person
Search
ai
Articles
· Ryan General
Haidilao ‘noodle master’ in London goes viral for mesmerizing noodle dance
“We’re not even at the table, and we got served,” an impressed commenter notes
· Bryan Ke
‘Pokémon Horizons: The Series’ trailer, release date unveiled
“Pokémon Horizons: The Series,” the first in the franchise to take place in a post-Ash Ketchum world, will be available on Netflix starting Feb. 23, 2024, The Pokémon Company announced on Wednesday. More trailer: Accompanying the release date announcement on Wednesday is another…
· Michelle De Pacina
Thailand a step closer to becoming 1st Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage
Thailand’s Cabinet recently approved a bill to amend the Civil and Commercial Code, redefining marriage as between any two “individuals” and ensuring equal rights for same-sex couples. About the bill: The amendment, which was approved on Nov. 21, aims to recognize the right to…
· Ryan General
North Korea claims its spy satellite captured images of White House, Pentagon
“Remember when you got that toy you always wanted at Xmas and were so excited you wanted to tell everyone about it?”
· Bryan Ke
Watch: BTS’ Jimin, Jungkook mobbed by fans at Incheon airport upon return from Japan
Dozens of fans mobbed Jimin and Jungkook at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday as the BTS duo arrived back in South Korea following their mystery trip to Japan last week. What happened: A Tuesday livestream on Star Plus shows dozens of fans breaking through the barrier set…
· Michelle De Pacina
Vietnamese man experiencing severe headaches for 5 months discovers chopsticks in his brain
A 35-year-old man in Vietnam who experienced severe headaches for five months was shocked to discover a pair of chopsticks lodged in his skull. The shocking discovery: On Nov. 25, the man sought medical help at the Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi, where he complained of…
· Bryan Ke
Jeremy Lin pulls triple-double to lead New Taipei Kings to 5th straight win
The New Taipei Kings, led by Jeremy Lin, beat the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers Sunday to secure a historic fifth consecutive win in the P.League+. The rundown: The Kings finished Sunday’s game 109-93 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium, their home court, in New Taipei City. With this, they…
· Carl Samson
KFC Japan announces fried chicken made to pair with alcohol
KFC Japan has developed fried chicken that reportedly pairs perfectly with alcoholic drinks. What’s it called: Announced on Wednesday, the latest addition to KFC Japan’s menu is called “Ninniku Crispy,” or in English, “Garlic Crispy.” This fried chicken is made to match beer and…
· Ryan General
Billionaire Alibaba founder Jack Ma launches new food business, ‘Ma’s Kitchen’
Ma’s Kitchen adds to a series of ventures in agriculture and education in the country, aligning well with the Communist Party’s “common prosperity” initiative
· Michelle De Pacina
Bilingual brains are better at ignoring distractions, study suggests
Researchers from the University of Florida suggest that individuals who speak two languages may have better cognitive abilities in ignoring distractions and shifting attention compared to those who speak only one language. About the study: In the study published in the journal…
· Carl Samson
Man accused of fatal Massachusetts Asian spa shooting held without bail
A man arrested in connection with a deadly shooting at a massage parlor in Worcester, Massachusetts, has been ordered held without bail on Monday. Allegations: Marcel Santos-Padgett, 31, is accused of shooting a woman in the head at Angies Bodywork Spa at 383 Pleasant St. at…
· Michelle De Pacina
17 Thai, 1 Filipino hostage released by Hamas as part of ceasefire deal with Israel
As part of a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Hamas has released a total of 58 hostages, including Thai and Filipino citizens, in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Temporary truce: On Nov. 21, Israel agreed to a four-day…
· Ryan General
11 countries sign declaration to halt extinction of world’s 6 remaining river dolphin species
The Chinese river dolphin, or baiji, the first dolphin species driven to extinction by human activities in 2007
· Ryan General
Chinese firefighter suffers brain damage after using own gas mask to save girl
While Ku appeared unharmed following the incident, he later exhibited symptoms of cognitive decline
· Michelle De Pacina
Labor lawsuit against Samsung R&D hub alleges exclusion of workers with ‘dark skin’
Samsung Research America (SRA) in Silicon Valley, an advanced research and development subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is facing accusations of violating labor laws. The lawsuit: In the discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Andrew Mo, a Chinese American…
· Michelle De Pacina
Former DNC chair faces backlash for intentionally mispronouncing Vivek Ramaswamy’s name
Political strategist Donna Brazile is facing criticism for allegedly intentionally mispronouncing GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s name on HBO’s talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher.” Brazile’s pronunciation: In the episode last week, Brazile, the former interim…
· Ryan General
Chinese scientists develop AI robot that could make oxygen on Mars
Previous studies have established the existence of large amounts of water on Mars, most of which exist in the form of ice
· Carl Samson
Boba fuels OpenAI execs on long day of Sam Altman talks
More than a dozen cups of boba reportedly kept leaders at OpenAI going as discussions over the fate of ousted chief executive Sam Altman dragged into the weekend. Catch up: Altman, 38, was fired by OpenAI’s board of directors on Friday, claiming that he had not been…
· Bryan Ke
Takeshi Kitano directs, stars in samurai period drama featuring gay relationships
Japanese actor, comedian and director Takeshi Kitano has revealed that “Kubi” (“Neck”), his upcoming samurai period drama, will highlight homosexual relationships between men during 15th- and 16th-century Japan. What he said: Kitano, 76, broke the news at a press conference…
· Ryan General
Group organizes ‘men-only’ train car in Tokyo
The group reiterates the need for both women-only and men-only spaces to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers
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.