MUSIC REVIEW: RAHMANIA ASTRINI AND MAKING SPACE FOR MUSIC—NEW AND OLD
SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — Music cycles. It flows in conversation with itself over years and decades, returning to similar themes with new twists. In her most recent EP titled space, Indonesian singer-songwriter Rahmania Astrini uses musical themes of the past to tell modern stories of love, interpersonal relationships, and friendship.…
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BOOK REVIEW: SHE IS A HAUNTING (2023) BY TRANG THANH TRAN – A BLEAK HOUSE WITH SPECTRAL VISION
BOOK REVIEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLA KELLEHER WRITES – There’s nothing quite like finding out your house is very much alive and wants to consume you. Vietnamese American teenager, Jade Nguyen, lands in Vietnam with her younger sister Lily for the heroic purpose of surviving five weeks with her estranged father, with…
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MOVIE REVIEW: THE POWER OF SILENCE IN CALL ME CHIHIRO (2023)
SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — How do we find out who we are? Rikiya Imaizumi’s Call Me Chihiro unfolds the possible answers to this layered question through its unique aesthetics and lack of sound. The film premiered internationally on Netflix on February 23, 2023, and made a special impact on viewers.…
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YOUNG LIONS ON THE PROWL AND CLIMB: MICHELLE P. NGUYEN, LMU ’20
ASIA MEDIA INTERNATIONAL REPORTS – The LMU and AMI family is proud to pass along the very happy news that Michelle P. Nguyen has accepted Columbia University’s invitation of admissions to its internationally prestigious School of International and Public Affairs. SIPA sits in the very top tier of public policy…
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LEBANON CRISIS: AT LEAST THE EUROPEAN UNION IS NOT ASLEEP
BOOK REVIEW: SIREN QUEEN (2022) BY NGHI VO — IN THE LAND OF STARLETS AND MONSTERS
GABY RUSLI WRITES— Do you have what it takes to become the next big thing? If so, would you do anything to have your shot at stardom? Translated into English, Siren Queen (2022) by Nghi Vo chronicles Luli Wei – a girl born and raised in a stereotypical traditional Chinese laundromat family in the pre-Code…
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K-POP ASIA: STILL EXPLODING,YES – BUT NOT ALWAYS SO KOREAN
YUKANA INOUE WRITES – On the surface, the recently debuted girl group XG appears to be like any other K-Pop girl group. Upon closer examination, however, one quickly finds that all seven members — Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Juria, Cocona, Maya and Harvey — are Japanese and their production company, Xgalx,…
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ASSIGNMENT CHINA: MIKE CHOY’S ENGROSSING ORAL HISTORY
AMI FOUNDER TOM PLATE WRITES – Over the decades, even during rare warmish breaks in the tundra of US-China relations, I do not think I ran across a single American foreign correspondent who claimed that their Beijing posting was an easy job. The other day, while thoroughly enjoying former CNN…
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BOOK REVIEW: CUSTOMS (2022) BY SOLMAZ SHARIF – LIMBO BETWEEN BORDERS
ANGELINE KEK WRITES — A dwelling, a city, a country — a space synonymous with belonging. Wherever you go, you can relish in the comfort of a home to return to. What happens when that is no longer true? Solmaz Sharif is an Iranian American poet, whose family immigrated to…
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NO GLORY IN BULLYING: SOUTH KOREA HAS TO TAKE STOCK
ALI ZANE WRITES – The Netflix original series “The Glory” has provided viewers with a new perspective on the trauma that school violence victims carry throughout their lives. “The Glory,” produced by Netflix and Hwa&Dam Pictures – a Korean drama production company with an impressive list of works and a…
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PERSISTENT, URGENT PLEAS FOR DIALOGUE ACROSS THE PACIFIC: WHY DEMONIZATION IS THE ENEMY OF PEACE
SPENCER H KIM WRITES – Thirty-six years ago I helped co-found the Pacific Century Institute (PCI). Our goal was to build “bridges of understanding” between the peoples living on the vast Pacific Rim because we saw the coming century as the “Pacific Century.” That this is now the Pacific Century…
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SOUTH KOREA: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY?
MICHELLE CHANG WRITES – When the clock strikes 5:00pm, people finish their last emails, close their computers, and head out after a long day at work. At least, that’s what is normally expected; but a recent proposal under review by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol would mandate a maximum 69-hour…
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MUSIC REVIEW: DON’T BLAME THE WILD ONE (2022) – THE POWER OF THE OUTCAST
SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — “Who are we to say that we are not enough?” Ena Mori asks this of listeners in “WHITE ROOM,” the tenth track of her sonically stunning LP, DON’T BLAME THE WILD ONE! (2022). The LP flows through an eclectic soundscape with passion-charged lyrics and production. According…
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CENTRAL ASIA: BIG ENOUGH FOR TWO BIGS?
AMANI ALAWWAD WRITES – After the recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi made a surprising move by calling a meeting of Central Asian countries March 22. Was this an audacious power play aimed at expanding its influence in the region? The meeting, held…
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CHINA AND ITS NEIGHBORS: HOW ELSE MIGHT IT DECIDE TO STRIKE BACK?
GONZALO REYES MONTANO WRITES – The United States is not the only country deeply concerned with the direction of China’s potential. Consider the substantially increased military spending plans proposed by the current government of the United Kingdom, based upon the fear of imminent danger posed by China. But what is…
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BASEBALL: JAPAN’S AMAZING OHTANI RISES AGAIN
JARED D’AGOSTINO WRITES – It seems like just yesterday …what a game! On March 21st, 2023, Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan against Mike Trout and Team USA in the final of the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani and Trout are considered two of baseball’s very best players and were put on…
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