Guide to a Mash-Up Life. Also: stay tuned for a special bonus episode from The Mash-Up Americans featuring one of our favorite individuals on the planet, Randall Park.

They Call Us Bruce 218: They Call Us Mustache

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome filmmaker Imran J. Khan, writer/director of the indie coming-of-age film Mustache. He talks about facial hair, Alicia Silverstone, telling culturally-specific stories without having to simplify or over-explain for audiences, and the bizarre time traveling that happens when you make a movie about a Muslim American family and community set in the late 1990s.

Read These

6% of Asian characters on streaming have lead roles and most have 'proximity to whiteness'
Of the top films and television shows on streaming platforms that included at least one Asian cast member in 2022, only 6% had an Asian character in a leading role, according to a new report, "A Balancing Act for Asian Representation: More Visible But Not Yet Specific." The study found 42% of AAPI characters had light skin and most female characters had a white male love interest.

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'Defining Courage' tells the story of WWII 'Nisei' soldiers
NPR speaks with David Ono about his new stage show, Defining Courage, which shares the story of Japanese American troops born in the United States but seen as the enemy by their own government.

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'We begged them': Some Monterey Park shooting survivors feel left out of donations
In the aftermath of the Monterey Park mass shooting, the Monterey Park Lunar New Year Victims Fund raised over $1 million. But some survivors -- witnesses present at the massacre who saw their friends and family killed -- did not tehnically qualify to receive funds because they were not physically injured.

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Why the attacks between Ramaswamy and Haley seem so personal — and spiteful
As the playing field shrinks in the Republican presidential primary campaign, no two candidates have been at each other's throats quite like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.

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It’s Not Thanksgiving Without White Rice
"For many Asian American families who celebrate Thanksgiving, it's logical that rice has a seat at the dinner table."

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Filmmaker Celine Song and Musician Yaeji Compare Notes on Maid Costumes and Hotel Room Service
To mark the release of Yaeji's latest single, "easy breezy," she talks to Past Lives filmmaker Celine Song to unpack their relationships to their crafts, audiences, and identities.

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How ‘Blue Eye Samurai’s’ Exploration of Mixed Race Identity Helps It "Break All of the Boxes"
Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, co-creators of Blue Eye Samurai, discuss how various elements of the Netflix animated series' production -- including its art, music composition, setting and casting -- helped deliver their 17th century tale of revenge.

They Call Us Bruce 217: They Call Us Quiz Lady

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Jessica Yu, director of the comedy Quiz Lady, starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina. She talks about bringing her diverse (and Academy Award-winning) directing experience to a wacky feature comedy; assembling and working with a team of dream collaborators for Quiz Lady; and how they reworked the original script to better reflect the nuance and layers of these mismatched Asian American sisters. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Quiz Lady.

Read These

How a Chinese restaurant in Detroit taught a queer L.A. writer everything he knows
When Curtis Chin started writing Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, it was a different memoir. But the COVID pandemic nudged the book in a different direction.

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Jeff Yang's new book is a 'cheer out loud' for the films that made Asian America
NPR speaks with authors Jeff Yang and Preeti Chhibber about The Golden Screen: The Movies that Made Asian America. The book looks at films that have shaped Asian American identities.

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Asian Americans' Political Strength and Alliances Face Test in New York
Whether they stick with Democrats or continue their shift to the right, Asian American voters will help decide competitive races on November 7.

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In Nikki, Vivek, and Kamala, Indian Americans Find Incomplete Representation
The presence of Kamala Haris, Nikke Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy as standout contenders speaks to the complexity of the politics of representation; while their ethnic backgrounds are intertwined with their political identities, they all differ in distinct ways from the average Indian American voter.

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The Man Without a Face
What if Hollywood studios had cast an actual Asian actor in the role of Charlie Chan? In fact, incredibly, they did. And it wasn't just one Asian actor, but three -- a detail that is mostly forgotten today.

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Thirsty Suitors Is a Hilarious and Refreshing Game Made for the South Asian Community
"I feel seen by this game."

