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· Michelle De Pacina
Swedish man sentenced for running porn network that preyed on over 4,000 Thai women, children
A 23-year-old Swedish man who ran a criminal network selling pornographic images and films of over 4,000 young girls and women in Thailand has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison. The unidentified man from Stockholm was arrested in January 2022 following a…
· Carl Samson
Japanese man who licked soy sauce bottle indicted in landmark case against ‘sushi terrorism’
A man has been indicted for tampering with a restaurant’s conveyor belt sushi in Japan, marking the first known case against a participant in the recent wave of “sushi terrorism” pranks in the country. Ryoga Yoshino, 21, was among the first individuals arrested for hopping on…
· Michelle De Pacina
China threatens ‘resolute countermeasures’ if Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwan president
On Wednesday, China threatened to take “resolute countermeasures” if U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20) meets with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her 10-day tour of the Americas. Tsai, who wants her trip to showcase Taiwan’s commitment to democratic values, is…
· Michelle De Pacina
Teen accused of paralyzing woman in Houston robbery confesses in jailhouse phone calls
Joseph Harrell, the 17-year-old teen who was arrested in connection to a violent robbery that left a Vietnamese mother paralyzed last month, was caught on jailhouse phone calls confessing to the crime and continuing to threaten the victim. In the calls obtained by ABC 13,…
· Isa Peralta
Pixar releases trailer for latest film, Korean American-directed ‘Elemental’
Disney and Pixar released the trailer for their latest animated film “Elemental,” starring Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, on Tuesday. The romantic drama is set in Element City, a place where water, fire, land and air elements live. Ember Lumen, a fire element, and Wade Ripple, a…
· Daniel Anderson
Netflix unveils trailer for sumo wrestling drama series ‘Sanctuary’
Netflix has unveiled the trailer and release date for its Japanese sumo wrestling drama series, “Sanctuary.” “Sanctuary” follows a teenage troublemaker who becomes a sumo trainee and ends up clashing with a mute wrestler harboring a hidden past. Netflix characterizes the show as…
· Bryan Ke
Chinese influencer claims Dilraba Dilmurat fans attacked him for AI kissing video
A Chinese influencer claimed several angry fans of actor Dilraba Dilmurat stormed his office and attacked him for an edited video he posted showing him kissing the Uyghur superstar. In a video uploaded to Douyin on Saturday, Hong Liang, a special effects artist and social media…
· Bryan Ke
S. Korean woman who passed driving test after 960 tries goes viral again
A South Korean woman who finally received her driving license after spending thousands of dollars and failing her written driving test around 960 times has gone viral more than a decade later. Although the story was first reported in 2010, and the woman, Cha Sa-soon, is already…
· Daniel Anderson
Kakao becomes majority shareholder of K-pop agency SM Entertainment
South Korean internet company Kakao has become the majority shareholder of K-pop agency SM Entertainment, with a controlling stake of 39.9%. The purchase was made through a tender offer for approximately $963 million, a transaction that beat out rival entertainment company HYBE,…
· Carl Samson
‘Such a slap in the face’: IVE fans lose it after main vocal gets less time in new song
Fans of K-pop girl group IVE are venting on social media over what some have described as an “unfair” line distribution in the sextet’s latest single, “Kitsch.” IVE, managed by label Starship Entertainment, dropped “Kitsch” Monday as a pre-release single to their first…
· Isa Peralta
‘A Tourist’s Guide to Love’: Netflix releases trailer for rom-com set in Vietnam
Netflix released the official trailer for “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” a romantic comedy set in Vietnam starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Scott Ly, on Tuesday. The film follows an American travel executive named Amanda (Cook) who travels to Vietnam after an unexpected breakup.…
· Carl Samson
NYC woman jailed for anti-Asian attack now arrested for same-day murder, arson
A woman who shoved and hurled racial slurs at an Asian man on a New York City subway in 2021 has been arrested once again on Friday, this time for a murder and an arson that occurred on the same day. Tandika Wright, 36, is accused of killing Lavina Nolley, 49, in the NYCHA…
· Bryan Ke
Social justice art project in Sacramento raises awareness about history of AAPI discrimination
A local artist organized a silent social justice walk in Sacramento, California, on Saturday to raise awareness about anti-Asian hate and the history of systemic discrimination against the Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Nearly 200 people, from…
· Bryan Ke
Air Canada to use AI to handle simple customer service issues
Air Canada has announced its plan to incorporate artificial intelligence for customer service issues. Speaking to The Globe and Mail, Air Canada’s Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mel Crocker said the airline’s experimentation with AI integration for customer service…
· Editorial Staff
‘The White Lotus’ is heading to Thailand for Season 3
After months of rumors and speculation, it has finally been confirmed that “The White Lotus” Season 3 will be set in Asia. The HBO comedy-drama is heading for Thailand, reported Variety. While Seasons 1 and 2 of the hit show took place in Hawaii and Italy, respectively, it is…
· Ryan General
TikTok CEO hailed as hero in China after grilling by US Congress ‘bullies’
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has been elevated to “hero” status on Chinese social media after his five-hour grilling before the United States Congress. The Singaporean entrepreneur testified at the House Committee for Energy and Commerce on Thursday, where he was questioned about…
· Bryan Ke
Dalai Lama names US-born Mongolian boy as reincarnation of Buddhist leader
After years of searching and swirling rumors, the 14th Dalai Lama has officially revealed the identity of the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa: an 8-year-old U.S.-born Mongolian boy who will head Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, 87, revealed the new…
· Editorial Staff
TikTok user outsmarts $1 bubble tea chain promo
A TikTok user recently took advantage of a bring-your-own-cup promo at a bubble tea shop by bringing a giant wine glass. On Sunday, TikTok user @nothingaboutsteven posted a short clip about how he and his friends outsmarted a LiHO Tea branch in Singapore.
· Daniel Anderson
Kumail Nanjiani boards ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ sequel
Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, James Acaster and Emily Alyn Lind have been added to the cast of Sony Pictures’ live-action sequel to “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” According to Deadline, the film, directed by Gil Kenan, will see the return of Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon from…
· Bryan Ke
Yang Bing-yi, founder of Din Tai Fung, dies at 96
Yang Bing-yi, the founder of popular Michelin-starred restaurant chain Din Tai Fung, has passed away at the age of 96. The restaurant chain, which is known worldwide for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings), announced Yang’s death in a statement on Saturday without mentioning 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.