The Asian Reporter celebrates Asian Heritage Month amid complicated and unsure times. We hope everyone in our community is safe and able to stay healthy as nations around the globe fight the spread of the coronavirus. We are thankful for our families, our readers, and all the brave and determined healthcare workers, grocery employees, delivery personnel, transit drivers, and other frontline staff who are taking care of us during this worldwide pandemic.

In this special edition, we mark heritage month with a look at a new documentary, Mr. Tornado. The film tells the story of Tetsuya Theodore "Ted" Fujita, a scientist who devoted his life to unlocking the mysteries of severe storms and spent years trying to solve some of nature’s most complicated mysteries.

The issue also highlights a powerful, thoughtful, and intriguing piece created by Asian Reporter illustrator and cartoonist Jonathan Hill. First published in the October/November 2018 edition of The Believer magazine, Hill reflects on his family, heritage, and how others view him based on his name and appearance.

The section concludes with a five-part series, Asian Americans, a new documentary that traces the epic story of Asian Americans spanning 150 years of immigration, racial politics, international relations, and cultural innovation.

Despite the crises, our hope is that readers are able to take some time during this month to celebrate Asian heritage and culture; reflect on the past, present, and future; and help and support family, friends, neighbors, and those in need.