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"Blue Eye Samurai" addresses multiracial shame, "to be ostracized from both sides," in Edo-era Japan
Co-creator/executive producer Amber Noizumi and director Jane Wu of the Netflix animated series Blue Eye Samurai discuss Maya Erskine, the masks we wear and a vengeful woman masquerading as a man.

They Call Us Bruce 216: They Call Us The Clones of Bruce

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, presented in partnership with the Hawaii International Film Festival, we welcome actor/filmmaker Daniel Wu and HIFF artistic director Anderson Le -- fellow Bruce Lee superfans -- to discuss the fascinating documentary Enter the Clones of Bruce, which explores "Brucesploitation," the unique (and often bizarre) 1970s martial arts film subgenre that exploded in the wake of Bruce Lee's untimely death. They talk about Brucesploitation as a classic supply and demand scenario (powered by "all-look-same" racism), their favorite Bruce lookalikes -- Li, Le, Liang, et al -- and the wildest phases of the Bruce Multiverse. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the Clones of Bruce.

This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off tickets.

Your Halloween Costumes 2023

Our annual gallery of awesome reader-submitted Halloween costumes.

Happy Halloween! You know what that means. Every year, I put the call out for photos of your awesome costume photos for our annual Angry Asian Halloween Costume gallery -- starring you, the amazing readers and supporters of this website. It has become an extremely popular feature, and something I look forward to sharing every year (especially the adorable kid costume photos). Please keep them coming!

Check it. Here's the first round of photos, with more costumes coming...

Read These

Hasan Minhaj Addresses Embellished Stories Detailed by The New Yorker
After a New Yorker piece chronicled fabrications in Hasan Minhaj's stand up act, the comedian issued a video rebuttal, saying he thought "the lines between truth and fiction were allowed to be a bit more blurry" in his personal storytelling.

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Spilling the Tea
Growing up in his family's iconic Chinese restaurant taught Curtis Chin how to survive in 1980s Detroit -- and how to embrace his identity as a gay Asian American.

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‘The Golden Screen’ author reflects on the movies that shaped Asian America
Jeff Yang's new book The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America, serves as a kind of colorful mixtape examining the many works that have shaped our understanding of the Asian American community.

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Shannon Lee on growing up with her father Bruce and her problem with Quentin Tarantino
Shannon Lee, actress-turned-writer -- and daughter of Bruce Lee -- says she has never met Quentin Tarantino and 'doesn't know what his issues are' with her father.

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The Unholy Son
On searching for faith, freedom, and the love of a father.

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Constance Wu Talks Landing Her Dream Role in 'Little Shop of Horrors'
Constance Wu has wanted to play Audrey, the timid flower shop worker in Little Shop of Horrors, ever since she caught a community production of the musical as a kid. Shge's finally taking on her bucket list role in the Off-Broadway revival.

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Chargers super-fan goes viral after loss to Cowboys on Monday Night Football
Despite the Bolts' recent loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, one Los Angeles Chargers fan's reaction to a game-tying touchdown caught the attention of ESPN’s cameras and now, the internet.

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A Deep-Fried Pho Sparks Scandal at the State Fair of Texas
A debate over who gets credit for inventing a dish proliferates on and off the Dallas fairgrounds.

They Call Us Bruce 215: They Call Us Albert Pyun King of Cult Movies

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, presented in partnership with the Hawaii International Film Festival, we welcome Lisa D'Apolito, director of the forthcoming documentary Albert Pyun King of Cult Movies, and Anderson Le, Artistic Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival, to talk about the life and career of prolific cult filmmaker Albert Pyun. They discuss Pyun's passion for movie-making by any means necessary, from chasing early cinema dreams in Hawaii, to breakout success with The Sword and the Sorcerer, to his ridiculously extensive 50+ movie resume stuffed with direct-to-video titles like Nemesis, Dollman and Crazy Six. Also, believe it or not: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the films of Albert Pyun.

This episode is sponsored by the Westside Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors, starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Use the discount code LSOPOD10 for $10 off tickets.

They Call Us Bruce 214: They Call Us Kishi Bashi

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome singer, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi, whose latest project is the album and "songfilm" Omoiyari, a musical journey to understand World War II-era Japanese American incarceration, assimilation, and what it means to be a minority in America today. He talks about exploring empathy and compassion through music, drawing parallels between incarceration camps and contemporary treatment of migrants and Muslims, and finding better understanding of his own bi-cultural identity in the process.

