On Sunday April 10th, Chef Arnold Wong is hosting a Special Benefit for Japan Night at E&O Trading Co. 314 Sutter Street in San Francisco to aid Japan following the country’s devastating natural disaster. This amazing evening brings together San Francisco’s finest restaurants, wineries and mixologists to raise funds for the victims of the Earthquake and Tsunami that hit Japan on March 11th.

Liam Mayclem of Eye on the Bay will preside as emcee from 5-9pm, live entertainment will feature local favorite Chef Joey Altman & The Backburner Blues and burlesque dancers, and the Bon Vivants will be mixing up amazing cocktails during this evening of great food, wines, spirits, live music, entertainment and a silent auction.

Tickets for the event are priced at $75 and 100% of proceeds from the evening will be donated directly to Give2Asia. …Representatives from Give2Asia will be in attendance to speak about their involvement with the Japanese community and outreach underway. Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door based on capacity!

http://www.give2asia.org/documents/Give2Asia-JapanTsunami-HowToHelp.pdf

Participating Restaurants:
Betelnut
Butterfly
Contigo
Range
Slanted Door
Grand Cafe
StarBelly
Beast & Hare
One Market
Tres
Citizen’s Band
Live Sushi
Le Soleil
Basil Canteen
& More

Desserts:
Cocotutti
Kara’s Cupcakes
Nash Baker’s
Raison d’etre Bakery
Pinky’s Bakery
Namu Restaurant

Beverages:
Southern Wine &...

Congratulations to playwright David Henry Hwang, who has been named the Honoree of the 31st Annual William Inge Theatre Festival, in Independence, Kansas, on the campus of Independence Community College.

Hwang will be at the Inge Festival from April 18-21, 2012. He joins the roster of internationally renowned playwrights who have traveled to the Inge Festival to receive the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award. This select list includes Arthur Miller, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Edward Albee, Wendy Wasserstein, and the most recent Honoree, Marsha Norman, to name just a few.

“David Henry Hwang brings a unique voice to the fabric of the American theatre,” said Peter Ellenstein, Inge Center Artistic Director. “Besides being a great dramatist, his work often gives voice to an Asian-American perspective that has been long left out of American culture.”

Hwang is also a librettist for musicals and operas, as well as a screenwriter. At the multi-media Tribute ceremony that concludes the Inge Festival, Hwang will accept the annual Inge Festival Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award.

Since its founding in 1981, the William Inge Theatre Festival has celebrated the accomplishments of nationally renowned playwrights. It is the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas, located in the picturesque southeastern Kansas town of Independence (pop. 10,000), William Inge’s...

As we approach April 11, one month after the Japan earthquake and tsunami, Japan continues to suffer through it’s worst crisis since World War II, as the country’s prime minister said. First the earthquake, then the tsunami, and now the erosion of nuclear power plants in the affected area is creating an emergency equal to Chernobyl.

The Minami Tamaki LLP law firm and Inspirational Opportunities for Youth and Seniors (IOYS), a nonprofit foundation, have been working together to raise funds for victims of the Northern Japan earthquakes and tsunami. To encourage support through this campaign, Minami Tamaki and IOYS pledged to match 50 percent of your donation up to a combined $10,000. As of April 6th, they have exceeded their second target of $100,000 by raising $192,000 in combined donations and matches. All donations and matches raised to date have been sent to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) so that they can put the donations to immediate use towards citizen relief efforts in the most affected areas. Watch a thank you video from JCCCNC Executive Director Paul Osaki.

Because the need in Japan continues to be so great, they are pressing on and have set a new goal of $250,000 in combined donations and matches. With the help of new campaign partners, they will continue to match 50% of donations up to pledged amounts through April 30, 2011.

Donate today in support of their new goal
100% of the proceeds raised will go to...

Tennis pro Michael Chang knows the glare of the spotlight of being one of the world's greatest tennis athletes, and an Asian American. He was only fifteen years old when he turned pro. 

He spoke with ESPN's Kenton Wong about the added pressures he experienced when he began his pro career in 1988. He also disclosed to Wong that he spoke with Jeremy Lin before Lin's rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, pre-Linsanity.

Click here for the full story by ESPN's Kenton Wong.

Related: 

In 1987, Michael Chang was the youngest player to win a main draw match at the U.S. Open and the youngest to reach a Tour semifinal. Becoming the youngest French Open / Grand Slam Champion ever in 1989, he then became the youngest to rank in the Top 5. Chang ended an American drought at the French Open, when he became the first American male to win the tournament since 1955. In 1991 he reached the quarterfinals or better in 13 tournaments. On the court, Michael's real strength is his return game. Chang was considered one of the fastest players on the circuit, possessing an all-court game.

Source: Michael Chang's official website www.mchang.com 

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden celebrates their 30th Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1, 2011. The two day festival will feature the best of both traditional and contemporary Japanese arts and culture, including dance, martial arts, manga, costume play (“cosplay”), workshops, demonstrations, and guided tours of the Garden’s Japanese plant collections.

Among the more than 60 events and performances on the schedule for 2011 are a host of new features, including a performance by Morning Musuko, a 15-member brassy J-pop big band; a specially commissioned contemporary dance work by the respected Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company; and a Puzzle Plaza where visitors can immerse themselves in with Sudoku, kakuro, LaQ and the legendary game of go.

Returning favorites include performances by Okinawan-pop stars happyfunsmile and martial artists Samurai Sword Soul, plentiful manga and anime activities including signings by famed manga artists and a live collaboration between Veronica Taylor (the voice of Pokemon) and artist Misako Rocks!, and several hands-on activities for kids to enjoy.

During this season celebrating its historic relationship to Japanese culture and horticulture, the Garden reflects on the recent tragic events in Japan, and invites visitors to find...