International Examiner

Home
International Examiner

The PNW’s only nonprofit ANHPIA media since 1974, based in the heart of Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. We produce a twice-monthly newspaper and daily-updated website.

Established in 1974, the International Examiner (IE) is the oldest and largest nonprofit, pan-Asian Pacific American publication in the Northwest. Named after the historic and thriving multi-ethnic International District (ID) of Seattle, the IE aspires to be a credible catalyst for building an inspiring, connected, well-respected, and socially conscious Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) c

ommunity. Our mission is to promote critical thinking, dialogue, and action by providing timely, accurate, and culturally sensitive coverage of relevant AAPI matters. We are a multi-media informational, educational, arts, culture, and heritage organization. The IE also provides learning opportunities for AAPI youth, professionals and community members.

10/09/2025

Delays, uncertainty, and opportunity as plans for CID Sound Transit station continue to be in flux - article by Adrian Ellis Alarilla

Now online and in our print issue, out in distribution locations now!

🙏🏽

In Fall 2025, Sound Transit is slated to release an updated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on their proposed station options in Chinatown-International District (CID).

The station is part of the proposed Ballard Link Extension (BLE), itself part of the larger Sound Transit 3 (ST3) system expansion. According to Sound Transit, the BLE adds almost 8 miles of light rail and nine new stations in dense residential and job centers in the CID, Downtown, Interbay, and Ballard neighborhoods. The project is currently in its planning phase, which includes determining the station’s final location, based on three active proposed sites.

Disruption, noise pollution, and other adverse conditions are almost guaranteed, regardless of the chosen option. For many CID community advocates, each proposal’s positive and negative impacts to their beloved neighborhood require careful assessment.

Sound Transit continues to receive public comments during their board meetings held on the fourth Thursday of each month. The last one was on August 28, 2025.

08/09/2025

Celebrate Little Saigon event receives record number of attendees amidst public safety concerns - article by Hong Ta with photos by Patty Tang

Now online and in our print issue, out in distribution locations now!

🙏🏽

On August 16, Celebrate Little Saigon marked its fourteenth annual event, which included food and retail vendors, musical performances, and family activities.

In 2011, the first celebration was held at what was originally the Lam Seafood parking lot. There were only about 50 attendees, according to Quỳnh Phạm, executive director of Friends of Little Saigon.

“We wanted to bring the community together and throw some type of community gathering and celebration. So we wanted to throw our own small block party, and that’s how it started,” she said.

That parking lot on South King Street would later become Hoa Mai Park, where the event is now held. Pham says there were up to one thousand attendees this year.

Simultaneously, there were public safety concerns in its surrounding areas, including informal commerce and drug activity occurring near the event.

“Public safety challenges are an ongoing daily thing that we try to address,” Pham said, “For events like this, we try to coordinate with the city and with our local service providers to make sure that people get resources and things that they need.”

08/09/2025

Asian American Journalists Association visits Seattle - by Jadenne Radoc Cabahug

From July 30 to August 3, 2025, over 1,400 AAPI journalists came to Seattle from all corners of the nation to attend the annual Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) convention. Learning about topics such as Artificial Intelligence, immigration, international reporting, and one does after getting laid off from a job, journalists from AAPI backgrounds shared resumes, made new connections and learned more about how to move better in their own newsrooms.

As one of the founding members of the Seattle chapter of AAJA, veteran journalist Lori Matsukawa—who has been in the broadcast journalism industry for more than 40 years said the experience was like a dream.

From learning about Artificial Intelligence, immigration, international reporting and what to do when you get laid off from a job, many journalists from AAPI backgrounds shared resumes, made new connections and learned more about how to move in their own newsrooms.

“It was unbelievable, and it just made us very proud,” Matsukawa said, referring to the founding of AAJA’s Seattle chapter. According to Matsukawa, AAJA was founded in 1981, but AAJA’s Seattle chapter was formed in 1983, following the Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters.

AAJA Seattle’s founders include: Matsukawa, former KING 5 evening news anchor; Frank Abe, former reporter at KIRO Newsradio; and Ron Chew, former editor and board president of the International Examiner and the chapter’s first president.

