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· Maina Chen
Anime trailblazer Eiichi Yamamoto, ‘Belladonna of Sadness’ and ‘Astro Boy’ director, passed away at 80
On Sept. 7, Eiichi Yamamoto, the trailblazing Japanese director behind groundbreaking anime and film, passed away of a heart failure at the age of 80. His legacy: Born in 1940 in Kyoto, Yamamoto got a headstart into the world of animation after he graduated high school. He soon…
· Carl Samson
Philippine Senate approves bill raising age of consent from 12 to 16
The Senate of the Philippines approved a bill that raises the country’s age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, bringing efforts to end one of the world’s lowest ages of consent closer to reality. Why this matters: To date, the Philippines has the lowest age of consent in all of…
· Ryan General
Manny Pacquiao tests his chess skills against ‘10-year-old Magnus Carlsen’ in exhibition match
Manny Pacquiao can now add “up-and-coming chess player” to his ever-evolving resume after his recent match against a chess app. Valiant losing effort: The recently retired boxer, who has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to join the Philippines’ 2022 presidential race,…
· Carl Samson
Oakland woman hailed as ‘our bus hero’ after she used her body to shield elderly Asian man from attacker
A woman is being recognized in Oakland’s Chinatown after surveillance videos revealed how she protected an elderly Asian man and fought off his attacker during a bus ride in late April. Why this matters: Bystanders play a crucial role in the outcome of attacks against Asian…
· Ryan General
10 Asian ‘deadly game’ movies and shows to watch while waiting for ‘Squid Game’ Season 2
How far would you go to win a large sum of money? Would you betray a friend, endanger loved ones, risk everything? These questions are at the center of “Squid Game,” Netflix’s latest hit and the newest entry to the “deadly game” genre. It’s a compelling theme that stokes…
· Michelle De Pacina
Legendary mangaka Takao Saito, creator of ‘Golgo 13,’ dies at 84
Manga artist and gekiga icon Takao Saito passed away at the age of 84 from pancreatic cancer on Sept. 24. Saito’s Legacy: Saito, whose death was announced on Wednesday by the editorial department of Big Comic, was best known for creating the longest-running Japanese comic-book…
· Maina Chen
New online form available in 30 languages lets Asian elders anonymously report hate crimes
A national advocacy group has created a new website to anonymously report anti-Asian hate crimes, attacks and assaults against elders amid the rise of violence against the AAPI community. About the form: The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) launched an online form…
· Bryan Ke
‘Being Taiwanese isn’t a political choice’: Backlash causes Pew to reverse Taiwanese-as-Chinese decision
Pew Research Center has corrected its April demographic report on the number of Taiwanese people living in the United States after receiving backlash from the community for lumping them in with Chinese Americans. Rectified report: The new study, published in early September,…
· Ryan General
Stan LOONA to Save LOONA: Fans are asking billionaire Elon Musk to help the K-pop girl group
Fans of K-pop girl group LOONA are asking Elon Musk, estimated to be the world’s wealthiest man, to rescue their idols from their agency’s financial crisis. The gravity of the situation: South Korean entertainment agency BlockBerry Creative, which created and represents LOONA,…
· Maina Chen
Former ‘MasterChef Junior’ contestant dedicates his pho-inspired ramen dish to his bà ngoại
Matthew Smith, a former contestant of “MasterChef Junior,” recently shared how to make his Crispy Chicken Ramen dish inspired by his grandmother’s Vietnamese heritage. 100 days: On Sept. 21, the 11-year-old cook appeared in the first episode of TODAY’s “Kids in the Kitchen.”
· Bryan Ke
City of San Jose to issue formal apology for historical racism against Chinese, destruction of Chinatown
Lawmakers in San Jose, Calif. are expected to pass a resolution on Tuesday apologizing for the city’s role in racism, xenophobia and arson that targeted the Chinese community during the late 1800s. The apology: Led by Councilman Raul Peralez, local lawmakers will address Chinese…
· Maina Chen
Owner of ‘Squid Game’ call card number receives 4,000 calls daily, allegedly offered $850 to change it
Netflix’s “Squid Game” continues to give one mobile user an excessively large amount of attention, and she was allegedly told to “change her number” to deal with it. Calling card: “Squid Game” is a South Korean drama about 456 debt-ridden contestants who take part in murderous…
· Khier Casino
Taiwanese star Chang Chen impressed with Timothée Chalamet speaking Mandarin lines ‘perfectly’ in ‘Dune’
Chang Chen, who rose to fame in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” is praising one of his co-stars for their Mandarin skills in the upcoming science-fiction epic, “Dune.” Speaking Mandarin: Chen told CNA Lifestyle in an interview that accepting the role of Dr.…
· Maina Chen
Thailand now officially recognizes esports as a professional sport
Thailand joined the big leagues when it was announced that esports would be considered a professional sport on Tuesday. Ready up: The official notice was published through the Royal Thai Government Gazette and was reposted on the Thai E-Sports Federation (TESF)’s Facebook page.
· Ryan General
Simu Liu’s grueling first-day training for ‘Shang-Chi’ revealed in behind-the-scenes footage
Behind-the-scenes footage of Simu Liu’s first day of training for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” has emerged online. A hero in training: Yung Lee, the action designer for the Marvel Studios film, shared some clips on Instagram to provide fans a glimpse of how Liu…
· Maina Chen
How the search for Lauren Cho has gained attention because of Gabby Petito and ‘missing white woman syndrome’
A surge of social media users are leading a renewed charge to find Lauren “El” Cho, a New Jersey woman who went missing in late June after the case of a missing road tripping YouTuber made national headlines. Cho’s story: On June 28, Cho, 30, reportedly walked away in distress…
· Khier Casino
Transgender cosmetics entrepreneur wanted in Malaysia for wearing feminine clothing is arrested in Thailand
Transgender cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman has been arrested after an eight-month search, Malaysian authorities confirmed on Monday. The arrest: Nur Sajat, 36, was detained by Thai immigration authorities at a luxury condominium in Bangkok along with a man and a…
· Bryan Ke
BTS ARMY hail group’s performance of ‘Permission to Dance’ at UNGA as one of their proudest moments
K-pop mega group BTS received an outpouring of support from their fans, known as ARMY, following the release of their “Permission to Dance” video shot at the 76th United Nations General Assembly meeting on Monday. Their proudest moment: The music video, released on the United…
· Carl Samson
Elderly man punched and robbed of his cans by unidentified assailant in NYC
A 78-year-old Asian American man suffered a bruise to his leg after an unprovoked attack in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood last week. What happened: The victim was reportedly collecting cans in front of 180 Orchard St. at around 2 a.m. on Sept. 13 when the incident…
· Ryan General
‘Please forgive me’: Customers show love to taiyaki maker who admitted to putting ‘less filling’ in his products
Customers started pouring in to a store selling a traditional Japanese pastry known as “taiyaki” after its owner admitted to putting in less filling and had offered a sincere apology online. Heartfelt message to customers: Junya Hashimoto, the 45-year-old owner of “Taiyaki no…
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.