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· Bryan Ke
California Representative Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 Claims It’s a ‘Good Way to Lose Weight’
Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) joked during a recent interview that having COVID-19 is a “very good way to lose weight.” What happened: The 65-year-old Republican politician made the comment during an interview with the South Orange County Economic Coalition as part of its “Meet…
· Carl Samson
First Civilian Case Against Companies Who Made the Poison Agent Orange Used in Vietnam War Begins
A French court this week started hearing the first civilian case against manufacturers of Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the United States against communist troops during the Vietnam War. Tran To Nga, who worked as a journalist during the conflict, sued a total of 26…
· Editorial Staff
$60 Million Lottery Winner Claims Husband Dreamed of Winning Numbers
A Canadian woman won a $60 million Lotto Max jackpot using the numbers her husband dreamed of 20 years ago. Deng Pravatoudom, 57, has been playing the lottery with the same set of numbers for two decades, according to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG).
· Bryan Ke
Din Tai Fung in Sydney Closes Due to Pandemic and Underpaying Employees Scandal
A Din Tai Fung store in Sydney, Australia has become one of the recent restaurants to fold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a “wage theft” scandal that hit the chain last year. The restaurant confirmed its Sydney Central Park store has entered into voluntary administration — the…
· Isa Peralta
Air Force Vet Finds Long Lost Korean Family Using Social Media
After an online request for help goes viral, a Korean American Air Force vet finds her dying mother’s family in three days. #HelpForHyon: Last Thursday, former airborne linguist Isabelle Hyon DuCharme posted on social media about her search for her long-lost family members, as…
· Bryan Ke
Meet the Korean American Leading President Biden’s Secret Service Detail
Korean American Secret Service agent David Cho has gone viral on social media after he was spotted during President Joe Biden‘s inauguration on Wednesday. Cho’s identity: Although not much is public yet about the Secret Service agent, many reports are now saying he will lead…
· Bryan Ke
Woman Sentenced to Over 43 Years in Prison for Criticizing Thai Monarchy on Social Media
A former civil servant is now facing 43 years and six months of prison time for violating Thailand’s lèse-majesté law after she posted several audio clips critical of the Thai monarch on social media. Anchan Preelert, 65, was initially sentenced to 87 years in prison but was…
· Bryan Ke
Starbucks Pays $14,000 to Thai Woman After Employee Drew ‘Slanty’ Eyes on Cup in Ireland
A Starbucks branch in Dublin, Ireland compensated a female customer of Thai descent €12,000 ($14,600) after one of its employees drew a smiley face with “slanty” eyes on her cup. Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication officer Kevin Baneham forced Atercin Liffey…
· Ryan General
Hard of Hearing Baristas Serve Coffee With ‘Bear Hands’ at Hit Shanghai Café
Customers are flocking to a specialty café in Shanghai for its forward-thinking business model that provides employment to disabled employees.
· Carl Samson
Trump Administration Declares China Committed Genocide Against Uyghurs in Final Act
The Trump administration determined that China has committed genocide against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, months after imposing sanctions on Chinese officials over the matter. As early as 2017, Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwestern China, has made…
· Bryan Ke
‘Ghost of Tsushima’ Fans Raise $260K to Help Restore Torii Gate Destroyed by Typhoon
“Ghost of Tsushima” fans have raised $260,000 for a campaign to restore a torii gate on the island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture that was damaged by a typhoon in September 2020. Fans of the popular PlayStation 4 game started a crowdfunding campaign in November 2020 to help…
· Editorial Staff
Meet Kyuta Kumagai, the 10-Year-Old World Champion Sumo Wrestler
Meet Kyuta Kumagai, a 187-pound sumo wrestler and the world champion in the under-10 category. Talent from a young age: When Kumagai was still in kindergarten, his father Taisuke — who is a former amateur sumo wrestler — noticed his son’s potential and entered him in a…
· Bryan Ke
Woman Has Meltdown on Train After Being Asked to Wear Mask Properly in Taiwan
A woman was filmed having a meltdown after being asked by passengers to wear a mask properly while riding a train in Taiwan amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The unidentified woman reportedly rode the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) train from New Taipei City’s Banqiao District…
· Ryan General
Lawsuit Claims Teen With Severe Autism Died After Louisiana Police Sat on Him For 9 Minutes
A Louisiana couple is suing the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office after the death of their severely autistic 16-year-old son, who they claim was killed by deputies who sat on him for over nine minutes.
