Author Archives: Koji Steven Sakai

About Koji Steven Sakai

Writer/Producer Koji Steven Sakai is the founder of Little Nalu Pictures LLC and the CEO of CHOPSO (www.CHOPSO.com), the first Asian English streaming video service. He has written five feature films that have been produced, including the indie hit, The People I’ve Slept With. He also produced three feature films, a one hour comedy special currently on Netflix, and Comedy InvAsian, a live and filmed series featuring the nation’s top Asian American comedians. Koji’s debut novel, Romeo & Juliet Vs. Zombies, was released in paperback in 2015 and in audiobook in 2016 and his graphic novel, 442, was released in 2017. In addition, he is currently an adjunct professor in screenwriting at International Technological University in San Jose.

APA Spotlight: Bill Watanabe, Executive Director of the Little Tokyo Service Center

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

Bill Watanabe, for the past 30 years, has been the Executive Director of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a multipurpose social welfare agency in the Little Tokyo district in downtown Los Angeles. Continue reading →

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8Questions: Gina Hiraizumi, Actress/Singer

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

Gina Hiraizumi is one of the hardest working people in Hollywood. I’ve been a big fan of her from afar but recently we were both invited to Japan for a conference and I found out that not only is she super talented but also one of the most down to earth and funny people I know. Continue reading →

Posted in 8Questions, Entertainment, Movies, TV | 1 Comment

APA Spotlight: Ellen Oh, Executive Director of Kearny Street Workshop

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

Ellen Oh is the Executive Director of Kearny Street Workshop. Continue reading →

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“Asian” According to Urbandictionary.com

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

On a lark, I decided to look up “Asian” and found 292 different entries. As you can probably imagine, many many many of them are racist and not worth repeating here. However, to my surprise, some are funny, others disgusting, most are about sex, and some of them are downright strange and had little to no connection with actual Asians. Continue reading →

Posted in WTF | 13 Comments

APA Spotlight: Rick Shiomi, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

Rick Shiomi has been one of the leaders of the Asian American theater movement for over twenty-five years. He is a co-founder of Mu Performing Arts and has been the Artistic Director since 1993. Continue reading →

Posted in APA Spotlight | 1 Comment

8Questions: Akira Uchimura of the Nikkei Youth Network

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

One of the people I met on my recent trip to Japan was Akira Uchimura, the Executive Director of the Nikkei Youth Network. He brought together a whole bunch of Nikkei (people of Japanese descent) from all over the world … Continue reading →

Posted in 8Questions | 1 Comment

APA Spotlight: Debra A. Fong, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Community Fund

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Koji Steven Sakai

Debra A. Fong is the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Community Fund. Continue reading →

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Peace Boat: Japanese Americans Travel the World With Other Nikkeis

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Koji Steven Sakai

The Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment, on a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on global voyages. Continue reading →

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APA Spotlight: Kent Wong, Director of the Center for Labor Research and Education at UCLA

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Koji Steven Sakai

Kent Wong is Director of the Center for Labor Research and Education at UCLA, where he also teaches Labor Studies and Asian American Studies. Continue reading →

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Asian Americans and Lowered Cars

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Koji Steven Sakai

When I was in high school, all I wanted for Christmas was a lowered Honda Civic or Acura Integra. The ones that hug the ground so closely you have to drive sideways over a speed bump. The ones that have … Continue reading →

Posted in Lifestyles | 20 Comments

APA Spotlight: Ken Tanabe, Loving Day

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Koji Steven Sakai

Ken Tanabe is the founder and president of Loving Day. Loving Day is an educational community project that fights racial prejudice through education and builds multicultural community. Continue reading →

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How To Be A Bad Asian: I Love Red Dawn

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Koji Steven Sakai

Life is hard enough as an Asian. Not all of us can get perfect SAT scores, graduate from medical school or trick out a Honda Civic. The pressure to embrace our culture remains but sometimes, we just don’t want to. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, How To Be A Bad Asian, Movies, Observations | 7 Comments