Read These

'Korea is hiding our past’: the adoptees searching for their families – and the truth
Amid allegations of a corrupt adoption system in Seoul that falsified children’s records, those sent to Denmark as youngsters are desperate to find out their real stories.

* * *
I Was Told My Parents Were Dead. 38 Years Later, I Got An Email That Changed Everything.
In 2011, Cat Powell-Hoffmann opened an email from an adoption agency that changed her life.

* * *
The Pink-Haired Secret Weapon Behind Blue Eye Samurai
Animation director Jane Wu used to hate who she was. Her new Netflix series Blue Eyed Samurai explores a warrior who also hides to fit in.

* * *
Alice Wu's Saving Face Told a Queer Asian Story When It Was Far From the Mainstream
"Wu's trailblazing film made space for me to simply imagine a world where I could tell intersectional stories."

* * *
The Miami Marlins' Kim Ng is the first female GM to lead an MLB team to the playoffs
The Miami Marlins' Kim Ng is the first female general manager in MLB history to lead her team to the playoffs.

* * *
Fumi Abe Will Not Be Handing Out Business Cards
Fumi Abe is on Vulture's annual list of "The Comedians You Should and Will Know."

They Call Us Bruce 2013: They Call Us Here Lies Love

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Arielle Jacobs and Jose Llana, the stars of the revolutionary new Broadway musical Here Lies Love, an immersive roof-raising disco musical that tells the story of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos. They discuss the unique thrill of performing in this groundbreaking, form-busting theatre experience, their immense pride in being a part of Broadway's first ever all-Filipino cast, and the complicated responsibility of narrativizing this very real history of the Philippines -- The Good, The Bad, and The WTF.

Read These

The Parents Trying to Pass Down a Language They Hardly Speak
"Losing your family's language can feel like an inevitable side effect of immigration -- but it’s one I want to prevent."

* * *
Saving Chinatown, While Also Making It Their Own
A younger generation of Asian Americans are fighting to keep the history and culture of the Manhattan neighborhood alive — and for the very idea of what an ethnic enclave can be.

* * *
Former enslaved Calif. sweatshop worker recalls captivity, honored by Labor Dept.
Last week in Washington DC, 81 Thai garment workers were inducted into the Department of Labor's Hall of Honor for exposing their former employer's abusive practices in 1995 -- a landmark case that was considered the first recognized case of modern-day slavery.

* * *
As Haley and Ramaswamy Rise, Some Indian Americans Have Mixed Feelings
For the first time in the nation's history, two Indian Americans -- Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy -- are serious presidential contenders who regularly invoke their parents' immigrant roots. But their deeply conservative views make it difficult for some Indian American voters to fully celebrate the moment.

* * *
Facing eviction, a beloved Little Tokyo cafe charts its survival in a gentrifying city
After more than half a century serving Los Angeles' Little Tokyo, an eviction lawsuit has forced family-run Japanese restaurant Suehiro Cafe to relocate, spurring community discussions over the future of legacy businesses in the historic Japanese American neighborhood.

* * *
Mitski says she doesn't feel either fully Asian or American, and fans say they identify with that
Some Asian American fans say they recognize themselves in the lyrics of Mitski's latest album.

* * *
Sung Kang's Lightsabers Are Cooler Than Yours
Sung Kang, who makes his feature film directorial debut with the indie horror flick Shaky Shivers, talks about how starring in Obi-Wan Kenobi sparked a new passion.

They Call Us Bruce 212: They Call Us Magnificent Jerk

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Maya Lin Sugarman and James Kim, producers behind the podcast Magnificent Jerk, "the true story -- of a fake story -- about a real life." They talk about the fascinating life and career of Maya's late uncle Galen Yuen, and the box of his belongings that sent Maya on mission to discover her family’s biggest secrets -- including the truth behind the possibly autobiographical screenplay that eventually became a bad B-movie starring.... Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, and Ice-T. Also: The Good, The Bad and The WTF of making Magnificent Jerk.

