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Bomberman
Bomberman connects to Konami Group and the broader gaming story around it.
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· Bryan Ke
Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi to perform in San Francisco
Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi will be heading to San Francisco in September to perform with the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall. Key points:
· Carl Samson
Trump treasury secretary forming investor group to buy TikTok
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is building an investor group to acquire TikTok, responding to ongoing legislative actions that could ban the app unless it divests from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Key points:
· Bryan Ke
Jasmine Yoon confirmed as Virginia’s first Asian American federal judge
The Virginia Senate has confirmed Jasmine Yoon’s appointment as the state’s first Asian American federal judge under Article III of the United States Constitution. Key points:
· Bryan Ke
The man who performed ‘plastic surgery’ on his own face to evade arrest
Warning: This article contains a story of rape and murder. In the late 2000s, fear struck Japan as news of a British teacher being raped and murdered emerged just outside Tokyo. The culprit: a 28-year-old man who altered his own facial features to escape authorities.
· Bryan Ke
Watch: Chinese makeup artist transforms 57-year-old man into ’27-year-old’
A Chinese makeup artist has gone viral on Chinese social media for her sorcerous skills in making people look significantly younger than their real age. Going viral: Tuzi, a Douyin makeup celebrity with over 6 million followers, recently transformed comedian Tang Jianjun, 57,…
· Ryan General
A sushi council was just formed in the US
A trade group representing the seafood industry in the U.S. has launched a collaborative effort to raise quality and safety standards in the local sushi market. A council of sushi leaders: The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), headquartered in Reston, Virginia, announced on…
· Michelle De Pacina
Behind the scenes of FX’s ‘Shogun’: The unseen army recreating authentic feudal Japan
Against the backdrop of early 17th century feudal Japan in the FX series “Shogun” lies an unseen army who has meticulously crafted the show’s historical richness and authenticity. As the highly anticipated series braces audiences for a journey back to feudal Japan — a time of…
· Carl Samson
US man confesses to murder, sexual assault of women near German castle
A Michigan man has confessed to the rape and murder of another American tourist near a famous castle in Germany last June, according to reports. Catch up: Troy Phillip Bohling, 31, of Detroit, is accused of sexually assaulting and killing Eva Liu, 21, near the historic…
· Bryan Ke
Watch: Jia Ling’s stunning physical transformation featured in viral music video
Chinese director and actor Jia Ling, known for her performances during China’s annual Spring Festival Gala, has gone viral on social media for her weight loss, as featured in the music video for the original soundtrack (OST) of her latest movie “You Only Live Once” (“YOLO” or…
· Carl Samson
‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ contestant, a former K-pop star, debuts solo
A “Squid Game: The Challenge” contestant who is a former K-pop idol has returned to the music scene as a solo artist. Background: Joel Jay Lane, better known as Player 375 in “Squid Game: The Challenge” — and the lone Korean contestant in the Netflix reality show — debuted in…
· Michelle De Pacina
NYC subway cellist quits performances after assault, calls for better protection
Iain Forrest, a subway cellist in New York City, announced he will be ceasing his performances in stations following a recent assault, wherein he was struck in the head with a metal bottle. What happened: In the now-viral video of the incident, uploaded to X on Feb. 14, Forrest,…
· Michelle De Pacina
Meet the South Korean octogenarian rappers taking the internet by storm
A group of South Korean women in their 80s have gained local fame for writing and rapping about rural farm life. Gaining fame: The octogenarians, known as Suni and the Seven Princesses, are taking social media by storm since their first performance in a community center in…
· Ryan General
South Korean construction firm pays staff $75,000 each time they have a baby
A construction firm in South Korea is offering 100 million Korean won ($75,000) for every child born to its employees, in a bid to address the nation’s declining birth rates. About the incentive: Booyoung Group has pledged its employees a total commitment of 7 billion won ($5.25…
· Ryan General
Asian American lawmakers urge Fortune 100 companies to reaffirm DEI commitments
Asian American lawmakers are urging Fortune 100 companies to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid backlash from conservative opposition. What it’s about: On Tuesday, the executive board of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) revealed that…
· Ryan General
Myanmar’s junta enforces mandatory military service amid turmoil