· Bryan Ke
Nigel Ng Responds to Claims He ‘Bowed’ to China After Removing Mike Chen Video
Comedian Nigel Ng, also known as Uncle Roger, has finally addressed the removal of a video featuring Mike Chen, star of the “Strictly Dumpling” YouTube channel. Refusal to bow down: Ng first commented on the issue in a YouTube video on Jan. 16, according to South China Morning…
· Editorial Staff
Georgia’s First Vietnamese American State Rep Wears Áo Dài to Swear-In
Bee Nguyen, Georgia’s first Vietnamese American state representative, donned an áo dài to her swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. Regarded as the most popular national costume of Vietnam, the áo dài for women is a long dress with a contoured top that flows over loose-fitting…
· Ryan General
Air Force Vet Uses Facebook to Find Dying Mother’s Family in South Korea
A Korean American Air Force vet has taken to social media to help find her dying mother’s family in South Korea. A Plea for Help
· Khanh Tran
Andrew Yang is Campaigning for New York City Mayor with Daniel Dae Kim
The former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang officially threw his name in the crowded race for New York City mayor on Thursday morning, promising to rebuild the city ravaged by the coronavirus. The story: According to CNN, Yang announced his candidacy at a rally in…
· Ryan General
Netflix’s ‘Cobra Kai’ Called Out for All-White Main Cast
“Cobra Kai” may have received wide acclaim for bringing back the beloved franchise “The Karate Kid,” but it is also being called out for its lack of Asian lead actors. Noticeably white: The new martial arts Netflix series has brought back many of the original films’ leading…
· Weee!
Black Thorn Durian Dethrones Billionaire’s Favored ‘King’ Durian
Editor’s Note: This post was made in partnership with the amazing people over at Weee! The controversial Southeast Asian “King of Fruits” is back and more expensive than ever.
Answer
BTS connects to HYBE, Weverse, memberships, merch, and tickets.
People & Works
Open
Person · Screen
Anna Sawai
Her 'Shogun' win cracked a category that had never gone to an Asian actor in 76 years of the Emmys — a ceiling break that arrived only once the industry let an Asian-led epic play in its own language.
Culture surface · Beauty
Beauty retail
Beauty retail is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.
Person · Music
Dimash Qudaibergen
A Kazakh singer with a freakish multi-octave range conquered China's living rooms overnight and became Central Asia's most improbable soft-power export — a diaspora-of-one proving fandom now flows East before West.
IP · Anime
Haikyu!! films
Haikyu!! is the rare franchise that peaked commercially after its manga ended — the 2024 film cleared $100M worldwide and back-catalog sales grew ~50% post-conclusion, evidence that a well-timed theatrical event can reactivate a completed IP rather than merely close it out.
Platform · Platforms
Kakao Entertainment
Kakao Entertainment connects to Kakao and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kling AI
Kling AI connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kuaishou
Kuaishou connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kwai
Kwai connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Retail
Lifestyle retail
Lifestyle retail connects to Miniso and the broader retail story around it.
Results
Culture · brand
Uniqlo
Uniqlo connects to Fast Retailing, the company behind the stores, basics, and repeat buying habit.
Culture · routine / beauty brands
K-beauty
K-beauty connects to companies built around skincare routines, hero products, and travel retail.
Culture · platform
Weverse
Weverse connects to HYBE, the platform where memberships, merch, content, and fandom access keep moving after the song.
Company · Japan · TYO:7832
Bandai Namco Holdings
Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.
Company · China · HKEX:1024
Kuaishou
Kuaishou is China's number-two short-video platform, where livestream selling turned everyday creators into a shopping channel and rewired how goods get sold.
Company · India · NSE:ZEEL
Zee Entertainment
Zee is one of India's largest media networks — the TV channels and ZEE5 streaming that carry Bollywood and regional-language entertainment to a billion viewers and the diaspora.
Company · Japan · TYO:9983
Fast Retailing
Fast Retailing matters because Uniqlo is an everyday consumer habit, not just a stock story.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:035900
JYP Entertainment
JYP is tied to groups that drive albums, tours, subscriptions, merch, and international fan activity.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:041510
SM Entertainment
SM is tied to idol groups, tours, fan clubs, and the long-running system behind some of K-pop's most recognizable acts.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:122870
YG Entertainment
YG connects global K-pop attention to touring, brand deals, fan demand, and artist-centered entertainment revenue.
Company · China · NYSE:BABA
Alibaba
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Alibaba · Platforms · NYSE:BABA
The Grammys created an award for Asian pop. BTS said no.
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Fast Retailing · Fashion · TYO:9983
Your Uniqlo basics keep you coming back.
This shows up when you go back to Uniqlo for another pack of basics instead of treating the brand like a one-time fashion buy.
NetEase · Streaming · HKEX:9999
Your playlist depends on deals you never see.
NetEase helps explain gaming, music streaming, and online entertainment habits in Chinese consumer culture.
CJ ENM · Entertainment · KOSDAQ:035760
Before the first song drops, H//PE Princess already has a global Warner deal.
A debut deal matters less than whether the group turns into repeat listening, touring, merch, and fandom across markets.
Explainer · Sanrio
Hello Kitty is not just something you buy anymore. Sanrio wants you to play inside the world.
Sanrio shows how character fandom becomes retail, licensing, collabs, parks, and global consumer demand.
Explainer · Amorepacific
K-beauty won the Amazon cart. The real prize is your second bottle.
The first sale matters less than the repeat routine. If a product sticks, the brand can keep winning on replenishment, retail placement, and cross-market demand.