Wing Luke Museum Windows Smashed in Hate Crime

Seattle museum targeted by man with a sledgehammer who said "the Chinese ruined my life."

Seattle's Wing Luke Museum was targeted in a hate crime last week when a man smashed the outside windows of the museum with a sledgehammer. The suspect later apparently told police, "the Chinese ruined my life."

Link: Shattered windows and nerves, Seattle's Wing Luke Museum targeted in alleged hate crime

According to the police report, 76-year-old Craig Milne used a sledgehammer to break the windows of the museum along Canton Alley South on Thursday evening, as dozens of patrons were inside touring an exhibit.

After the attack, Milne apparently remained outside the building, and was heard saying he had come to the Chinatown International District to cause damage because, ahem, "the Chinese ruined my life."

You fucking fool, you ruined your own life. And the good people at this museum didn't do shit to you.

The True Story of a Fake Story About a Real Life

New podcast 'Magnificent Jerk' explores the eccentric life and career of actor/writer Galen Yuen.



The way most people probably remembered Galen Yuen -- if they knew or knew of him at all -- was as a working actor with a few dozen minor movie and TV roles, playing characters like "Yakuza Member," "Smuggler" or "Low Life #1." He also had a sprinkle of screenwriting credits, including an episode of the short-lived TV series Vanishing Son, and a direct-to-video movie called Crazy Six. Yuen died in 2015 at 63.

Fast forward a few years later, when journalist Maya Lin Sugarman finds a box of forgotten screenplays -- written by her late uncle, Galen -- that sets her on a journey to uncover the truth about his tumultuous life. She discovers, among other shocking things that may or may not be true, that Galen was a leader of a Chinese gang, that he went to jail, and, in a final twist, that he poured his life story into a screenplay that was turned into a 1990s Hollywood action movie... starring Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, and Ice-T.

Maya shares her journey to discover the truth about Galen in the new podcast Magnificent Jerk, "the true story -- of a fake story -- about a real life." Listen to the trailer:

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Engineering student run over by Seattle police remembered as 'brilliant' and 'full of hope'
Indian American leaders are calling for justice after a Seattle police officer said 23-year-old Jaanhavi Kandula, a student at Northeastern University, had "limited value."

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Asian American U.S.-born children of immigrants are most likely to have hidden part of their heritage
Fear of ridicule and a desire to fit in are common reasons they give for doing this, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

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World's Largest 'Baby Exporter' Confronts Its Painful Past
South Korean adoptees have been returning to the country to hold the government accountable for what they call a corrupt adoption system that went largely unchanged until recent decades.

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How big-name concerts became unlikely places for immigrant parents and kids to bond
From Taylor Swift to Beyoncé to the Spice Girls, many children of immigrants say these big acts have helped bridge divides across generations.

* * *
Hasan Minhaj's "Emotional Truths"
In his standup specials, the former Patriot Act host often recounts harrowing experiences he's faced as an Asian American and Muslim American. Does it matter that much of it never happened to him?

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The Bold, 96-Minute Episode That Defines Lulu Wang's Approach to Expats
Debuting at the Toronto Film Festival, the TV series Expats gained controversy for centering on wealthy expats in Hong Kong. But creator Lulu Wang aims to tell a much more impactful story.

* * *
Clarissa Wei Knows All Too Well That Food Is Political
In her debut cookbook, Made in Taiwan, journalist Clarissa Wei uses recipes to tell the story of the island's people, and take a stand on its sovereignty.

* * *
Bruce Lee's "Warrior," and the Politics of Kung Fu
The Max series Warrior makes a radical argument for what constitutes American history.

* * *
Fighting kung fu
From chopsocky films to disco earworms, Asian caricatures have proliferated since the 1970s. Can Hollywood kick the habit?

* * *
Hollywood Chinese Actor Had an Unknown Past as a San Francisco Gangster
Late actor Galen Yuen, who played minor roles in movies and occasionally wrote screenplays, also had a largely unknown past as a Chinatown gangster. His niece, journalistmMaya Lin Sugarman, has launched a new seven-episode podcast about her uncle, entitled Magnificent Jerk.

