Cats, dogs receive blessings in Japan as part of unique coming-of-age tradition

Pets took center stage at a Shinto shrine near Tokyo this week to receive blessings from priests in a tradition originally observed for chil...

Science proves kimchi is best made in onggi

Science has proven that traditional clay jars (onggi) are the best tool for fermenting kimchi.  A traditional staple of Korean cuisine, kimc...

Babies battle it out in 1-on-1 crying matches during Japanese traditional festival

Japan’s “crying baby sumo” festival, which involves scared infants competing against each other by loudly weeping, has returned for the firs...

Chinese K-pop singer attacked online, told to ‘go back to China’ for not kneeling down to fans

Chinese “Everglow” K-pop star Wang Yiren sparked a controversy online for not bowing down to greet her fans at an event in Seoul. The rest...

During Japanese New Year, what did I gain by losing tradition?

Observing the Japanese New Year’s tradition of osechi ryori has been an important piece of my family’s heritage, but what happens when tradi...

Japanese Ritual Gets New Husbands Drunk to Throw Them Off a Snowy Cliff

A centuries-old tradition at a town in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture has a quirky and fun way of welcoming new husbands into married life...

A Note For People Who Don’t Celebrate the Holidays Traditionally

Dear People Who Don’t Celebrate the Holidays in a Traditional Manner, I still remember when I told my college friends that I didn’t usually ...

High School in Japan Criticized for Making Students Kneel and Bow During Assembly

A commercial Japanese high school is amidst a harsh backlash after a picture showing students kneeling and bowing to their teacher during an...

Women Enter Sumo Ring to Save Man’s Life, Get Kicked Out For Being Female

A pair of women who tried to save a man’s life inside a sumo ring were ordered to leave the platform because they were deemed ritually “uncl...

Chinese City Bans 3000-Year-Old Tradition of Burning ‘Ghost Money’ to Stop Pollution

A city in China has imposed a ban that goes against a widely-practiced Chinese tradition which can be traced back to 1000 BC. Beginning last...

Little Girl Removes Her Barbies’ Shoes Before Entering the House, Makes Asian Parents Proud

One adorable little girl named Korra Lam wanted to follow in the footsteps of Asian tradition by removing her Barbie dolls’ shoes befo...

7 Lucky Dishes Found in Every Chinese Household During Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is upon us and with it comes the anticipation of wealth, good luck, family gatherings and tables filled with good food.  ...

Why Japanese People Are Always Giving Gifts to Each Other

Many of us give gifts only on birthdays and other special occasions. Oftentimes, we also forgive those who forget them when we’re on t...