1714 articles
Culture
Video of Japanese woman snowboarding in red kimono goes viral
A Twitter video of a Japanese woman snowboarding in a red kimono for Coming of Age Day has gone viral. Uploaded on Jan. 9 by Sumire Morino ...
Iris Jung
German events hub sparks outrage over ‘exotic Asia’ party with ‘Geisha girls’ serving sushi
A German events location has drawn backlash over an ad about an “exotic Asia” party that featured “Geisha Girls.” The event, titled “Geisha:...
Editorial Staff
Japan PM aide apologizes for ‘shameful’ act of having hands in pockets on US trip
A Japanese official has apologized after being filmed with his hands in his pockets during an official trip to Washington, D.C. Deputy Chief...
Ryan General
Travel
Here are the places in Asia you need to visit in 2023, according to The New York Times
Several Asian locations have been included in The New York Times’ list of “52 Places to Go” for 2023. On Jan. 12, the Times released its ann...
Isa Peralta
Japan
Rui Hachimura becomes LA Lakers’ first-ever Japanese player after trade
Japanese-born NBA player Rui Hachimura will make his Los Angeles Lakers debut this week after being traded from the Washington Wizards. The ...
Bryan Ke
Economy
Japan PM warns country will cease to ‘function as a society’ if population decline persists
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared a dire need for policies tackling the country’s declining birth rate, calling it “now or neve...
Entertainment
Achieve your New Year’s resolutions at the new ‘One Piece’ gym in Tokyo
A new “One Piece”-themed gym has opened in Tokyo. Named One Piece Fitness BragMen, the unique gym began accepting members on Jan. 13. ...
Food
Domino’s Japan releases limited-time bacon milkshake to dip your pizza in
Domino’s Japan is now offering a special limited-time bacon milkshake. The new treat, which will be available until March 5, features ...
Crime
Japanese woman on death row for murder chokes to death on prison food
A woman on death row choked to death while eating a meal at the Hiroshima Detention House in Hiroshima, Japan. Miyuki Ueta, a 49-year-old fo...
Michelle De Pacina
Government
S. Korea considers plan to pay reparations to WWII forced labor victims instead of Japan
Despite initial demands for Japanese reparations, South Korea has proposed a plan to compensate Koreans who were victims of forced labo...
Kyle Richards, Megyn Kelly defend Gwen Stefani amid backlash over ‘I’m Japanese’ claim
Before you read: Gwen Stefani insists she is ‘Japanese’ in new interview ‘Those are my homies’: Gwen Stefani shuts appropriation claims over...
Carl Samson
News
Asian countries top ranking of world’s most powerful passports in 2023
Before you read: Report: Japan, Singapore have 2021’s most powerful passports, the US fails to crack top five ...
Gwen Stefani insists she is ‘Japanese’ in new interview
Before you read: ‘Those Are My Homies’: Gwen Stefani Shuts Appropriation Claims Over ‘Harajuku Girls’ Era Musician Gwen Stefani doubled down...
Sarah Yukiko
Coronavirus
China stops issuing visas for travelers from S. Korea, Japan in retaliation for COVID restrictions
Before you read: Advocates fear new COVID testing requirements for Chinese travelers will stoke anti-Asian hate US announces negative COVID ...
China
War game simulations find China failing to invade Taiwan at a huge cost to all, including US and Japan
Before you read: Taiwan says full invasion by China would be very difficult China threatens Taiwan with ‘demise’ after Taipei lawmaker warns...
Man spends almost $23,000 on realistic costume to fulfill his dream of becoming a wolf
Before you read: Japanese man spends $15,700 on dog costume to fulfill lifelong dream of transforming into an animal Japanese man who spent...
‘Decision to Leave,’ ‘Drive My Car’ lead Asian Film Awards nominees
“Decision to Leave” and “Drive My Car” lead the 2023 Asian Film Awards in nominations. On Friday, organizers of the 16th Asian Film Awards r...