* * *
Let's Be Neurotic Together: A Conversation with Cathy Park Hong
Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings, talks about the interrelations between activism and grief, how best to combat burnout, and what it meant for her to be designated "the liberal pundit of Asian Americans."

They Call Us Bruce 211: They Call Us Liquor Store Dreams

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome So Yun Um, director of the feature documentary Liquor Store Dreams, an intimate portrait of two Korean American children of Los Angeles liquor store owners. She talks about confronting popular media depictions of Korean American store owners, turning the camera on herself to tell this deeply personal story, and hitting record during some very tough, heated conversations with her family members. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Liquor Store Dreams.

They Call Us Bruce 210: They Call Us Dear Alana

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Simon Kent Fung, creator and host of the podcast Dear Alana, an eight-part limited series that tells the story of aspiring nun Alana Chen, who tragically ended her life at the age of 24 after seven years in conversion therapy. Simon talks about telling this gripping, intimate story through the dozens of journals Alana left behind, his own shockingly similar parallel experience with conversion therapy, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being open about who you are. Also: stay tuned for the first episode of Dear Alana from Tenderfoot TV.

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UNC police got the wrong Asian while searching for suspect, intensifying fears of racial profiling'
For many students of Asian descent, the initial confusion in identifying and apprehending the wrong person in last week's fatal shooting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dredged up ever-present fears of racial profiling.

* * *
The History of Asian American Labor Activism Is Essential for Today's Students'
Despite centuries of racially discriminatory laws, Asian immigrants and Asian Americans have consistently engaged in labor resistance.

* * *
My grandma in Wuhan is philosophical about COVID, life and her favorite topic: death'
In 2020, graphic artist and memoirist Laura Gao wrote about a trip she had planned to her birthplace in Wuhan, China to see her beloved grandparents. COVID caused her to cancel the trip. How are her grandparents now faring today? She checked in her with her grandma via WeChat.

* * *
A Chinese grocery store opening in West Los Angeles represents a cultural shift'
Chinese food and groceries are so rare on the west side of Los Angeles that it's become something of an urban legend. But a 99 Ranch Market is coming to Westwood.

* * *
‘Made in Taiwan' is the cookbook that couldn't have existed 20 years ago'
When Clarissa Wei moved to Hong Kong from the U.S. and began covering more Chinese cuisine and, occasionally, politics, it dawned on her that Taiwanese and Chinese foods were distinct from each other.

* * *
TV writer talks "Breaking Bad," writers strike and the toxicity of the "auteur genius showrunner"'
Patty Lin, author of the new memoir End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood, praises writing on Freaks and Geeks and reveals why she loves that a show like Beef finally exists.

* * *
Wong Kar Wai's In The Mood For Love'
Wong Kar Wai's 2000 masterwork In the Mood for Love has influenced filmmakers ranging from Barry Jenkins to Sofia Coppola -- and innumerable teens on TikTok.

They Call Us Bruce 209: They Call Us On Strike

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome actor/SAG-AFTRA member Parvesh Cheena and writer/WGA member Liz Hsiao Lan Alper to discuss the respective unions' ongoing strikes, which has brought the entertainment industry to a standstill. They discuss the conditions and contract issues that necessitated these labor actions, what work stoppage and picketing has meant for the average (and most marginalized) Hollywood workers, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of being on strike.

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Searching for Maura
Maura came to St. Louis from the Philippines to be put on display at the 1904 World's Fair. Records suggest that, after her death, a Smithsonian anthropologist took part of her brain.

* * *
Reading—and Writing—Like an Asian American
"I had to fill in what was missing with the history we all need -- because who we are to others should never be the lies that live in the gaps between words."

* * *
Baker's cookie portraits offer bite-size Asian American history lessons
Growing up, Jasmine Cho didn't see stories of people like her. Now, she creates intricate portraits of Asian Americans using an unexpected medium -- sugar cookies.

* * *
A Major Hollywood Diversity Report Shows Little Change - Except for One Promising Stat
According to a new study on Hollywood diversity, despite the talk of progress, not much has actually changed onscreen -- with one major exception: in the last 16 years, the percentage of Asian characters with speaking roles onscreen skyrocketed from 3.4% to 15.9%.

