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· Ryan General
‘One Piece’ creator Eiichiro Oda asked AI to write the next chapter of his manga. Here’s the results
Eiichiro Oda, the famed mangaka behind the record-breaking manga series “One Piece,” recently turned to the artificial intelligence (AI) program ChatGPT for inspiration for the next installment of his series. In a video uploaded by the official “One Piece” staff Twitter account…
· Daniel Anderson
Netflix airs exposé doc ‘In The Name of God’ after court win over S. Korean religious cult
Netflix and South Korean public broadcaster MBC have defeated a legal challenge against their religious cult documentary exposé “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal.” The eight-part Netflix original program delves into the real stories of four self-proclaimed Korean prophets,…
· Daniel Anderson
Ke Huy Quan lost his health insurance while waiting on ‘EEAO’ release: ‘I could not get a single job’
Oscar nominee Ke Huy Quan revealed that he lost his health insurance while waiting for the delayed release of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (“EEAAO”). During his recent interview on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on Thursday, Quan, 51, shared that he stayed safe at…
· Ines Shin
Man accused of organizing escape of alleged Abby Choi murderer granted bail
Lam Shun, who was previously arrested for organizing the escape from Hong Kong by the ex-husband of murdered model Abby Choi, has been granted bail. On Monday, the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court granted Lam a cash bail of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $6,400). The…
· Ryan General
Students who see their math teachers as fair do better at math, new study suggests
Students who believe their math teachers who treat them with fairness perform better with the subject, a new study suggests. In the study, researchers from Portland State University, Loyola University Chicago and the University of North Texas sought to determine whether teachers…
· Michelle De Pacina
2 Native Hawaiians sentenced to prison for hate-crime beating of white homeowner
Two Native Hawaiian men who were found guilty of a hate crime for attacking a white homeowner in Maui has been sentenced in federal court. On Nov. 17, 2022, a federal jury found Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi, 32, and Levi Aki, Jr., 33, guilty of a hate crime for what prosecutors called…
· Carl Samson
Pair wanted for 2 sexual assaults in 2 days at University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma (OU) police are searching for two suspects in two separate sexual assaults that occurred on campus last week. The first incident reportedly occurred at 401 West Brooks at around 8:40 p.m. on Thursday.
· Ryan General
Lee Chae-un wins S. Korea’s first title, China’s Cai Xuetong is champ for third time at 2023 Freestyle Worlds
South Korea’s Lee Chae-un and China’s Cai Xuetong have taken the men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe titles, respectively, at the 2023 Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships. The competition, held in Bakuriani, Georgia, from Feb. 19 to March 5, saw Lee make history…
· Iris Jung
Ali Wong reveals her mother’s initial reaction to her divorce: ‘Can you just wait until I die?’
Ali Wong has spoken up about her “unconventional divorce” with ex-husband Justin Hakuta. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Wednesday, Wong shared details about her divorce from entrepreneur Hakuta in April 2022.
· Michelle De Pacina
Thailand’s ‘most beautiful transgender woman’ and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding
Thai transgender model Poyd Treechada Petcharat, who is colloquially known as Thailand’s “most beautiful transgender woman,” has tied the knot with her businessman beau in an extravagant Peranakan wedding. Poyd, 36, and Oak Phakwa Hongyok were married in a traditional Peranakan…
· Ryan General
FBI docs: Kim Kardashian once took home $250K in trash bag after night of gambling with billionaire Jho Low
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian reportedly flew home carrying $250,000 in cash in a trash bag following a night of gambling with disgraced billionaire Jho Low in Las Vegas in 2009, recently surfaced FBI documents revealed. Low, who is currently wanted by international…
· Ines Shin
Couple sues Hawaii snorkeling company for $5 million for abandoning them in the ocean
A California couple has filed a $5 million lawsuit against a snorkeling company in Hawaii for allegedly abandoning them a half mile away from shore. In September 2021, Elizabeth Webster and Alexander Burckle of Hayward booked a snorkeling excursion during their honeymoon in…
· Michelle De Pacina
UK maid café where customers are called ‘master’ hiring more servers as business thrives
Animaid Café, a maid café in Manchester, England, is looking to hire more servers as the business continues to thrive despite online criticism. The controversial business, which is located in Afflecks Palace, prides itself as the U.K.’s only sit-in maid café.
· Bryan Ke
Violent ‘Hunter x Hunter’-inspired gang from Moscow now terrorizing Ukraine
A gang member believed to be the ringleader of a notorious Moscow gang inspired by the anime “Hunter x Hunter” was recently arrested in Ukraine. The gang, known as the “PMC Ryodan” — or “Redan PMC,” as some media outlets have referred to them — was recently spotted in several…
· Daniel Anderson
8 out of 13 members of girl group WJSN renew their contracts with Starship Entertainment
Starship Entertainment announced on Friday that eight members of 13-member girl group WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, have renewed their contracts. The members who renewed their contracts with the South Korean agency include Yeoreum, Bona, Seola, Exy, Soobin, Eunseo, Dayoung…
· Ines Shin
Dangerous ‘snow spray’ trend has Korean TikTok users raising safety concerns
Korean TikTok users participating in a now-viral “snow spray” trend have been facing backlash as safety concerns from other users continue to rise. The recent trend involves people purchasing snow spray, which is stored in aerosol cans, and then drawing a shape on a concrete…
· Daniel Anderson
‘Pachinko’ star Soji Arai joins ‘Tokyo Vice’ Season 2
Korean Japanese actor Soji Arai, who plays Mozasu in the hit Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,” will be joining the second season of HBO Max’s “Tokyo Vice.” The crime drama TV series, currently in production in Tokyo, stars Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe and is inspired by the…
· Ana Yoo
Yoo Ah-in dropped from ‘Hellbound’ after he tests positive for cocaine, ketamine
South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in has been dropped from Netflix’s “Hellbound” and various retail brands amidst an ongoing drug investigation involving four different narcotics. Seoul police announced Thursday that Yoo tested positive for cocaine and ketamine.
· Ryan General
LA police union blasted for tweet that appears to paint Black men as transit crime perpetrators
The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) labor union is facing online backlash for tweeting images that appear to imply Black perpetrators are victimizing transit lines passengers. The group, which represents over 9,000 sworn police officers of the Los Angeles Police…
· Ana Yoo
‘Physical: 100’ embroiled by bullying, domestic violence and intimidation claims against contestants
Three separate “Physical: 100” contestants are facing accusations of bullying, domestic violence and intimidation. The controversies come amid ongoing allegations that the show’s final competition was rigged by its production team.
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.