.chew.33

05/09/2025

🐤 EARLY-BIRD TICKETS 🐤
EXTENDED TO SEP. 30

Join us for our International Examiner's Community Voices Awards 2025: Celebrating Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American Leaders

October 23, 2025
at Diamond Bay Restaurant

Visit fundraiser.support/cva2025 to purchase an individual ticket or support IE with an entire table of friends and kin.

🌸🌸🌸

With more than a half-century of experience, the International Examiner celebrates its 52nd year in 2025.

The International Examiner’s annual fundraiser dinner, the Community Voice Awards (CVA), highlights local change-making leaders and organizations. Rooted in expansiveness and resilience despite shifting challenges within the journalistic space, the IE celebrates this year’s CVA with a theme of ROOTED & RISING.

THIS YEAR'S CVA WILL HONOR & CELEBRATE:

Ping Foong
Leadership in Arts & Culture

Stan Shikuma
Lifetime Achievement Award

Maria Abando
Leadership in Community

Thanh-Nga “Tanya” Nguyễn
.cafe
Leadership in Business

Ken Mochizuki
Leadership in Journalism

Nurhaliza Mohamath .mohamath
Tatsuo Nakata Leadership Award

This year’s CVAs takes place on October 23rd at the Diamond Bay Restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Tickets cover an intimate experience with a delicious 9-course Chinese banquet meal, an awards ceremony, and an evening in conversation with other like-minded supporters of local journalism.

🌸🌸🌸

Sponsorship opportunities are also available; email [email protected] for details.

If you can't make it in-person, we still welcome you to make a contribution via fundraiser.support/cva2025 to help us reach our fundraising goal and continue bringing incredible journalism to the Northwest!

04/09/2025

SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE IS OUT!

📰 Pick up a printed copy; distribution locations at iexaminer.org/distribution 📰

Cover design by Kenji Stoll - “The piece is inspired by the kanji for the word mujō, a Buddhist word used to describe the concept of impermanence. My thought for the piece was to reimagine this word in a way that honors the idea of impermanence, while also acknowledging the chaos, discomfort, potential, and creativity ongoing change can bring.”

FEATURED NEWS STORIES

Delays, uncertainties, and opportunity as plans for Sound Transit CID station continue to be in flux by Adrian Alarilla

Asian American Journalists Association visits Seattle by Jadenne Radoc Cabahug

Celebrate Little Saigon event receives record attendance amidst public safety concerns by Hong Ta with photos by Patty Tang

Increased tariffs on Asian countries are already increasing prices by Mark Van Streefkerk

Tsuru for Solidarity hosts survivors of Japanese American incarceration by Kaitlyn Montez

Seattle Shield Initiative heads to November ballot as Proposition 2 by Evelyn Chow

ARTS
Interactive farmhouse installation connects Japanese American incarceration with immigrant struggles by Ana Tanaka

Aiming to demystify contemporary art, gallery opens in vacant downtown Seattle space by Sian Wu

Artists Against Apartheid .art gathering in CID encourages artists to take a stand by Perry Meas

Short story collection The Blanket Cat emphasizes kindness and understanding by Jennifer Lee

Cynthia Kadohata’s new young adult novel tackles Asian American adolescent addiction, crime, and mental health crises by Rachel Endo

K-Drama School is an in-depth examination of Korean pop culture by Bruce Fulton

Indian Country looks at sacred rivers in India and the U.S. by Nalini Iyer .iyer.2020
.. and much more!!!

28/08/2025

International Examiner is hiring for its next EDITOR IN CHIEF -- plus FREELANCE NEWS WRITERS!

FULL DETAILS: iexaminer.org/careers

🐉🐉🐉

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Established in 1974, the International Examiner (IE) is the oldest and largest nonprofit, pan-Asian Pacific American publication in the Northwest. Based in the historic and thriving multi-ethnic Chinatown International District (CID) of Seattle, the IE aspires to be a credible catalyst for building an inspiring, connected, well-respected, and socially conscious Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American (ANHPIA) community. Our mission is to promote critical thinking, dialogue, and action by providing timely, accurate, and culturally sensitive coverage of relevant ANHPIA matters.

