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· Michelle De Pacina
K-pop idol publicly apologizes to fans after gaining weight
Jang Ye Eun, best known as J in K-pop girl group STAYC, recently apologized to fans after facing criticism over her weight gain, acknowledging that she had started working out and dieting. “To be honest, I saw the fancam and I’m sorry I didn’t maintain my figure well. I’m going…
· Carl Samson
Seventeen’s Seungkwan speaks out against mistreatment of idols
Seventeen’s Seungkwan took to Instagram to denounce the K-pop industry’s mistreatment of idols, marking the first internal critique from an artist associated with Hybe amid ongoing controversy over a leaked disparaging document from the company. “I can no longer remain silent…
· Bryan Ke
Ken Jeong stares anti-Asian racism in the eye in ‘A Great Divide’ trailer
The trailer for the new drama film “A Great Divide” is out, shining a spotlight on anti-Asian racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie, which is the feature directorial debut of Jean Shim, stars Ken Jeong and Jae Suh Park as husband-and-wife Isaac and Jenna Lee,…
· Michelle De Pacina
Stephanie Hsu navigates modern dating in Peacock rom-com series ‘Laid’
In the upcoming Peacock series “Laid,” Oscar-nominated “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Stephanie Hsu stars as Ruby, a woman confronted with a bizarre dilemma: her former lovers are mysteriously dying. The rom-com takes a unique twist, as Ruby must reconnect and warn her…
· Ryan General
Sung Kang unleashes villainous side in ‘Weekend in Taipei’ ‘90s-inspired trailer
Just over a week before it hits U.S. theaters on Nov. 8, “Weekend in Taipei” unveiled a ‘90s-style, grainy VHS trailer that combines retro charm with high-octane action. Directed by Taiwanese American filmmaker George Huang and co-written by French filmmaker Luc Besson (“Taken,”…
· Bryan Ke
Mount Fuji remains snow-less as November approaches, breaking record
Despite November fast approaching, the peak of Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji remains bare, with no snow in sight as of Tuesday. Snowcap typically starts to form on Japan’s tallest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,385 feet) on Oct. 2, but the unusually warm summer and fall in Japan this…
· Michelle De Pacina
Duterte could be charged with crimes against humanity, according to Philippine lawmakers
During a recent Senate inquiry in the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte spoke under oath for the first time since leaving office in 2022, making brash remarks regarding his controversial “war on drugs” that have led to the more than 20,000 extrajudicial killings in…
· Carl Samson
Xi asked Biden to change language on Taiwan, ‘oppose’ independence: report
Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden to change Washington’s language on Taiwan’s independence last year, urging direct opposition rather than lack of support, according to U.S. officials familiar with the exchange. What Xi told Biden: In a private meeting…
· Michelle De Pacina
Michigan school board’s emails criticized for stereotyping Asian Americans
Emails from the board president of the Troy School District in Northern Michigan have sparked criticism for what some say are stereotypical and inaccurate descriptions of Asian American families. In a May 2023 email sent to university math departments, Karl Schmidt claimed that…
· Ryan General
Nvidia CEO: AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI might
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reassured the audience at the company’s October AI Summit in Mumbai last week that artificial intelligence (AI) won’t completely replace human workers. While acknowledging AI‘s ability to significantly enhance productivity, the 51-year-old…
· Ryan General
Ex-Philippine President Duterte claims full responsibility for bloody ‘drug war’
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told a Senate inquiry on Monday that he assumes full legal responsibility for the bloody anti-drug campaign conducted during his administration. While he acknowledged maintaining a “death squad” to target criminals while serving as…
· Michelle De Pacina
Andrew Yang advocates against voting for third-party candidate in November
In a Newsweek opinion piece, Andrew Yang explained his decision to start the Forward Party in 2021 while advising against voting for a third-party presidential candidate in the upcoming election. The Forward Party: Yang said he was concerned over the two-party system’s inability…
· Carl Samson
Trump praises Xi’s ‘iron fist’ rule of China
Former President Donald Trump lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authoritarian rule during a three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan on Friday. The recorded interview came ahead of a Michigan rally where supporters waited hours in cold temperatures due to Trump’s…
· Bryan Ke
Popular Taiwanese boba brand shows how they make their brown sugar boba milk
The U.S. branch of Xing Fu Tang, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea chain, has shared how it prepares its signature brown sugar boba milk in an ASMR-style video. In a five-minute TikTok clip posted on Tuesday, CEO Andrew Chuang said the brand uses a specific type of brown sugar from…
· Michelle De Pacina
Seattle Little Saigon restaurant faces 9th break-in in 4 years
Phnom Penh Noodle House, a family-owned restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID), experienced its ninth break-in in four years, causing significant damage and losses. Owner Dawn Ung, whose family has operated the business since 1987, expressed frustration…
· Bryan Ke
Singapore’s biggest airport launches biometric system clearing travelers in 10 seconds
Singapore’s Changi Airport has rolled out a fully passport-free clearance system that drastically reduces processing time for traveling residents. Initially tested in Terminal 3, the system has been active across all terminals since Sept. 30. How it works: The new system uses…
· Michelle De Pacina
Joe, Clara Tsai make history as first Asian American owners to win WNBA championship
Joe and Clara Tsai became the first Asian American owners to win a WNBA championship after their team, the New York Liberty, defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Game 5 of the finals on Sunday. The Tsais have owned the Liberty since 2019, with Clara having primary control of the…
· Michelle De Pacina
Olivia Munn proudly shares post-mastectomy scars in new ad campaign
Actress Olivia Munn is proudly embracing her post-mastectomy body as a breast cancer survivor, starring in Skims’ latest bra campaign in partnership with Susan G. Komen for Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The campaign features images that highlight her double…
· Bryan Ke
Train company to deploy Japan’s first ‘blade-proof’ umbrellas against knife attacks
A Japanese train company is gearing up to deploy “blade-proof” umbrellas in response to a knife attack that occurred on one of its trains last year. Launching the first of its kind in Japan, JR West announced on Thursday that it will distribute 1,200 “blade-proof” umbrellas…
· Carl Samson
GOP senator slams Biden admin for sending moldy gear, expired ammo to Taiwan
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) criticized the Biden administration on Wednesday after a Pentagon report released last month revealed that Taiwan received moldy military equipment and expired ammunition as part of a U.S. defense aid package. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd…
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.