Eric Yorkie doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight. He doesn’t have a thirst for blood or super senses. He isn’t immortal.

He is, however, one of Bella Swan’s close friends in “The Twilight Saga.” Played by 29-year-old Justin Chon, he’s the nerdy Asian kid who spoke to her when she first came to Forks High School and gave her the nickname “Arizona.”

On one of the rare sunny days in Seattle, Mochi got a chance to sit and sip with Kaz Nomura–a singer-songwriter, guitar shredder and music label and tour organizer–otherwise known as PWRFL Power and Half Yogurt.

“Girl in Translation”
Author: Jean Kwok
Published: April 2010
Category: Chinese, Immigrant, Fiction
Written by an author who moved to New York as a young girl herself, this tale follows a young Chinese American girl who emigrates from Hong Kong to Brooklyn with her mother. Student by day and Chinatown sweatshop worker by night, this is a moving story about being caught between two worlds as a young immigrant.

“The Carrie Diaries”
Author: Candace Bushnell
Published: May 2010
Category: Relationships, Young Adult, Fiction, Teen Romance, Friendships
After garnering criticism about the apparent aging of the fab four ladies …

No one wants to go through life known as “the Asian dude.” But for Harry Shum, Jr., it’s a dream come true. The 27-year-old plays football player and show-choir member Mike Chang on the hit show “Glee,” but he’s much better known for being “the other Asian,” a nickname dubbed by Jane Lynch’s scary cheerleading coach character, Sue Sylvester.

For Nikki SooHoo, acting isn’t just a job; it’s part of a framework through which she can use her voice to change the world.

At the age of 18, most of us are immersed in college life—three hour long lectures on Plato, communal bathrooms and crazy parties. Instead, actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle lives a life of 12-hour workdays, movie premieres and auditions.

Filipino American dancer and choreographer Karla Garcia knew from her first solo that dancing was exactly what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. “I was 6 years old and it was my first tap solo onstage, and I loved performing, getting to feel the audience’s energy and having that chance to touch people in different ways,” says the 24-year-old “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant.

On a cold December night, Marié Digby is perched on the piano bench of a small performance space in New York City, about to launch into “Feel,” a song she says is about the low moments of being in love. As the subway momentarily roars past, Marié pauses her set to ask if anyone else in the audience “felt their ass vibrating.” The crowd laughs along as she quickly quips, “I have that effect sometimes.”

Truth be told, Tim Ouyang has no idea what kind of long-term situation he’s in. But public opinion seems to indicate big plans for this the lead singer/songwriter of Virginia-based pop-rock quintet, Tim Be Told.

A new generation of rap rock music has hit the airwaves in the form of afterschoolspecial. Hailing from San Diego State University, Dan aka Dan (emcee), Jaimie (vocals), Brian (keyboard), Keane (guitar) and Todd (bass) first got together while at school, but soon took their talent and creativity to a professional studio. After several years of touring and recording up and down the West Coast, the group was nominated for Best Hip Hop at the San Diego Music Awards. Dan, also a coordinator for the San Diego Asian American Film Festival, shares some insight on how the band is embracing their newfound rockstar-dom while also managing to stay true to their roots.