🌞🌞🌞

EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Editor-in-Chief oversees the organizational implementation of the IE Board’s vision and mission with approved goals and objectives. They lead the organizational, community-related and business decisions to drive IE mission-focused sustainability and growth in collaboration with staff, stakeholders and partners. They set and uphold a positive, culturally competent organizational culture that ensures sound journalism practices, integrity, and ethics. They create a positive, productive, transparent, communicative, and equitable work environment through responsible and effective staff management. They will play a significant role in fundraising, development, and publicly raising the visibility of the publication to contribute to long-term sustainability.

28/08/2025

Thanh-Nga “Tanya” Nguyễn is a featured recipient of this year's Community Voice Awards at International Examiner, for Lifetime Achievement Award!

Stay tuned for our feature about her, written by Mark van Streefkerk ~ but in the meantime, we leave you with one of her inspirational quotes:

“When you do something with your heart – and it’s genuine – and with compassion and consistency, the community will amplify it.”

🌸🌸🌸

🐤 EARLY-BIRD TICKETS 🐤 are now on sale for International Examiner's Community Voices Awards 2025: Celebrating Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American Leaders

October 23, 2025
at Diamond Bay Restaurant

Visit fundraiser.support/cva2025 to purchase an individual ticket or support IE with an entire table of friends and kin.

🌸🌸🌸

With more than a half-century of experience, the International Examiner celebrates its 52nd year in 2025. Rooted in expansiveness and resilience despite shifting challenges within the journalistic space, the IE celebrates this year’s CVA with a theme of ROOTED & RISING.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available; email [email protected] for details.

If you can't make it in-person, we still welcome you to make a contribution via fundraiser.support/cva2025 to help us reach our fundraising goal and continue bringing incredible journalism to the Northwest!

.cafe

28/08/2025

Increased tariffs on Asian countries are already raising prices - by Mark Van Streefkerk

Full article online and in print in the upcoming September issue !

Since coming into office in November 2024, President Trump has teased tariffs increases on trade partners around the world. As of early August, a new wave of tariffs are being felt by consumers in the Seattle area. Trump’s reasons for implementing historically high tariffs range from: encouraging the manufacture of more American-made products, because the U.S. has been treated “very unfairly” in trade by the rest of the world; attempting to force Mexico and Canada to boost their border security; and for other political reasons, like potentially punishing India with a 50% tariff for buying oil from Russia. In some instances, Trump has threatened tariffs upwards of 300%, though many have not come to fruition.

Reciprocal tariffs on many Asian countries crystallized on Aug. 7, though China’s were allocated on Aug. 11. Many face reciprocal tariffs higher than the Trump administration’s established global baseline tariff of 10%.

Cambodia: 19%
China: 34% – with further negotiations to be made on November 11
Indonesia: 19%
India: 25% – with threatened additional 25% tariff to go into effect on August 27
Japan: 15%
Laos: 40%
Malaysia: 19%
Myanmar: 40%
Pakistan: 19%
Philippines: 19%
Papua New Guinea: 15%
South Korea: 15%
Sri Lanka: 20%
Taiwan: 20%
Thailand: 19%
Vietnam: 20%

21/08/2025

STAN SHIKUMA is a featured recipient of this year's Community Voice Awards at International Examiner, for Lifetime Achievement Award!

Stan Shikuma is a social activist, community organizer, writer, and retired nurse. He grew up in Watsonville, CA and attended Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and the University of Washington. He currently serves on the Leadership Council of Tsuru for Solidarity and works with several community organizations: Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, Tule Lake Pilgrimage, From Hiroshima to Hope, NVC Foundation as Newsletter Editor, and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. He volunteers with La Resistencia in support of their efforts to shut down the Northwest ICE Detention Center and to stop detention and deportation flights out of King County International Airport. As a longtime taiko (Japanese drum) player, he also performs, writes, and lectures on the history, teaching, and performance of taiko in North America.

