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· Bryan Ke

3 of the 7 last remaining pandas in US will be returned to China sooner than expected

Three of the last seven pandas remaining in the United States will leave sooner than expected, as the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. announced Wednesday changes for the pandas’ departure time frame. Sad news: In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the zoo revealed that…

· Ryan General

Nvidia CEO worth $36 billion: ‘Pain and suffering’ of entrepreneurship not worth it

“I don’t think anybody would start a company. Nobody in their right mind would do it,” said Jensen Huang

· Michelle De Pacina

North Korea accuses Israel of genocide, claims US is an ‘accomplice’

North Korea’s foreign ministry has accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, adding that the U.S. is an accomplice. What Pyongyang is saying: North Korea alleged that Israel bombed the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 17, adding that it had committed a war…

· Bryan Ke

‘Weekend marriages,’ where couples live separately, gain popularity in Japan

The “weekend marriage,” a marital arrangement in which couples live apart and see each other only a few days a week, has been gaining traction in Japan. Highlighting the lifestyle: Also known as “separation marriages” or “shumatsukon” in Japanese, “weekend marriages” were…

· Bryan Ke

Watch: Carefree Asian dad sleeping on plane floor wins praise on TikTok

A New York-based influencer has gone viral on TikTok after sharing a clip of her father sleeping on the floor of an airplane during a flight. What happened: The video, which was posted on Oct. 16, shows TikTok user Natalie Bright’s father — in jeans and a plaid button-down shirt…

· Michelle De Pacina

Israel praises ‘good friend’ Taiwan, calls China’s response to Hamas attack ‘disturbing’

Israel’s de facto ambassador to Taiwan Maya Yaron commended the island’s government for their strong support of Israel while expressing disappointment in China’s response to the recent Hamas attack. Israel praises Taiwan: On Thursday, Yaron praised President Tsai Ing-wen and her…

· Bryan Ke

Acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien retires amid Alzheimer’s battle

Acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien is retiring from filmmaking as he battles Alzheimer’s disease, his family recently confirmed in a statement to local Taiwanese media outlets. First announcement: Film scholar Tony Rayns broke the news while introducing the 76-year-old…

· Carl Samson

Why ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 moved from Japan to Thailand

The third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus” was originally set in Japan before it was moved to Thailand — a decision reportedly made to save money. Scouting Japan: At the ongoing Tokyo Film Festival, Georgina Pope, a producer with Toho Tombo Pictures, spoke of a “high profile…

· Bryan Ke

Iconic Little Tokyo mainstay, the US’ 1st shabu-shabu restaurant, closes after 32 years

Shabu-Shabu House, an icon in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo and reportedly the first restaurant of its kind in the United States, has already closed its doors after 32 years of serving the community. Sad announcement: Masako and Yoshinobu Maruyama, the restaurant’s owners, broke the…

· Bryan Ke

California proclaims Oct. 25 Larry Itliong Day in honor of Fil-Am labor rights icon

The state of California has proclaimed that Oct. 25 is Larry Itliong Day to honor and reflect the work of the Filipino American trailblazer who helped advance social justice for laborers before and after World War II. Key details: Eleni Kounalakis, who is serving as California’s…

· Bryan Ke

Watch: Australian influencer mistaken for Ryan Reynolds swarmed by fans in Taiwan

An Australian travel and fashion vlogger recently found himself swarmed by fans who mistook him for Ryan Reynolds while waiting at a terminal in Taiwan. About the video: Shaun Birley, a content creator who makes videos about fashion and travel, uploaded the now-viral video to…

· Carl Samson

Tai chi may slow down symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for years: study

Tai chi, an ancient, “internal” Chinese martial art focused on slow, intentional movements, may help curb the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for several years, a new study from China shows. About Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative…

· Carl Samson

Buddhist temples, nail salon burglarized in Philadelphia

Two Buddhist temples and a nail salon in Philadelphia have been hit by burglaries this month, escalating concerns of increased crime targeting Asian American-owned establishments in the city. Where they took place: The first burglary occurred at the Lao Buddhist Temple on East…

· Michelle De Pacina

Washington state senator arrested in Hong Kong for carrying gun through airport

Washington state senator Jeff Wilson was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport for having a firearm in his carry-on luggage. What happened: Wilson, who was traveling with his wife for vacation in Southeast Asia, claimed that he did not know his pistol was in his briefcase…

· Bryan Ke

Top comment on teen’s Instagram post goes mega viral for Thailand, Muay Thai dare

An American teen recently went viral on Instagram after the top comment in his challenge post, which gave a shout-out to Thailand and Muay Thai, received over 2.5 million likes and attracted many well-known Thais. The context: Seventh-grader Reed Harrington challenged his…