Myanmar’s military junta has activated a dormant mandatory military service law that forces participation of all young men and women for at least two years. About the law: Myanmar’s military government announced on Feb. 10 that it is reviving the People’s Military Service Law…
· Bryan Ke
Hermes hands $4,300 bonus to all 22,000 staff after strong late 2023 Asia sales
Hermes is giving over $4,000 to each of its workers after it recorded stellar sales in late 2023, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Upholding its commitment: Starting early this year, Hermes will hand all of its 22,040 employees worldwide a bonus of 4,000 euros ($4,300),…
· Ryan General
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong acquitted in stock, accounting fraud case
A South Korean court has acquitted Samsung Executive Chairman of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud charges. About the ruling: On Feb. 5, Seoul Central District Court absolved the 55-year-old executive and 13 other current and former Samsung officials of charges…
· Ryan General
Birmingham City FC draws BTS ARMY’s anger over logo use
A professional soccer club based in England drew the ire of BTS fans over its use of a logo resembling that of the superstar boy band. Going viral for the wrong reasons: Birmingham City FC recently announced the signing of South Korean midfielder Paik Seung-Ho, a move that…
· Ryan General
Former Nintendo CEO’s refusal to fire workers remembered as gaming industry struggles
The refusal of former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata to sack employees amid financial challenges has resonated in the gaming industry amid recent layoffs. A principled stand: Iwata, who helmed Nintendo from 2002 until his untimely death in 2015, is currently being celebrated on…
· Ryan General
Juju Noda, 17, becomes 1st Japanese female driver to compete in Super Formula
A 17-year-old racer is set to become the first Japanese woman and the youngest driver ever to compete in the prestigious Super Formula championship. About Super Formula: Super Formula is the premier single-seater open-wheel motorsport championship in Japan. Considered the…
Answer
BTS connects to HYBE, Weverse, memberships, merch, and tickets.
People & Works
Open
Culture surface · Platforms
Consumer platform
Consumer platform is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.
person
Sharmila Dhankar
Culture surface · Platforms
Alibaba Pictures
Alibaba Pictures connects to Alibaba and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Cloud
Cloud connects to Alibaba and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Coupang (Rocket Delivery)
Coupang (Rocket Delivery) connects to Coupang and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Coupang Eats
Coupang Eats connects to Coupang and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Coupang Play
Coupang Play connects to Coupang and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
E-commerce
E-commerce connects to Alibaba and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Farfetch
Farfetch connects to Coupang and the broader platforms story around it.
Results
Culture · platform / studio / licensing
Anime
Anime connects to companies that handle streaming, production, licensing, toys, and games.
Culture · platform
WEBTOON
WEBTOON connects to Naver and WEBTOON Entertainment through platform distribution and adaptations.
Culture · platform / adaptation
K-dramas
K-dramas connect to platforms and story companies that turn digital reading into shows people binge later.
Culture · platform
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll connects to Sony, the company behind the anime streaming app, plus the music, merch, and licensing around it.
Culture · platform / licensing
Playlists
Playlists connect to music apps, licensing deals, and the companies that decide what stays available.
Culture · platform
Weverse
Weverse connects to HYBE, the platform where memberships, merch, content, and fandom access keep moving after the song.
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.
Company · Korea · NYSE:CPNG
Coupang
Coupang is Korea's Amazon — overnight Rocket Delivery plus Coupang Play, a streaming service bundling K-content and live sports into the shopping habit.
Company · Indonesia · IDX:GOTO
GoTo Group
GoTo is the app Indonesia runs on — Gojek rides, Tokopedia shopping, and GoPay wallets woven into daily life for the world's fourth-most-populous country.
Company · Singapore · NASDAQ:GRAB
Grab
Grab is the everyday super-app of Southeast Asia — rides, food, and payments in one wallet across eight countries, the way hundreds of millions actually move and eat.
Company · Korea · KRX:035720
Kakao
Kakao touches messaging, webtoons, music, and entertainment distribution in everyday Korean digital life.
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 · Korea · KRX:035420
Naver
One of the layers behind Webtoon, LINE, Snow.
Company · Japan · TYO:4755
Rakuten Group
Rakuten touches shopping, memberships, points, streaming, and platform habits that affect how people actually spend.
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.