Ines Shin
‘We’ve never had sashimi this fresh’: Viral TikTok video shows ikizukuri fish still twitching in Japan
A TikTok video has gone viral for showing a plate of twitching sashimi in Japan. On Saturday, Singaporean actor, host and TikTok user Xenia ...
3-year-old boy uncovers 20-year-old secret of Ghibli Museum entrance
A 3-year-old boy discovered a secret aspect of the Ghibli Museum’s entrance over 20 years after its opening in 2001. The official Twitter ac...
Health
Video: Wash your hands — and smartphone — at McDonald’s in Japan
A video of a phone cleaning station at a McDonald’s in Japan has gone viral. Uploaded to Twitter by Sho Sawada (@shao1555) on Oct. 26, 2022,...
Livestreamers ‘joke’ about atomic bombs, ‘radioactive p*ssy’ while streaming in Hiroshima
Editor’s Note (1/5/2023): A previous version of this story published earlier today misidentified one of the streamers in the mentioned clip ...
Videos show bodies in China being burned on the streets as crematoriums fill up due to COVID surge
Before you read: China’s lack of transparency on COVID outbreak sparks international concern US announces negative COVID test requirement f...
Japanese woman spent $1.50 a day on food to buy 3 houses by age 34
Saki Tamogami, 37, lived extremely frugally for 16 years to achieve her dream of owning three houses by age 34. Tamogami’s dream first manif...
The video games that most need anime adaptations, according to Japanese gamers
Japanese gamers have voted for the video game titles that they think deserve anime adaptations. In a recent poll conducted by Japanese websi...
Beauty
Japan’s top cosplayer made over $1.5 million in 2022, manager reveals
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako earned over 200 million yen (approximately $1.5 million) in revenue for 2022, according to her manager. The ne...
Business
Miss 2022? Buy last year’s air online from Japan
Although we’ve entered 2023, those who really miss 2022 can purchase last year’s air online. Sellers are listing “vintage air” encased in pl...
Art
Make a splash by recreating Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave’ with Legos
Fans of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” can now own a copy of the beloved woodblock print – in Lego form. On Thursday, L...
Japan offering families $7,600 per child to move out of Tokyo
Japan is offering families 1 million yen (approximately $7,627) per child to move out of Tokyo in hopes of reducing overcrowding. An additio...
Japanese fans name ‘Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween’ as top anime film of 2022
“Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween” has been selected by Japanese fans as the top anime film of 2022. Japanese website AnimeAnime.jp p...
‘Alice in Borderland’ Season 2 sets Netflix record
Before you read: Riisa Naka compares her game in ‘Alice in Borderland’ S2 to ‘Squid Game’: ‘Mine would be more difficult’ More fun and games...
Twitter users criticize list of top food destinations for ranking US over China, Thailand
Before you read: Gordon Ramsay names Laos and Vietnam as world’s top food destinations In food travel guide TasteAtlas’ most recent ra...
Chandler Treon
Japanese man who spent $16K to become a ‘dog’ says he’s afraid others will think he’s ‘weird’
Before you read: Japanese man spends $15,700 on dog costume to fulfill lifelong dream of transforming into an animal Months after shelling o...
Rare Japanese whisky fetches $603,000 at auction
A bottle of Yamazaki 55, a rare Japanese single malt whisky, yielded hundreds of thousands of dollars at a U.S. auction earlier this year, s...
Japanese scientists solve mystery of why babies kick in the womb
A team of scientists from the University of Tokyo has finally solved the ongoing conundrum of why babies kick in the womb. Using motion cap...
Lifestyle
Singaporean mother drinks gallon of her own breastmilk to avoid waste
Uploaded by Jemie Lim (@jemielimtiktok) a week ago, the one-minute video documents the mother’s journey to Hokkaido, Japan. During her tri...
Tickets for Japan’s Ghibli Park will soon be available via an official English website
International visitors will be able to purchase Ghibli Park tickets via an official English-language website at the start of 2023. Tickets w...