· Michelle De Pacina

Foreign YouTubers face investigation after sneaking ‘free’ train rides across Japan

Fifi “Fidias” Panayiotou, a 27-year-old YouTuber with 2.4 million subscribers, is under investigation for filming and traveling across Japan without paying for train rides along with three other fellow international YouTubers. The YouTube video: Fidias’ recent YouTube video “I…

· Bryan Ke

Police refute Rep. George Santos’ claim his niece was kidnapped by Chinese communists

A New York police official recently revealed that they found no evidence supporting Rep. George Santos’ (R, NY-3) claim that his niece was kidnapped by Chinese Communist Party members. Key details: Santos made the claim during an interview with New York Times reporter Grace…

· Michelle De Pacina

‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ trailer: 456 real-life contestants compete to win $4.56 million

Netflix has released the official trailer for “Squid Game: The Challenge,” revealing the first-look into the reality competition show based on the 2021 South Korean hit series “Squid Game.” About the trailer: The reality show features 456 real players who will compete in pursuit…

· Bryan Ke

Filipino Hawaii civil rights champion Amy Agbayani receives Women of Impact Award

A Filipino civil rights champion in Hawaii was awarded the East-West Center’s 2023 Women of Impact Award last week for her dedication to giving voices to marginalized groups in the state for decades. Key details: Dr. Amefil “Amy” Agbayani received the award at a ceremony held at…

· Michelle De Pacina

Interview: K-pop legend Rain to perform US concerts for 1st time in 15 years

K-pop legend Rain is making a comeback with his “STILL RAINING” tour after a seven-year hiatus from touring. Known as a pioneer of K-pop music, the 41-year-old artist and actor is gearing up to take the stage once again with stops in two U.S. cities, including Atlantic City and…

Answer

BTS connects to HYBE, Weverse, memberships, merch, and tickets.

People & Works

person

Ami Nakai

Open the culture page.
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.

Open the culture page.
Open

Culture surface · Beauty

Beauty retail

Beauty retail is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.

Open the culture page.
Open

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.

Open the culture page.
Open

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.

Company: Toho
Open

Platform · Platforms

Kakao Entertainment

Kakao Entertainment connects to Kakao and the broader platforms story around it.

Company: Kakao
Open

Culture surface · Platforms

Kling AI

Kling AI connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.

Company: Kuaishou
Open

Culture surface · Platforms

Kuaishou

Kuaishou connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.

Company: Kuaishou
Open

Culture surface · Platforms

Kwai

Kwai connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.

Company: Kuaishou
Open

Culture surface · Retail

Lifestyle retail

Lifestyle retail connects to Miniso and the broader retail story around it.

Company: Miniso
Open

Results

Culture · brand

Uniqlo

Uniqlo connects to Fast Retailing, the company behind the stores, basics, and repeat buying habit.

Companies: Fast Retailing
Basics, routines, travel, repeat buys.
Open

Culture · routine / beauty brands

K-beauty

K-beauty connects to companies built around skincare routines, hero products, and travel retail.

Companies: Amorepacific / Shiseido
Skincare routines, hero products, travel retail.
Open

Culture · platform

Weverse

Weverse connects to HYBE, the platform where memberships, merch, content, and fandom access keep moving after the song.

Companies: HYBE
Memberships, merch, paid content, fan app.
Open

Company · Japan · TYO:7832

Bandai Namco Holdings

Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.

Known for: Gundam · Pac-Man · Tekken
Anime
Open

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.

Known for: Kuaishou · Kwai · Kling AI
Platforms
Open

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.

Known for: ZEE5 · Zee TV · Zee Studios
Entertainment
Open

Company · Japan · TYO:9983

Fast Retailing

Fast Retailing matters because Uniqlo is an everyday consumer habit, not just a stock story.

Known for: Uniqlo · GU · Theory
Fashion
Open

Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:035900

JYP Entertainment

JYP is tied to groups that drive albums, tours, subscriptions, merch, and international fan activity.

Known for: TWICE · Stray Kids · ITZY
K-pop
Open

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.

Known for: aespa · NCT · RIIZE
K-pop
Open

Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:122870

YG Entertainment

YG connects global K-pop attention to touring, brand deals, fan demand, and artist-centered entertainment revenue.

Known for: BLACKPINK · BABYMONSTER · TREASURE
K-pop
Open

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.

Known for: Taobao · Tmall · Youku
Platforms
Open

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.

Source: AP News
Published signal
Read

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.

Source: Fast Retailing
+22.4% revenue growth
Read

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.

Source: NetEase
Multi-year UMG license agreement
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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.

Source: CJ ENM
Global Warner deal
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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.

Source: Sanrio
Read

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.

Source: Amorepacific
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