* * *
'Beef' Creator Lee Sung Jin on his Original Ending, "Life-Affirming" Feedback and Season 2 Plan
The triple Emmy nominee also explains why the Netflix limited series became his most personal work to date.

* * *
Randall Park Fought Like Hell to Get Here
Actor Randall Park talks about his journey from TV "diversity showcases" to his promising directorial debut Shortcomings, the strike, and representation.

* * *
The Immortality of Enter the Dragon
This month, Bruce Lee's martial arts masterpiece Enter the Dragon celebrates its 50th anniversary. His daughter, Shannon, reflects on the film that changed everything for Hollywood -- and her family.

They Call Us Bruce 208: They Call Us Love Boat Revisited

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we rewind and revisit our 2019 conversation with filmmaker Valerie Soe, director of the documentary Love Boat: Taiwan, and writer Abigail Hing Wen, author of the bestselling young adult novel Loveboat, Taipei -- now adapted for the screen as the feature film Love in Taipei, starring Ashley Liao and Ross Butler. They discuss the Taiwanese summer cultural program notoriously known as "Love Boat" and why it was the perfect, long overdue moment to tell these stories.

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How 'Shortcomings' went from groundbreaking comic to Randall Park’s directing debut
Randall Park's feature film directorial debut Shortcomings, now playing in theaters, began as the classic 2007 graphic novel by acclaimed cartoonist Adrian Tomine.

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The Unsung Asian American Hero Behind the Golden Gate Bridge
Wallace Fong's expertise in electricity and power made him the engineer who helped build the Golden Gate Bridge, which opened on May 27, 1937.

* * *
What Trump tried to take from me and families like mine
"Donald Trump has finally been indicted for his attempts to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. He's been accused of stealing our vote, but it's more than that — he was stealing our voice."

* * *
The Entertainment Industry Told Me I Didn't Belong, So I Wrote a Play to Prove Them Wrong
"I made Did You Eat? (밥 먹었니?) as a love language to my inner child, as an expression of self-love to who I am, and as a love letter to all Korean daughters. It's reflective of my healing journey from generational trauma, representative of my rebellion against the industry, and symbolic of my promise to keep learning how to love."

* * *
The Smithsonian cancelled an Asian American Literature Festival. The organizers kept it going.
NPR talks to Regie Cabico, co-organizer of this year's Asian American Literature Festival that's holding events in Washington, D.C., after the Smithsonian controversially cancelled a larger event.

* * *
Viet Thanh Nguyen Considers the Memoir
Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses writing his first memoir, A Man of Two Faces.

* * *
The Complicated Triumph of 'Here Lies Love'
Here Lies Love, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's Broadway musical on the life of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, is a breakthrough for Filipino American performers, but at what cost to the historical truths it dances around?

* * *
8 Novels Exploring the Experiences of Asian American Men
Joe Milan Jr., author of The All-American, recommends books about young Asian men navigating race, identity, and coming of age.

* * *
Randall Park Says 'Shortcoming' Was Inspired by Noah Baumbach's 'Marriage Story'
Randall Park says he never thought of himself as a leader before he directed Shortcomings.

* * *
Ally Maki on Playing a Messy Character in Randall Park's Anti-Rom-Com 'Shortcomings'
When Ally Maki got the script for Shortcomings, she read it in one sitting and knew she had to be a part of it.

* * *
Sherry Cola on How 'Shortcomings' Puts 'the Glasses-Wearing, Chubby, Asian Queer Girl on the Map'
Sherry Cola calls working with Randall Park in Shortcomings a full circle moment.

They Call Us Bruce 207: They Call Us Shortcomings (with Randall Park and Justin H. Min)

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Randall Park and Justin H. Min to talk about their new film Shortcomings, based on the 2007 graphic novel by Adrian Tomine. They discuss Randall's directorial debut, parodying Crazy Rich Asians, sandwiches, getting away from the rep sweats and feeling free to make stories about unlovable, messy Asian Americans like Ben Tanaka. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Shortcomings. (NOTE: This episode was recorded before the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike. They Call Us Bruce fully supports the actors and writers unions and their fight for fair contracts.)