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· Michelle De Pacina
Why Thailand has chosen the mythical naga as its national symbol
Thailand has chosen the mythical naga serpent as its national symbol to promote the nation’s history, culture and creative economy. The Cabinet hopes the symbol will encourage residents to learn more about the nation’s history and culture. They also wish to inspire citizens to…
· Michelle De Pacina
Millions of Filipinos visit cemeteries for All Saints’ Day
Millions of people in the Philippines gathered in cemeteries to honor their deceased loved ones on All Saints’ Day. For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos celebrated the occasion by lighting candles and leaving flowers and food at gravesites…
· Iris Jung
Vladimir Putin declares Taiwan is ‘inherent part’ of China, blames ‘granny’ Nancy Pelosi for stoking tensions
At the 19th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, when asked about Taiwan, Russian President Putin responded that “Taiwan indubitably is an inherent part of the People’s Republic of China.” Specifically pointing to the recent string of U.S. delegation visits to…
· Michelle De Pacina
‘Indians are not Asians’: Ronny Chieng stand-up bit on ‘The Daily Show’ criticized as ‘racist’
Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng is facing backlash for his stand-up skit on “The Daily Show” in which he joked “Indians are not Asians” days after former finance minister Rishi Sunak was announced as Britain’s first Asian prime minister. Chieng was criticized by many viewers who…
· Ryan General
Judge denies bail for suspect in fatal road rage shooting of Charlotte bus driver
On Thursday, a judge denied bond for 22-year-old Darian Dru Thavychith, the suspect in the fatal road rage shooting of a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus driver in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Thavychith has been held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Jail in…
· Editorial Staff
Tokyo train operator asks commuters not to wear scary costumes on Halloween weekend
Keio Corporation, one of Tokyo’s main train operators, recently asked the city’s residents to avoid commuting in scary costumes this weekend. “When going out to celebrate Halloween, please refrain from boarding the train while wearing costumes that may make other passengers feel…
· Isa Peralta
South Korean burger chain releases mint chocolate beef burger
South Korean burger chain Himnanda Burger is now selling a mint chocolate burger. Himnanda first announced the unique menu item on Oct. 12 in an Instagram post. The new burger features a beef patty, cheese, onions, mint chocolate sauce and pieces of mint Oreo cookies. It…
· William Yuk
Nike pays homage to San Francisco’s Chinatown with Air Force 1 colorway
Nike is set to release an Air Force 1 Low that pays homage to San Francisco’s historic Chinatown community. In celebration of the iconic shoe silhouette’s 40th anniversary, Nike is set to release a colorway adorned with pink gradients on both its signature Swoosh and midsole.…
· Michelle De Pacina
Thai man loses more than 20 lbs. after wife promises a PlayStation 5 as reward
A Thai man named Prab Laoharojanaphan shared his successful weight loss on Facebook after his wife promised him a PlayStation 5 if he lost 10kg (approximately 22 lbs). In his Facebook post, Laoharojanaphan shared his strategy for those looking to emulate his achievement. His…
· Ryan General
Asian American PAC pulls ‘support’ for Rep. Michelle Steel; campaign denies having it in the first place
The Asian Americans for Good Government PAC (AAGG-PAC) released a statement announcing that it has withdrawn its endorsement of Rep. Michelle Steel (R, CA-48) over rhetoric used during her campaign. Steel, who is currently running in California's 45th congressional district due…
· Michelle De Pacina
Thai transgender businesswoman buys Miss Universe pageant for $20 million
Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, a Thai transgender businesswoman, has acquired the Miss Universe Organization pageant for $20 million. Jakrajutatip, the CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group, made history by becoming the first woman to own the beauty pageant organizer.…
· Bryan Ke
Most Americans, British and Australians support helping Taiwan if China attacks, new poll shows
A recent study conducted by YouGov-Cambridge found that the majority of its American (52%), British (51%) and Australian (62%) participants believe “other countries should provide help to Taiwan” if China were to annex it, The Guardian reported. When asked about a U.S.-led…
· Michelle De Pacina
‘He makes me feel young again’: 56-year-old Thai woman gets engaged to 19-year-old man
Despite their 37- year age gap, Wuthichai Chantaraj, 19, got engaged to Janla Namuangrak, 56, in the Akat Amnuay district in Sakhon Nakhon province, Thailand. Their story has since gained nationwide attention in Thailand. Janla is divorced from her former husband of 20 years and…
· Michelle De Pacina
Bua Noi, the ‘world’s loneliest gorilla,’ has been caged in a Thailand shopping mall for 33 years
Since 2015, the Thai government and the animal rights group PETA have been fighting for Bua Noi, the “world’s saddest gorilla,” to be released from captivity. Bua Noi, whose name means “Little Lotus,” has been caged for more than 30 years in a zoo located in Bangkok’s oldest…
· Michelle De Pacina
Chinese students filmed shouting at Japanese student, blocking his presentation on Taiwan at a UK university
Chinese students at the University of Southampton in England shouted obscenities at a Japanese student and blocked his PowerPoint presentation when a slide showed Taiwan’s flag and stated “Taiwan is a country.” A video of the incident was shared on Weibo on Oct. 22 by one of the…
· Carl Samson
Manchester Chinese consulate staff claims he lost consciousness after being attacked by protestor
More than a week after the violent scuffle at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, United Kingdom, a staff member is claiming he was attacked by a protester. Gao Lianjia said he was standing near the consulate’s gate on Oct. 16 when the protester knocked him down and attacked…
· Bryan Ke
3 arrested for killing of Chinese supermarket operator in Jamaica robbery
He Jing, a 36-year-old supermarket operator, was gunned down inside his store in Just 1 Plaza in Orange Bay, Hanover Parish, Jamaica, on Wednesday. Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers said in a statement last week that three people have been arrested. Detectives…
· Michelle De Pacina
Gov. Ron DeSantis used to pronounce Thai as ‘thigh’ to assess dates, former Yale classmate claims
A recent Financial Times profile on GOP Florida Governor Ron DeSantis quotes a pandemic memoir written by Charles Finch, who went to Yale University at the same time as DeSantis. Finch claimed that DeSantis used to pronounce Thai as “thigh” to assess his dates because “he didn’t…
· Bryan Ke
‘Milkshake’ singer Kelis shares video of fascinated women touching her braided hair in Singapore
"Milkshake" singer Kelis, whose full name is Kelis Rogers-Mora, shared a video on Instagram on Saturday showing two women in Singapore touching her braided hair without her consent. “Just embrace it,” the 43-year-old R&B singer’s friend, who was filming the encounter, can be…
· Carl Samson
‘Expel China!’: UK protesters rally against China after assault of Hongkonger in Manchester consulate
Hundreds in the U.K. gathered in separate local protests on Sunday to denounce China and demand freedom for Hong Kong. The protests came a week after a Hong Kong national was assaulted at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England, during a pro-democracy demonstration.…
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.