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· Bryan Ke
New ‘One Piece Film: Red’ teaser trailer drops a massive Shanks secret
Toei Animation released its second teaser trailer for “One Piece Film: Red” on Wednesday. The trailer finally introduced fans to Uta, Red-Haired Shanks’ daughter and the “most beloved singer in the world.” Directed by Gorō Taniguchi, “One Piece Film: Red” is set to premiere on…
· Celine Pun
Low-income Asian Americans received the lowest rental aid amid COVID-19, study finds
A University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) study examined the demographics of more than 534,000 California renters who applied to California's Emergency Rental Assistance Program between March 2021 and March 2022. While 48% of distressed white renters and 64% of Black…
· Ryan General
Taiwan considers extending compulsory military service amid China threat
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said that the island nation is considering proposals to extend its mandated military service. Previous administrations reduced the compulsory service for men from over two years to four months, the current conscription requirement.…
· Celine Pun
Singaporean ramen chain introduces ‘world’s first’ chilli crab matcha macchiato drinks
Takagi Ramen is launching their new chilli crab macchiato drink, made with “real chilli crab sauce,” on April 15 in their seven Singapore stores. For S$5.90 (approximately $4.35), customers can choose a chilli crab matcha macchiato made with coconut milk or coconut water. Takagi…
· Rebecca Moon
Indonesia’s parliament passes landmark bill aimed at tackling sexual violence
Lawmakers in Indonesia passed a long-awaited bill on Tuesday in an effort to better seek justice for sexual violence victims. The landmark bill was first proposed and submitted in 2016 by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and civil society…
· Jane Nam
Video of Shanghai residents screaming out their windows during strict COVID lockdown goes viral
A video recorded in Shanghai has gone viral for showing residents screaming out of their windows after over a week of total COVID-19 lockdown. Author and radio host Patrick Madrid posted the video on Twitter on April 8, claiming it was sent to him the day before by his friend’s…
· Jane Nam
North Korea releases trailer for film about a nurse who exposes traitors to the government
North Korea released its first feature film in five years yesterday. Titled “A Day and a Night,” the movie is about a heroine who uncovers a plot to overthrow the government. The movie was produced by Korean April 25 Film Studio, whose name references the day that the Korean…
· Michelle De Pacina
Man accused of shooting restaurant waiter 11 times found not competent to stand trial
Rashawn Gaston-Anderson, the 23-year-old man who authorities say shot a restaurant waiter 11 times during an attempted burglary in Las Vegas' Chinatown in December 2021, was found unfit to stand trial, according to court records. Shanghai Taste restaurant’s head waiter, Chengyan…
· Michelle De Pacina
Filipino fast food chain Jollibee to open first branch in Australia
Filipino fast-food restaurant chain Jollibee will open its first Australian branch in Campbelltown, Sydney. As of this month, an opening day is yet to be decided, but pre-construction plans are currently in progress. Australia is home to over 300,000 Filipinos, and in…
· Carl Samson
US warns against travel to China over ‘arbitrary’ enforcement of local laws, COVID-19 restrictions
The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning against China on Monday over its “arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19 restrictions.” China is currently battling its biggest COVID-19 surge in two years with its zero-COVID policy. The travel advisory specifically…
· Daniel Anderson
Watch: Trailer for upcoming ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ from ‘Weathering with You’ director Makoto Shinkai
The trailer for “Suzume no Tojimari,” an upcoming film from Makoto Shinkai, the director of “Your Name” and “Weathering with You,” was released on Sunday. The plot follows 17-year-old Suzume, who helps a man find a door, leading to the opening of many others to chaos and ruin.…
· Carl Samson
Simu Liu banners seen on the back of tuk-tuks as Thai fans celebrate ahead of his birthday
Marvel superstar Simu Liu took to Instagram on Sunday to share photos from fans who are celebrating ahead of his birthday on April 19. Thai fans printed banners and attached them on several tuk-tuks, while Korean fans paid for ads in what appears to be a subway station. Liu…
· Carl Samson
Daily Beast contributor insults Asian man at bar he purportedly mistook for journalist Andy Ngo
A contributor to The Daily Beast reportedly harassed an Asian man at a New Orleans bar after mistaking him for conservative journalist Andy Ngo. Ngo denied the alleged encounter and asked Tracy Connor, The Daily Beast’s editor-in-chief, “You okay with your contributor doing…
· Carl Samson
Malaysian influencer apologizes for wearing áo dài with no pants after Vietnamese backlash
Malaysian influencer Siew Pui Yi, better known as MsPuiyi, sparked outrage on Vietnamese social media after posting provocative photos of herself wearing the áo dài, Vietnam’s national dress, without pants. MsPuiyi’s pictures were taken at the Hoai River in Hoi An, a UNESCO…
· Ryan General
Thai amateur golfer, 15, is $750,000 richer after becoming youngest to ever win major tour
Thai amateur golfer Ratchanon Chantananuwat became the youngest male player to win one of golf’s major tours at 15 years and 37 days. Chantananuwat fired a seven-under-par 65 to finish on 20 under at the inaugural Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club’s Waterside…
· Michelle De Pacina
Singaporean model says she’s ‘shattered’ after artist allegedly used her likeness in a nude painting
Singaporean model Duan Mei Yue accused Russian artist Angelina Poveteva of using an image of her 18-year-old self as a reference for a nude painting that sold for $10,000. The painting was put on sale and displayed in an exhibition by Poveteva. Duan shared her Instagram…
· Bryan Ke
Healthcare worker filmed beating corgi to death in locked-down Shanghai sparks anger
A video showing a healthcare worker beating a corgi to death on the streets of Shanghai amid a lockdown has gone viral. The dog’s owners, who tested positive for COVID-19 and needed to be quarantined, said they let their dog out on the streets so it could have a better chance at…
· Jane Nam
K-pop agency SM Entertainment to help Saudi Arabia develop its own idol training program
A partnership between K-pop agency SM Entertainment and the Saudi Arabian government is reportedly in the works. SM founder Lee Soo-man met with Saudi Arabia’s Princess Haifa bint Faisal Al-Saud and other government officials in Riyadh on March 23 to discuss exporting South…
· Bryan Ke
TikTok user explains why some Chinese restaurants are closed on Tuesdays
TikTok user Kim Chi has recently amassed thousands of views for answering the question, “Why are Chinese takeaways shut on Tuesday?” “A lot of Chinese people who knew each other arranged to meet up on Tuesdays as a day off, and that’s what they would do to catch up and make…
· Daniel Anderson
China warns US of ‘consequences’ if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s scheduled visit to Taiwan drew a swift rebuke from China, which declared there would be “strong measures” if the trip moves forward. Pelosi was set to visit Japan this weekend, with some speculating a stop in Taiwan on Sunday during the 43rd…
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.