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James Y. Shih

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Podcast Episodes

Featured
Yin & Young Podcast EP 75: Eight Years in Review
May 27, 2025
Yin & Young Podcast EP 75: Eight Years in Review
May 27, 2025
May 27, 2025
Yin & Young Podcast EP 74: Gabriel Toya-Meléndez - Filmmaking, Identity, and Finding Your Tribe
Feb 11, 2025
Yin & Young Podcast EP 74: Gabriel Toya-Meléndez - Filmmaking, Identity, and Finding Your Tribe
Feb 11, 2025
Feb 11, 2025
Yin & Young Podcast EP 73: Paul Hoi #2 - Japan Stories, Skiing, Solo Traveling
Nov 24, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 73: Paul Hoi #2 - Japan Stories, Skiing, Solo Traveling
Nov 24, 2024
Nov 24, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 72 : William Gee Wong - Author of "Sons of Chinatown"
Jun 28, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 72 : William Gee Wong - Author of "Sons of Chinatown"
Jun 28, 2024
Jun 28, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 71  Aileen Cho - Intergenerational Trauma, Marriage, and Healing
Apr 18, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 71 Aileen Cho - Intergenerational Trauma, Marriage, and Healing
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 70 - Writer Peter Kageyama returns with MIDNIGHT CLIMAX
Feb 21, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 70 - Writer Peter Kageyama returns with MIDNIGHT CLIMAX
Feb 21, 2024
Feb 21, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 69 Daniel Tong - Editor: Finding your place in film and pursuing your passion
Feb 9, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 69 Daniel Tong - Editor: Finding your place in film and pursuing your passion
Feb 9, 2024
Feb 9, 2024
Yin & Young Podcast EP 68 - Married Life, Cooking, Regret and Time
Aug 28, 2023
Yin & Young Podcast EP 68 - Married Life, Cooking, Regret and Time
Aug 28, 2023
Aug 28, 2023
Yin & Young Podcast Episode 67 - Kelly Hebestreit - Art, Identity, and Please Take Off Your Shoes
Apr 29, 2023
Yin & Young Podcast Episode 67 - Kelly Hebestreit - Art, Identity, and Please Take Off Your Shoes
Apr 29, 2023
Apr 29, 2023
Yin & Young Episode 66 - Peter Kageyama - Writer
Feb 2, 2023
Yin & Young Episode 66 - Peter Kageyama - Writer
Feb 2, 2023
Feb 2, 2023

Podcast disclaimer

Yin & Young Podcast EP 70 - Writer Peter Kageyama returns with MIDNIGHT CLIMAX

February 21, 2024 in Asian American, Writing

Writer Peter Kageyama joins Yin & Young again to talk about MIDNIGHT CLIMAX the second novel of the Kats Takemoto series. Peter joined us last time (EP 66) discussing HUNTERS POINT the first Kats Takemoto novel and in this book we delve more into Kats wartime past, Chinatown gangs, and secret government mind control experiments. Peter shares insight into the writing process of this novel and what is important to him as a writer.

Highlights:

- 00:11 Intro: photo of Peter’s dad by Dorothea Lange and Feodor Chin is the voice actor for Peter’s novels.

- 03:35 Reintroducing Peter and his first novel Hunters Point which podcasted about a year ago.

- 07:00 Yokohama is one of Dan's favorite places and Peter’s family origins are from the area.

- 07:55 Midnight Climax is Peter's latest book. Promoting a book runs contrary to the writing process.

- 10:00 Peter’s process for writing. Peter has places where he feels comfortable writing.

- 11:45 Thoughts on “writer’s block.” Writing the 3rd book has been more challenging.

- 15:40 In the process of moving in Florida.

- 17:00 “No-No Boy” by John Okada as testament to conscientious dissent.

- 19:20 Kats is not anti-government, but he doesn’t like bullies.

- 21:45 Officer Blackstone in the book is a real person and Kats is drawn to other principled characters like him.

- 23:13 How to write about historical figures. Peter connected with a relative of Shig Murao via Instagram.

- 26:54 Fell in love with the characters. Researched PTSD to flesh out the characters better.

- 30:05 Tours of Chinatown helped inspire the writings of the place in the book.

- 32:00 Learning about languages for the book. Utilized Wikipedia for some different terms of the time. Distinctions between Mandarin & Cantonese.

- 36:00 How to write about ethnic characters without playing into stereotypes, particularly the Chinese prostitute character.

- 42:17 The guys talk about why they started studying martial arts

- 46:20 Peter discusses the CIA experiments of the 1960s

- 51:10 Themes of love and friendship.

- 52:57 Dorothea Lange’s picture of Peter’s father who was an inspiration for Kats.

- 57:58 Discussion of sports leagues that came from internment camps. Repercussions of Japanese internment.

- 01:05:25 Staying balanced: Board games and exercise.

Language corner (01:17:20)

Cantonese

  • 鬼婆 gwei po - devil old lady. Derogatory term for white women.

  • 鬼佬 gwei lo - foreigner

Scottish

  • Hurkle-durkle - to lay about in bed long after the time to get up.

Mandarin

  • 舊金山 - jiùjīnshān - literally: old gold mountain which means San Francisco.

Peter Kageyama’s links:

  • Website: https://peterkageyama.com/

  • Peter’s non-fiction work on urban planning and communities: https://www.fortheloveofcities.com

Other links:

  • Peter’s 1st appearance on the Yin & Young Podcast EP66 discussing HUNTERS POINT - https://youtu.be/el10M-hBdVI?si=2bKzcRffOm2CDhdW

  • Feodor Chin returns to voice MIDNIGHT CLIMAX - https://peterkageyama.com/audiobook-now-available-feodor-chin-returns/

  • Our podcast with Feodor: https://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast/2017/12/3/yin-young-ep24-feodor-chin

  • San Francisco City Guides - https://sfcityguides.org/

  • Thai artist featured on Peter’s wall, Ummarid “Tony” Eitharong: https://tonyeitharong.com/

———

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Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast 

Tags: yin young podcast, podcasts, language, Japanese internment camps, Japan, Japanese, conspiracy, mystery, novels, Japanese American, detective, Japanese internment
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