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The report of 2021 hate crimes listed 7,262 hate crime incidents, the third-highest amount reported in a decade. The FBI admits the number of actual incidents is undercounted because of a new system they have implemented for police departments to report crimes, which some departments have yet to fully adopt. 

Critics of the report say key data is missing from big states like California and Florida and in some of the largest police jurisdictions like Los Angeles and New York. Just 65% of police departments submitted data for the report compared to the 93% for last year’s report.
 

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino says, “Today’s overall FBI numbers simply do not reflect the increases we’re seeing across more reliable and consistent data from a smaller but more consistent set of police data.” 
 

Levin’s own research of hate crime incidents in 2021 saw a 224% increase in anti-Asian crimes and big increases in crimes towards Black, Jewish and LGBTQ communities, who according to Levin are not reflected in the FBI’s reports.

• Chef David Yoshimura was named the Michelin Guide California’s 2022 Young Chef Award winner. He is chef-owner of the one-Michelin star Nisei in San Francisco. The name Nisei refers to American-born children of Japanese immigrants, a reflection of Yoshimura’s own identity. 

• A light in Chinatown: There is light at the end of the tunnel as they say. San Francisco’s Chinatown, where many of its businesses were particularly hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated its inaugural Holiday Light Fest on Monday. Nancy Yu Law of the Chinatown History and Culture Association said, “It is actually the first time we light up for Christmas in Chinatown." Many Chinatown businesses have opted to participate by hanging lights and decorations to their establishments. 

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• The new grand marshal: Actor Rich Ting is succeeding Daniel Wu as grand marshal for San Francisco’s upcoming Chinese New Year parade, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. Ting has roots in S.F., having gone to Archbishop Riordan High School before graduating from Yale. He is known for his roles in shows like “Warrior,” “The Man in the High Castle” and “Salt.”  The Lunar New Year festivities will begin on Jan. 14 at the Flower Market. Lunar New Year starts on Jan. 22 and the parade will kick off on Feb. 4.  

• China’s deep fake rules: Beginning next month, China will implement new rules and regulations for one of AI’s most prominent and divisive uses right now: deep fakes. China’s Cyberspace Administration will enforce new standards designed to protect people from having their voices or image digitally impersonated without their consent. Companies using deep fake technology will have to reach out for permission from the individuals they are trying to replicate. Any news stories using deep fake technology must come from a list approved by the Chinese government.   

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• Tourists can have sex in Indonesia: In a follow-up story to Indonesia’s recent ban on sex outside of marriage, tourists won’t be charged under the new law, dubbed the “Bali bonking ban.” Authorities in Bali, a tourist hotspot, won't check the marriage status of tourists. 

• Netflix goes “Plus Ultra”: Netflix has landed the rights to stream the “My Hero Academia” live-action film adaptation. Japanese filmmaker Shinsuke Sato will direct the adapted anime flick and Joby Harold is attached as screenwriter. Sato is known for his recent work on another manga adaptation for Netflix, “Alice in Borderland,” while Harold wrote for Disney Plus’ “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” 

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• “Quantum Leap” jumps into second season: NBC’s “Quantum Leap” starring Raymond Lee has been green lit for a season two. The reboot is NBC’s biggest drama hit to launch on their streaming platform Peacock. It is their No. 2 broadcast show of the season in the 18-49 demographic. 

• BTS member Jin has officially started his mandatory military enlistment. 
   
• A restaurant in Japan is serving up an 11-pound strawberry parfait. 
   
• A visually impaired man thought a magic trick would be pointless if he couldn’t see, but Asian American magician Kevin Li had just the trick up his sleeve.  
   
• Chinese billionaire developer Zhang Li has been arrested over a U.S. bribery charge. 
   
• A mother and son in Taiwan were reunited after 20 years of separation, all thanks to a traffic stop.