Sarah Yukiko
84 articles
Gwen Stefani insists she is ‘Japanese’ in new interview
Before you read: ‘Those Are My Homies’: Gwen Stefani Shuts Appropriation Claims Over ‘Harajuku Girls’ Era Musician Gwen Stefani doubled down on her defense of her “Harajuku Girls” era in a recent…
New study finds Buddhism can lower the risk of depression
Researchers at Chiang Mai University in Thailand have linked the observation of Buddhist precepts to a lower risk of developing depression. The study, which took place over nearly three years, was…
John Cho on coming-of-age as an Asian American, ‘Cowboy Bebop’ and racism in Hollywood
Actor John Cho spoke to NextShark about his new young adult book, “Troublemaker,” an Asian American coming-of-age novel set during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Told from the perspective of Korean…
Panda Express chef on the appeal of orange chicken and why American Chinese is its own regional cuisine
Across 2,200 stores, Panda Express has become a staple of Chinese American fast food, and central to questions about cultural and culinary authenticity. A third of the chain’s customers order the…
‘Forbidden City’ author Vanessa Hua on honoring the ‘space for agency’ of those who lived the Cultural Revolution
Award-winning novelist Vanessa Hua spoke to NextShark about her forthcoming novel “Forbidden City,” set during the Cultural Revolution in China. The inspiration for the novel, which she wrote over…
‘I was the only one doing it’: TV chef icon Martin Yan on 43 years of sharing Asian American cuisine
Television chef Martin Yan spoke to NextShark about his 43 years in the industry, discrimination he has faced, the meaning of “authenticity” in cooking, and how he has become more vocal in advocating…
Learn your 2022 Chinese Zodiac fortunes in McDonald’s feng shui-informed VR hall designed by Humberto Leon
American fast food company McDonald’s created a Virtual Reality (VR) Zodiac space to showcase the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Designer Humberto Leon, a co-founder of street fashion brand…
‘I was Mei growing up’: Women-led team behind Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ explain why ‘authenticity’ is key
In Disney Pixar’s new coming of age movie, 13-year-old Mei Lee confronts the monstrous difficulty of puberty and becoming who you really are. The woman-led team behind “Turning Red” spoke to…
Mitski releases first new album ‘Laurel Hell’ after return from music hiatus
Japanese American singer-songwriter Mitski released her long-anticipated sixth studio album, Laurel Hell, on Friday. Mitski had taken a hiatus after her 2019 tour concluded and returned to making…
‘Delete this right now’: New York Times’ Singaporean Chicken Curry dish savaged online
A “Singaporean chicken curry” video posted to Instagram by New York Times Cooking has sparked online fervor because of the curry’s apparently less-than-appealing appearance. In the video, posted…
Why Taiwan’s athletes will compete as ‘Chinese Taipei’ at the Beijing Winter Olympics
Four athletes from Taiwan will participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, competing under the label of “Chinese Taipei” because of a historical precedent set in the 1980s. After the 1980 Winter…
‘Extremely not correct’: Chinese alphabet printout purportedly given to third graders goes viral
A viral tweet posted by a parent in Irvine, California, shared an alleged printout their third-grade child brought home from school showing a false “Chinese alphabet.” The sheet matched Chinese Hanzi…
Simu Liu announces memoir sharing his immigrant family’s ‘extraordinary origin story’
Actor Simu Liu took to social media on Tuesday to announce his forthcoming memoir, “We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story.” The title alludes to Liu’s journey from child of a Chinese…
Figure skating judge banned for Chinese ‘national bias’ at 2018 Olympics to be back for Beijing Games
Chinese figure skating judge Huang Feng, who was suspended following a ruling that determined he was displaying preferential treatment toward Chinese skaters in the 2018 Olympics, will once again…
Son’s emotional tribute to Cincinnati Bengals’ fan father goes viral on TikTok
A viral TikTok video shows a son’s emotional reaction after his late father’s beloved football team, the Cincinnati Bengals, qualified for Super Bowl LVI. Robbie Tseng paid tribute to his father, who…
‘It really starts with one person’: Eva Chen talks anti-Asian hate and the power of self-acceptance
Bestselling children’s book author and fashion influencer Eva Chen discusses her latest book, “I Am Golden,” which explores her Chinese identity. The experience of living through the anti-Asian hate…
Biden Deputy Assistant Erika Moritsugu on why the White House now uses ‘AANHPI’ instead of ‘AAPI’
Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Senior Liaison Erika Moritsugu spoke to NextShark about the Biden presidency one year in.…
‘We b*tched about Jamie Oliver for 15 minutes’: Uncle Roger meets Gordon Ramsey in new video
In a profanity-filled seven-second TikTok clip, comedian Nigel Ng (portraying his comedic alter ego Uncle Roger) and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey meet for the first time. In the caption of the video…
