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· Michelle De Pacina
Hairdresser who decorated ‘flower house’ to honor fellow Viet refugees found murdered in Cleveland garage
Vietnamese refugee and hairdresser Chris Dong Vo was discovered murdered in a garage in Cleveland, Ohio. Two people have been arrested, but no charges have been made. A GoFundMe page was created to cover Vo’s funeral expenses. His memorial service will take place on Thursday.…
· Sarah Yukiko
During Japanese New Year, what did I gain by losing tradition?
Observing the Japanese New Year’s tradition of osechi ryori has been an important piece of my family’s heritage, but what happens when traditions are forced to change? At the end of every New Year’s lunch, there were always two things left on my plate: a dull cross section of…
· Michelle De Pacina
Polka dots, open windows and crisp bills — 5 quirky Filipino New Year traditions explained
New Year’s Eve remains one of the biggest festive celebrations in the Philippines. Nany Filipinos celebrate with traditions associated with past generations’ superstitions and beliefs. New Year’s Eve in the Philippines is not complete without the practice of a few quirky…
· Michelle De Pacina
Complaint ‘hidden’ in ‘Akira’ by fed-up animator has been discovered 33 years after the anime’s release
An animator’s “hidden” complaint in the 1988 classic anime film “Akira” has been discovered by an eagle-eyed viewer 33 years later. The complaint: Twitter user @HikozaTwi spotted the message on a caution sign attached to a piece of equipment that is seen at the 38-minute mark of…
· Michelle De Pacina
AI-created images of Pikachu are the farthest thing from kawaii
Illustrations of a Pikachu drawn by artificial intelligence shocked social media users with its creepiness. Pikachu’s nightmare: Twitter user @same_dagon requested that the Dream by Wombo application generate a “Wild Pikachu living in Tokiwa Forest,” but the unexpected results…
· Michelle De Pacina
ARMYs sing along to BTS’ V in Dubai as world’s tallest building lights up to honor his 26th birthday
The Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai displayed BTS’ V on the side of the building for the second consecutive year in a grand birthday gesture from his Chinese fan club. V’s 26th Birthday: The K-pop idol’s Chinese fan club Baidu Vbar organized a three-minute birthday ad on the…
· Elizabeth Lee
Netflix releases trailer for docuseries ‘Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream.’
Netflix Philippines released a trailer for the streaming platform’s upcoming “Midnight Asia” docuseries, which explores the vibrant underground nightlife of six “megacities”. The six-episode series features the intimate stories of various city dwellers who highlight the unique…
· Ryan General
‘There is only one China’: Nicaragua declares former Taiwan embassy belongs to China
Taiwan’s former diplomatic offices and embassy in Nicaragua have been taken over by the local government which now only recognizes China’s authority. In China’s favor: The Nicaraguan government, which recently announced that it is cutting ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing,…
· Carl Samson
No bail for Las Vegas man accused of shooting Chinatown restaurant worker 11 times
The man accused of shooting a Chinese restaurant worker in Las Vegas’ Chinatown will remain behind bars after a judge ordered him held without bail on Tuesday. The incident: Rashawn Gaston-Anderson, 23, allegedly shot Chengyan Wang at Shanghai Taste restaurant in the 4200 block…
· Sarah Yukiko
Myanmar model-actor Paing Takhon named world’s ‘Most Handsome Face,’ sentenced to jail in same week
Model and actor Paing Takhon from Myanmar was sentenced to three years in jail with hard labor for his participation in pro-democracy protests earlier in 2021. News of his sentencing broke at the same time entertainment website TC Candler named him the “Most Handsome Face” of…
· Michelle De Pacina
Journalist makes history as first person with Māori face tattoo to anchor mainstream news broadcast
Māori journalist Oriini Kaipara made history as the first woman with a moko kauae traditional tattoo to anchor a primetime news broadcast. Breaking new ground: Kaipara, who has the Māori lower chin tattoo, anchored at Newshub Live’s news bulletin at 6 p.m. on Monday.
· Carl Samson
China develops AI ‘prosecutor’ that can charge citizens with crimes with ‘97% accuracy’
China has developed an artificial intelligence capable of charging people with more than 97% accuracy, replacing prosecutors “to a certain extent,” according to its researchers. How it works: The machine, built and tested by the Shanghai Pudong People’s Procuratorate — China’s…
· Carl Samson
‘Am I not Chinese?’: Model pushes back against criticism of her ‘slanted eyes’
A Chinese model at the center of an ongoing controversy about beauty standards and Western stereotypes in China has clapped back at critics taking a jab at her “slanted eyes.” Driving the news: The model, who goes by the professional name Cai Niang Niang, appeared in a 2019 ad…
· Bryan Ke
Vietnamese man sets world record climbing 100 stairs while balancing brother on his head in 53 seconds
Two Vietnamese brothers and circus performers recently broke a Guinness World Record after one of them climbed 100 consecutive stairs in a Spanish cathedral while balancing the other on his head. Amazing feat: Giang Quoc Co, 37, and Giang Quoc Nghiep, 32, performed the stunt at…
· Ryan General
Karen people flee to Thailand as Myanmar’s junta carry on with attacks
Civilians continue to get caught in the crossfire between the Myanmar military and ethnic Karen forces as fighting rages on. Temporary haven: Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 21, 4,216 villagers fled from a territory occupied by the ethnic Karen minority in Myanmar to enter Thailand,…
· Ryan General
International couple challenges Taiwan’s same-sex marriage law
A same-sex couple whose marriage registration has been rejected twice in Taiwan is fighting back. Challenging Taiwan’s same-sex law: The pair, 34-year-old Taiwanese man Lu Yin-jen and his 42-year-old Japanese partner Ariyoshi Eizaburo, is planning to file a lawsuit against the…
· Jiselle Lee
OnlyFans names 36-year-old Mumbai-born Amrapali Gan as its new CEO
OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely steps down after five years as CEO. Stokely is replaced by the company’s 36-year-old Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Amrapali "Ami" Gan. Gan joins the 10% of tech company CEOs who are women. She is also a part of the growing number of…
· Michelle De Pacina
Trailer: Highly anticipated ‘Chainsaw Man’ anime promises dark, surreal trip full of gore
Animation studio MAPPA released a new trailer for the anime adaptation of “Chainsaw Man” at the annual Jump Festa in Japan. About the anime: The teaser trailer offers a look into the pulp fiction-esque world of gory violence in “Chainsaw Man,” which is based on the manga series…
· Michelle De Pacina
New trailer for ‘Attack on Titan’ final season teases destructive ultimate battle
Animation studio MAPPA recently released the trailer for season four, part two of “Attack on Titan,” revealing the first look into Eren Yeager and Reiner Braun’s highly anticipated rematch. The finale: The new trailer teases the second part of the fourth and final season of…
· Michelle De Pacina
Michelle Yeoh slays in first trailer for prequel series ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’
Netflix recently released the official teaser trailer for the prequel series “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” starring Michelle Yeoh, giving viewers a look into the creation of the first witcher. The first witcher: The story is set in an ancient elven world 1,200 years before the…
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.