🌸🌸🌸

🐤 EARLY-BIRD TICKETS 🐤 are now on sale for International Examiner's Community Voices Awards 2025: Celebrating Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American Leaders

October 23, 2025
at Diamond Bay Restaurant

Visit fundraiser.support/cva2025 to purchase an individual ticket or support IE with an entire table of friends and kin.

🌸🌸🌸

With more than a half-century of experience, the International Examiner celebrates its 52nd year in 2025. Rooted in expansiveness and resilience despite shifting challenges within the journalistic space, the IE celebrates this year’s CVA with a theme of ROOTED & RISING.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available; email [email protected] for details.

If you can't make it in-person, we still welcome you to make a contribution via fundraiser.support/cva2025 to help us reach our fundraising goal and continue bringing incredible journalism to the Northwest!

20/08/2025

Some IE team relaxations in Hing Hay Park! With Intern Nova Berger .berger, Business & Operations Director Carmen Hom, and Interim Editor in Chief Vee Hua

Photo by Blake .nkts

19/08/2025

PING FOONG is a featured recipient of this year's Community Voice Awards at International Examiner, for Leadership in Arts!

Ping Foong is Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art at the Seattle Art Museum and Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Foong received a Ph.D. from Princeton University, and her experience spans the academic and curatorial realms. She began her career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Jane and Morgan Whitney Fellow, and then taught at the University of Chicago as Assistant Professor and at the University of California, Berkeley. Her monograph on eleventh-century Chinese ink painting, The Efficacious Landscape: On the Authorities of Painting at the Northern Song Court, was published by Harvard University Press and won the Joseph Levenson Book Prize, one of the Asian field’s most notable awards. Present book projects include one on the material histories of medieval Buddhist calligraphy and their reception during the late Qing dynasty and early Republican era.

Dr. Foong oversees the SAM’s extensive collection of Chinese art, from historic to modern and contemporary, in its presentation, research, care, and interpretation... In March 2025, Ai Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei opened at the Seattle Art Museum in the largest-ever US retrospective of this globally renowned artist, with 130 works spanning over 40 years. In June, Ai Weiwei proclaimed this exhibition "his strongest in terms of narrative and expression.”

IMAGE CREDITS:

Headshot courtesy of The Seattle Art Museum. Photo: Alborz Kamalizad

Installation image from Ai, Rebel The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei courtesy of The Seattle Art Museum. Photo: Scott Leen

🌸🌸🌸

🐤 EARLY-BIRD TICKETS 🐤 are now on sale for International Examiner's Community Voices Awards 2025: Celebrating Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American Leaders

October 23, 2025
at Diamond Bay Restaurant

Visit fundraiser.support/cva2025 to purchase an individual ticket or support IE with an entire table of friends and kin.

15/08/2025

International Examiner's Community Voice Awards 2025: Leadership in Community Award Winner Maria Abando Draws Inspiration from her Roots to Support Diverse Communities

Full article online by Jadenne Radoc Cabahug at iexaminer.org

***

Growing up on the east side of Tacoma, community organizer Maria Abando was raised surrounded by diverse immigrant populations, with a lot of neighbors who spoke English as a second language. A big part of Abando’s advocacy and community work comes from growing up “100% Black and 100% Filipino” and the ways she used to feel that she didn’t fit in. Her mom is African American and was raised in Tacoma, but her dad immigrated to the United States from the Philippines. By embracing her identity, Abando now does not see herself as half of each culture, but knows fully that she belongs in both communities.

“Part of what I want to do in my time on this Earth is helping people make sure that they can thrive and that they can find their belonging,” Abando said.

🌸🌸🌸

The International Examiner is proud to honor Maria Abando with a Community Voice Award (CVA) for Leadership in Community. Please join us in-person, on October 23, 2025, to celebrate her and other community leaders.

Visit fundraiser.support/cva2025 to purchase an EARLY-BIRD individual ticket or support IE with an entire table of friends and kin -- or to make a contribution if you can't make it IRL!

Sponsorship opportunities are also available; email [email protected] for details.

Address

Telephone

+12066243925

Website

http://www.iexaminer.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when International Examiner posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to International Examiner:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Country:

City: