Clara Iwasaki
@ciwasaki.bsky.social
Prof @ UAlberta: LA expat, lilikoi enthusiast. You can ask me about Chinese/Sinophone scholarly things, but you can also ask me about my cat and all other cats in my area.
Little did anyone know, the gashadokuro would eventually be available for purchase at your local Home Depot, not to annihilate one's enemies, but to annoy one's suburban housing association at Halloween.
In #JapaneseFolklore gashadokuro is a #yokai who takes the form of a skeletal giant. The name is onomatopoeic for the sound of their rattling bones and teeth. This yokai is created from a conglomeration of many vengeful spirits of soldiers who have died in battle and remained...
#FolkyFriday
1/4
#FolkyFriday
1/4
September 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Little did anyone know, the gashadokuro would eventually be available for purchase at your local Home Depot, not to annihilate one's enemies, but to annoy one's suburban housing association at Halloween.
I developed my robot class about 6 years ago and have taught it intermittently. This is the first time the class has felt more or less close to the present day. We are reading "Goodbye, Melancholy" this week. clarkesworldmagazine.com/xia_03_17/
September 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I developed my robot class about 6 years ago and have taught it intermittently. This is the first time the class has felt more or less close to the present day. We are reading "Goodbye, Melancholy" this week. clarkesworldmagazine.com/xia_03_17/
Re-reading Koji Ariyoshi (Kona born Hawai'ian JA communist and China expert)'s autobiography this morning. I found the end of his preface striking. It was written when Ariyoshi faced trial and jail time for organizing a communist party in Hawai'i. Words to think about in these times, I think.
September 15, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Re-reading Koji Ariyoshi (Kona born Hawai'ian JA communist and China expert)'s autobiography this morning. I found the end of his preface striking. It was written when Ariyoshi faced trial and jail time for organizing a communist party in Hawai'i. Words to think about in these times, I think.
Is the victim was that one person at a faculty meeting who says "Well, I just have one more thing to add..." as everyone is standing up to leave at the end of the meeting?
Hear me out: a dark academia murder book that opens at a department beginning-of-the-year celebration on a boat (I know a department that does this) and a professor goes overboard. The intrepid department chair must figure out who did it. Everyone is a suspect, including the chair herself.
September 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Is the victim was that one person at a faculty meeting who says "Well, I just have one more thing to add..." as everyone is standing up to leave at the end of the meeting?
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
The best spots in Koreatown are @metrolosangeles.bsky.social accessible 🫰 K-town organizer John Yi shares his favorite neighborhood gems along Metro’s D Line.
🎥: @marinamasako.bsky.social
🎥: @marinamasako.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The best spots in Koreatown are @metrolosangeles.bsky.social accessible 🫰 K-town organizer John Yi shares his favorite neighborhood gems along Metro’s D Line.
🎥: @marinamasako.bsky.social
🎥: @marinamasako.bsky.social
This unfortunately reminds me that even with a pronunciation guide, the dean who read my name when I got my PhD butchered it so bad I didn't recognize it and afterward my dad was so mad I had to stop him from trying to go fight the dean after the ceremony.
Something very very weird happened during the Hugos award ceremony... It's been on my mind for days, and so I wrote this blog: "When People Giggle at Your Name, or the 2025 Hugo Awards Incident"
grigorylukin.com/2025/08/21/w...
#Worldcon
grigorylukin.com/2025/08/21/w...
#Worldcon
August 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This unfortunately reminds me that even with a pronunciation guide, the dean who read my name when I got my PhD butchered it so bad I didn't recognize it and afterward my dad was so mad I had to stop him from trying to go fight the dean after the ceremony.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
SEEKING SUMMER ARCHIVAL INTERN
We are looking for an assistant to archive and document the Paradise Systems Chinese comics library. Must be comfortable reading Chinese comics (simplified and traditional) and writing about them in English. A background in translation is a plus.
We are looking for an assistant to archive and document the Paradise Systems Chinese comics library. Must be comfortable reading Chinese comics (simplified and traditional) and writing about them in English. A background in translation is a plus.
June 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
SEEKING SUMMER ARCHIVAL INTERN
We are looking for an assistant to archive and document the Paradise Systems Chinese comics library. Must be comfortable reading Chinese comics (simplified and traditional) and writing about them in English. A background in translation is a plus.
We are looking for an assistant to archive and document the Paradise Systems Chinese comics library. Must be comfortable reading Chinese comics (simplified and traditional) and writing about them in English. A background in translation is a plus.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
"Our current situation is a complete provocation by the state - tearing families apart and throwing people into concentration camps is violence. They are kidnapping people and locking them in the LA federal detention center basement without food or water.” 1/
June 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"Our current situation is a complete provocation by the state - tearing families apart and throwing people into concentration camps is violence. They are kidnapping people and locking them in the LA federal detention center basement without food or water.” 1/
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
We feed you.
They hunt us.
They hunt us.
June 11, 2025 at 5:05 AM
We feed you.
They hunt us.
They hunt us.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
Working hard to defend the rights, dignity, and well-being of immigrants, refugees, and the undocumented, they need our help more than ever right now.
You can find this article and all resources to combat ICE on a special link we created. Lataco.com/ice
Please share
You can find this article and all resources to combat ICE on a special link we created. Lataco.com/ice
Please share
June 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Working hard to defend the rights, dignity, and well-being of immigrants, refugees, and the undocumented, they need our help more than ever right now.
You can find this article and all resources to combat ICE on a special link we created. Lataco.com/ice
Please share
You can find this article and all resources to combat ICE on a special link we created. Lataco.com/ice
Please share
I feel a lot of ways about what is happening in my hometown, but one of them is that after today I really never want to have to hear anyone tell me that they don't really like LA and think SF is a lot nicer again.
Easily over 1,000 people outside the federal detention center in LA, with another 2,000+ at City Hall.
June 8, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I feel a lot of ways about what is happening in my hometown, but one of them is that after today I really never want to have to hear anyone tell me that they don't really like LA and think SF is a lot nicer again.
我城
June 8, 2025 at 11:07 PM
我城
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
When LA *really* pops off, in the way that LA does, neither DHS nor LAPD will be able to contain it.
It's not going to happen tonight, but I suspect it's going to happen before long this summer.
And once LA gets going, there's really no stopping the crowds.
It's not going to happen tonight, but I suspect it's going to happen before long this summer.
And once LA gets going, there's really no stopping the crowds.
June 7, 2025 at 2:33 AM
When LA *really* pops off, in the way that LA does, neither DHS nor LAPD will be able to contain it.
It's not going to happen tonight, but I suspect it's going to happen before long this summer.
And once LA gets going, there's really no stopping the crowds.
It's not going to happen tonight, but I suspect it's going to happen before long this summer.
And once LA gets going, there's really no stopping the crowds.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
So.... have I got some lovely HK protest er... art for you
Gas grenades being broke by DHS being countered by a few people placing traffic cones with water bottles on top to contain the gas to varying levels of success.
June 7, 2025 at 2:58 AM
So.... have I got some lovely HK protest er... art for you
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
DHS Officers near MDC coming out of the parking lot now in LA. At least one detention. Lots of stun grenades, pepper balls, chemical munitions. Rocks, chairs, water bottles in return.
LAPD is blocking traffic to the area.
LAPD is blocking traffic to the area.
June 7, 2025 at 2:29 AM
DHS Officers near MDC coming out of the parking lot now in LA. At least one detention. Lots of stun grenades, pepper balls, chemical munitions. Rocks, chairs, water bottles in return.
LAPD is blocking traffic to the area.
LAPD is blocking traffic to the area.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
Heavily-armed DHS paramilitary forces in military vehicles fired dozens of stun grenades at a crowd of onlookers today in Los Angeles.
June 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Heavily-armed DHS paramilitary forces in military vehicles fired dozens of stun grenades at a crowd of onlookers today in Los Angeles.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
Thanks to the very capable editorial team at @ricochetmedia.bsky.social for helping to push this through, on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the Nakba and Asian Heritage Month.
We can’t talk about anti-Asian racism without talking about anti-Palestinian racism.
On the anniversary of the #Nakba, Asians in #Canada must reaffirm solidarity with Palestinian brethren
"Anti-Palestinian racism is anti-Asian racism"
New from @vwlegal.bsky.social:
ricochet.media/justice/we-c...
On the anniversary of the #Nakba, Asians in #Canada must reaffirm solidarity with Palestinian brethren
"Anti-Palestinian racism is anti-Asian racism"
New from @vwlegal.bsky.social:
ricochet.media/justice/we-c...
We can’t talk about anti-Asian racism without talking about anti-Palestinian racism
On the anniversary of the Nakba, Asians in Canada must reaffirm solidarity with Palestinian brethren
ricochet.media
May 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Thanks to the very capable editorial team at @ricochetmedia.bsky.social for helping to push this through, on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the Nakba and Asian Heritage Month.
I got the first two of these unsuccessfully trying to take a pic of what I think was the first Swainson's thrush of the year.
An oldie that I'm thinking about a lot while I try to take warbler photos at Biggest Week in Ohio.
May 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I got the first two of these unsuccessfully trying to take a pic of what I think was the first Swainson's thrush of the year.
I still think about a fellow Asian in grad school who told me that she refused to sign a DREAMer petition when her student asked her to because "she came the right way" and when the student said he himself was a DREAMer, she said "I don't care. You should still come the right way."
And esp during #APAHM Asian Americans must have a serious reckoning w/how too many in our communities keep believing the lie that aligning w/whiteness instead of embracing solidarity w/other non/white & marginalized folks is the right choice. www.npr.org/2025/05/02/n...
Asian American voters backed Trump in Nevada. Here's how they feel about him now
After backing Joe Biden in 2020, Asian American voters in Nevada swung decisively toward Donald Trump in 2024. Now, they reflect on how his presidency is going so far.
www.npr.org
May 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I still think about a fellow Asian in grad school who told me that she refused to sign a DREAMer petition when her student asked her to because "she came the right way" and when the student said he himself was a DREAMer, she said "I don't care. You should still come the right way."
The Book of Kane and Margaret was the camp novel I never knew I needed until I read it. It remains a camp novel unlike any other and the absolute weirdest one I have ever read. I've been waiting to read more by Araki-Kawaguchi ever since.
Did you know: Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi (the first author arriving on our press later this month) released his debut novel in 2020? It’s called The Book of Kane and Margaret (@fictioncollective2.bsky.social)
@jeffvandermeer.bsky.social / @publisherswkly.bsky.social
@jeffvandermeer.bsky.social / @publisherswkly.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The Book of Kane and Margaret was the camp novel I never knew I needed until I read it. It remains a camp novel unlike any other and the absolute weirdest one I have ever read. I've been waiting to read more by Araki-Kawaguchi ever since.
"The average American has three friends"
May 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
"The average American has three friends"
For a while, I have found it kind of funny that the guy who was the featured speaker at the AmeriCorps conference was a US senator now and a very famous one at that, but it's beyond strange now that I was once in a very large room with a dude who would become this guy.
(1/5 ) My Op/Ed calling for Senator Fetterman to resign attracted attention this weekend, read it here (gift link) www.pennlive.com/opinion/2025...
Sen. Fetterman must resign | Opinion
Fetterman no longer represents the interests of those who elected him.
www.pennlive.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
For a while, I have found it kind of funny that the guy who was the featured speaker at the AmeriCorps conference was a US senator now and a very famous one at that, but it's beyond strange now that I was once in a very large room with a dude who would become this guy.
Reposted by Clara Iwasaki
My new article “Hong Kong’s Leftist Poetry: Sinophone and/or Huawen?” is included in this stellar volume Justyna Jaguścik, Joanna Krenz, and Andrea Riemenschnitter put together: Lyrical Experiments in Sinophone Verse: Time, Space, Bodies, and Things!
www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...
www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...
Lyrical Experiments in Sinophone Verse
The 1919 May Fourth movement was the breeding ground for experiments by authors inspired by new world literary trends. Under Mao Zedong, folk songs accompanied political campaigns such as the Great Le...
www.aup.nl
April 30, 2025 at 12:17 AM
My new article “Hong Kong’s Leftist Poetry: Sinophone and/or Huawen?” is included in this stellar volume Justyna Jaguścik, Joanna Krenz, and Andrea Riemenschnitter put together: Lyrical Experiments in Sinophone Verse: Time, Space, Bodies, and Things!
www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...
www.aup.nl/en/book/9789...
Pretty sure I saw my first Horned Grebe today. Unfortunately quite far away and not my best picture.
April 29, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Pretty sure I saw my first Horned Grebe today. Unfortunately quite far away and not my best picture.