Bachan’s founder talks his 6-year journey getting his Japanese bbq sauce onto over 3,000 stores’ shelves
Japanese American entrepreneur Justin Gill of Bachan’s shares his six-year journey towards creating the hit Japanese BBQ sauce while staying true to his origins and heritage. The brand, which means…
‘Why do we have to fit in one box?’: Chef Roy Choi on activism, representation and the best bubble tea in LA
Acclaimed Korean American chef Roy Choi spoke to NextShark about his brand of activism, his emphasis on truth-telling, and why he has “never given a f*ck” about what other Asians think of him. Choi’s…
China calls for boycott of KFC due to customers’ ‘irrational and excessive’ purchases
Following a successful meal toy promotion with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart, KFC is facing backlash and calls for a boycott in China. Reports suggested some consumers bought hundreds of dollars’…
Asian passenger on Toronto train is bombarded with racist slurs, spit at by female rider
A video of a woman unleashing a racist tirade against and spitting on an Asian public transit rider in Toronto has gained attention after being posted to Twitter on Wednesday. In the clip shared by…
US Army recruitment video showcases life for military workers in South Korea
A recruitment video released by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Pacific (IMCOM-Pacific) advertises life at a U.S. Army Garrison in South Korea. The video is targeted toward U.S.…
Australian poet Eileen Chong says she was asked a racist question by her white neighbor
Australian poet Eileen Chong tweeted about a recent racist experience in Sydney in which a white neighbor asked her how much she charged for cleaning services. In the thread, she continued, “Some…
Magawa, Cambodian hero rat who detected more than 65 undetonated landmines, dies at age 8
A Cambodian rat who won a medal for heroism after detecting more than 65 undetonated landmines and explosive ordinances has passed away at the age of eight. The rat, named Magawa, was an African…
Spend your gold nuggets on this $3,000 Susuwatari bag from Studio Ghibli x Loewe’s ‘Spirited Away’ collection
On Jan. 7, Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe released their second collection in collaboration with Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli. The “Loewe x Spirited Away” campaign features beloved…
Hayao Miyazaki’s 81st birthday celebrated by Nickelodeon with Nicktoons x Studio Ghibli mashup
Hayao Miyazaki, the celebrated co-founder of Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, turned 81 on Jan. 5. Fans of the animator/director/writer sent birthday wishes on social media, including…
Michelin star French chef skewered online for his pho recipe
Acclaimed chef Eric Ripert of the Michelin star restaurant Le Bernadin is being criticized for his “vegetarian Vietnamese pho” recipe posted to Instagram on Jan. 3. The post shows Ripert in the…
‘They do not want to experience any hardship’: Jackie Chan says young actors lack work ethic
Jackie Chan was recently invited to be the guest of honor at the 40th annual Golden Rooster Awards, a Chinese event honoring the best of the film industry. During a talk show commemorating the event,…
MI6 chief thanks China for ‘free publicity’ from bizarre ‘James Pond’ spoof aimed at Western intelligence
After the head of U.K. intelligence agency MI6 stated that China is the “single greatest priority” for the organization, Chinese state media released a video spoofing MI6’s famous fictional spy,…
Video: Rogue buffalo in China charges through restaurant entrance, tosses unsuspecting customer
A viral video from Dec. 31 shows a buffalo crashing through the front of a restaurant in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, in Eastern China. In the dramatic scene, a bystander is tossed into the air by the…
Controversy erupts after ASU student confrontation over ‘Police Lives Matter’ sticker in multicultural space
Two Arizona State University (ASU) students of color were found to have violated university policy after an exchange with two white students at the Tempe campus’ newly formed multicultural center…
George Takei responds to RI lawmaker who says she lost ‘a black friend’ to critical race theory
Japanese American actor George Takei weighed in on a Rhode Island lawmaker’s tweet about critical race theory with his own experiences of Japanese internment. The lawmaker, State Rep. Patricia…
‘Delta Omicron Epsilon’: Billionaire banker Rich Handler makes derogatory ‘Wuhan’ reference on Instagram
Rich Handler, billionaire CEO of the investment bank Jeffries Financial Group, referenced the variants of COVID in a public Instagram story last Thursday. “Delta Omicron Epsilon is the National Honor…
Kim Jong Il, inventor of the burrito? North Korean state media makes strange claim
North Korea’s state news organization Rodong Sinmun claimed the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il invented “wheat wraps” in 2011. A video was posted by Pen News showing North Koreans preparing and…
Louisiana-style vs. Korean fried chicken: Popeyes plans to open hundreds of locations in South Korea
American fast food chain Popeyes, known for its “Louisiana-style” fried chicken, has signed an agreement to re-open hundreds of locations in South Korea. Popeyes previously closed all South Korean…
