Hello, everyone!
Often, LGBTQ+ people hide their identities from their professional lives, fearing that they may be ostracized. This remains true across many countries. At 28 years old, Japanese entrepreneur Kento Hoshi is running the company, JobRainbow, which helps LGBTQ+ job seekers find their future employers.
With Japan’s population and workforce on a decline and many LGBTQ+ folks being turned away from job opportunities, Hoshi hopes that this service will help many reach their full potential.
He hopes that this effort, in addition to societal change, will move the world forward, making diverse sexualities and gender identities a welcome and everyday reality.
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Race in America 🌎
On Tuesday, a Sikh woman was attacked after leaving her temple in South Richmond Hill in Queens, New York.
She relinquished her jewelry after three thieves held her at gunpoint. She hopes that those who robbed her will be caught soon and brought to justice.
This is part of the spike in Sikh-specific attacks and anti-Asian violence, which many advocates are demanding to be addressed and prioritized. The NYPD has not categorized the robbery as a hate crime, but as they look for more evidence while the investigation continues, that result may change.
With the rising amount of anti-Asian violence, there is also the question of justice and equity. But recent data shows that even if a case is brought to court, very few find the alleged perpetrator guilty.
The Asian American Bar Association report released on Tuesday described the “rising tide” of anti-Asian violence from February 2021 to now be an “Endless Tide.”
The data from 2021 showed that in the first three quarters, there were 233 incidents against Asians in New York. Almost 60% were classified as assault, 20% as physical harassment, 8% as verbal harassment, 7% as criminal mischief or property damage and 4% as thefts, in addition to three homicides and two sex offenses. From those 233 incidents, only 91 led to arrests. In those 91 arrests, 41 were charged with hate crimes and only seven led to guilty dispositions of hate crimes. As of April 2022, about 20 cases remain pending.
However, the NYPD counted only 117 anti-Asian incidents during the same three quarters between January and September, defining anti-Asian violence as verbal or physical assault against someone appearing or of Asian descent. And, the incident must have enough concern that the crime was racially motivated to be categorized as such.
In Other Asian News 🗞
The Chinese government’s new draft on cybersecurity rules for financial firms could expose more investors to hacking.
This latest regulatory proposal aims to mandate investment banks, asset managers and future companies with operations in China to share their data with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for regulator-led testing and help set up a centralized data backup center. As the government’s recent liberalism with foreign investors opened up major opportunities for the West, many are now facing the reality of this new proposal.
However, lobby group Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA), pointed out anticipated risks, particularly exposure to “hackers and other bad actors,” by sharing sensitive information.
While the regulatory institution has not set up a specific timeline for implementation, several global banks and asset managers are pushing back against this requirement, along with ASIFMA.
The drug trade in East and Southeast Asia is getting worse. NPR reports that there has been a record number of methamphetamine seized in these regions.
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime reported that around 1 billion tablets, weighing approximately 91 tons, were part of a regionwide haul of 172 tons of all forms of methamphetamine. While a significant portion of this drug is consumed in Southeast Asia, it has also been sold to Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, and recently, areas in South Asia.
Compared to a decade ago, prices have dropped significantly in tandem with the influx of pills, making the drug more accessible than ever. Additionally, because methamphetamine is so easy to produce, it has become the staple drug in The Golden Triangle: the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
The Southeast Asia regional representative for the U.N. agency, Jeremy Douglas, emphasized the need for East and Southeast Asian governments to heavily reconsider and revise their policies to prevent this problem from worsening.
Culture 📺
The topic of abortion and its methods is not only up for debate in the U.S. Japan is considering approving an abortion pill, but consent from an individual’s partner may be required.
These decisions reflect the patriarchal reality in Japanese society and government, with the pill’s approval continuing to remain a tense subject and a hefty cost of 100,000 yen (approximately $780).
Similar to Japan’s Maternal Protection Law of 1948, the government hopes to make the pill follow the same policy: women, or anyone with a uterus, must get their partner’s consent before getting an abortion. While the government believes that spousal consent is necessary, many critics say this is just another way to step on women’s autonomy and rights.
Many examples of how this policy is violent against women and others who may be stuck in an unwanted pregnancy have appeared all across Japan.
Beauty trends, especially from Asia, have been all the rage lately. But many Asian Americans are bringing up the appropriation of and reduction in cultural and historical significance in being named only a “trend.”
In addition to gua sha, a method of face and body sculpting and regulating internal health, many Indian practices such as hair oiling and other ayurvedic spices have become mainstream and rebranded.
While many Asian individuals appreciate their practices being seen as practical and beautiful, they also struggle with protecting the integrity of these cultural staples. Gwyneth Paltrow popularizing turmeric and renaming hair oiling rituals as “hair slugging” is another instance where white audiences may take a sacred practice and culturally legitimize it for the West.
Asian influencers and wellness experts want to remind audiences and consumers that while these practices may help with cosmetic desires, at its core, these practices are for health benefits and should not become beauty standard expectations.
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What else is on our minds? 🧠
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In South Korea, the Conservative Party is celebrating their national and local wins this election season. In fact, as the current president’s party, these wins represent major influential power in future legislation.
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While the Ghibli Park delays its opening, other attractions and features become more alluring. Developers have released a new batch of plans for the theme parks based on popular Ghibli films and a public section that anyone can access free of charge.
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A recent disability march of 140 people filled the streets of Japan. Attendees were part of the first “inclusive parade” in Tokyo, and many learned from each other about their disabilities and experiences. Many were hopeful that they could gain more legislative influence and attention with more organizing and communication.
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China’s no-COVID policy has shut down many cities, but things are looking up for Shanghai. The city has eased its lockdown protocols and aims to fully reopen soon, as people were finally able to travel and reunite with their loved ones.
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Genetic technology has been a recent interest in the 21st century, with researchers and scientists aiming to create new ways to manipulate DNA. In China, scientists from Nankai University in Tianjin hope their success, the world’s first cloned pigs, will help lower costs for importing livestock and future endeavors.
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