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· Isa Peralta
Cilantro, intestines and pig’s blood?: Here’s how Pizza Hut Taiwan decides on its viral toppings
Pizza Hut Taiwan is no stranger to controversy, having sold everything from durian mango pizza and tonkotsu “ramen pizza” to chocolate-crusted pizza topped with Oreos, popcorn chicken and calamari. The fast food chain’s infamous limited-time offerings, however, are not just for…
· Michelle De Pacina
Family of Oakland toddler killed by stray bullet decries DA’s plan to not pursue jailtime for suspects
The family of Jasper Wu, an Oakland toddler who was killed by a stray bullet, have voiced concern over Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s plans to not pursue jail time for the suspects. Wu was driving home to Fremont, California, with his family on Nov. 6, 2021,…
· Michelle De Pacina
Prosecutors urge no bail for ‘sociopathic’ billionaire charged in $1 billion fraud scheme
Prosecutors have demanded Guo Wengui, the Chinese billionaire charged in a $1 billion fraud scheme, be denied bail to ensure that he will not flee or engage in illegal business while awaiting trial. Guo, whose real name is Ho Wan Kwok, was arrested last month in connection with…
· Daniel Anderson
‘Cocaine Bear’ star Kahyun Kim cast in NBC mockumentary ‘St. Denis Medical’
Kahyun Kim, best known for her roles in the comedy horror film “Cocaine Bear” and the fantasy drama TV series “American Gods,” has been cast in NBC’s mockumentary “St. Denis Medical.” The comedy pilot follows doctors and nurses struggling to treat patients in an underfunded…
· Carl Samson
How a samurai-born man became the father of an alternative therapy used by millions worldwide
Of the various forms of alternative or complementary therapies — many of them originating in Asia — reiki is arguably the most accessible. In its simplest delivery, all it takes is openness to receive healing through an invisible transfer of energy, at least according to swaths…
· Michelle De Pacina
Joanna Gaines visits S. Korea after opening up about embracing her heritage
Magnolia Network founder Joanna Gaines is visiting South Korea with her family after opening up about her struggles with embracing her Korean heritage last year. Gaines, the 44-year-old interior designer most known for the TV show “The Fixer Upper: Welcome Home,” has documented…
· Michelle De Pacina
Virginia woman allegedly stabbed to death in her hotel room by man who was recently released from jail
A man has been charged with first-degree murder for the stabbing of a woman from Virginia who was in Washington, D.C., for a concert. On Friday, Christy Bautista, 31, was killed less than an hour after checking into the Ivy City Hotel on New York Avenue by a man who entered her…
· Michelle De Pacina
2 diners in Japan arrested for dipping their chopsticks into restaurant’s communal container
Police in Japan have arrested two men accused of contaminating a communal container of pickled ginger at a popular beef bowl restaurant chain as part of a prank. On Sept. 29, 2022, Toshihide Oka, 34, recorded Ryu Shimazu, 35, shoveling pickled ginger from a condiment container…
· Iris Jung
Vanessa Hudgens’ mom opens up about raising her daughter with Filipino values: ‘Family is so important’
Actor Vanessa Hudgens and her Filipino immigrant mother recently opened up about her upbringing in the United States. During a press conference in Manila on Friday promoting her upcoming travel documentary, the Salinas, California-born “High School Musical” star shared her…
· Isa Peralta
New ‘Barbie’ trailer shows off the film’s different Barbies and Kens
Warner Bros. Pictures dropped a second teaser trailer for Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film “Barbie” on Wednesday. The almost two-minute video notably showcases the various Barbies and Kens in the upcoming live-action movie.
· Ana Yoo
Jeon Do-yeon is an assassin struggling to raise her teen daughter in Netflix’s ‘Kill Boksoon’
Acclaimed South Korean actor Jeon Do-yeon stars in Netflix’s latest thriller “Kill Boksoon,” written and directed by Byun Sung-hyun. Jeon plays a seasoned assassin working for an agency named Gil Bok-soon who has a 100% success rate in killing targets. Despite excelling at her…
· Carl Samson
Chinese rover discovers glass beads on Moon that may contain 330 billion tons of water
As much as 330 billion tons of water could be embedded in the Moon’s surface, a new study from China suggests. The estimate comes from the analysis of small glass beads — also known as impact glasses, spherules or microtektites — uncovered in lunar soil samples collected by…
· Iris Jung
Amid erratic behavior and arrest, grandson of S. Korean ex-President Chun Doo-Hwan gains admirers
Chun Woo-wun, grandson of ex-South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, was arrested for drug use on Tuesday. After arriving at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport from New York City, Chun, 27, was immediately arrested at around 6 a.m. KST by Seoul Metropolitan Police’s drug…
· Daniel Anderson
Netflix releases first trailer for political K-drama ‘Queenmaker’
Netflix has unveiled its first trailer for the upcoming political K-drama “Queenmaker.” The series is directed by Oh Jin-suk, who also directed the Netflix K-drama “My First Love” and its sequel, and written by screenwriter Moon Ji-young (“Who Are You”).
· Daniel Anderson
Awkwafina and cast return in ‘Nora From Queens’ Season 3 teaser trailer
Comedy Central shared a teaser trailer for the long-awaited third season of “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens” on Wednesday. Awkwafina, born Nora Lum, will make her directorial debut with Season 3, Variety reported. Her character’s father (BD Wong), grandmother (Lori Tan Chinn) and…
· Daniel Anderson
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo blooms in long-awaited debut solo album ‘Me’
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo released her highly anticipated debut solo album “Me,” along with the music video for her song “Flower,” on Friday. The 28-year-old artist reached a historic milestone with her new album, as she became the first female K-pop soloist to amass 1 million…
· Isa Peralta
Trailer for Wes Anderson sci-fi comedy ‘Asteroid City’ features all-star cast, aliens
The official trailer for Wes Anderson’s upcoming film “Asteroid City” was released on Wednesday. The film, which was directed, co-produced and co-written by Anderson, is set in a fictional American desert town in the 1950s. It is Anderson’s most recent movie since 2021’s “The…
· William Yuk
Porsche’s new limited-edition 911 Carrera GTS inspired by a Thai birthday tradition
Porsche has unveiled special editions of the 911 Carrera GTS inspired by a vibrant Thai tradition. While Western cultures mainly celebrate birth dates, Thai birthdays emphasize the day of the week a person is born. Rooted in Hindu astrology, this tradition assigns different…
· Carl Samson
‘Chinese Zodiac Killer’ who claimed to eat his victims sentenced to 16 months in prison
The LaFargeville, New York, man who identified himself as the “Chinese Zodiac Killer” in dozens of threatening letters sent to multiple states in the Northeast has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Jesse Bartlett, 46, delivered the disturbing letters between April 2021 and…
· Daniel Anderson
Jung Ho-yeon joins Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander in new film from ‘The Wailing’ director
South Korean actor and model Jung Ho-yeon, best known for her Emmy-nominated role in the hit Netflix show “Squid Game,” has been cast in the upcoming Korean mystery thriller film “Hope.” This will mark the 28-year-old SAG Award winner’s first starring role in a Korean project…
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.