Media & Entertainment

Top online sales host Li Jiaqi is known as China's "Lipstick King" for selling 15,000 tubes in five minutes on Alibaba's Taobao livestreaming platform.
Media & Entertainment

Disappearance of China's online sales king is blow to Alibaba

Li Jiaqi is latest superstar livestreamer to go silent amid crackdown on sector

8 June 2022
The battle for control over Okada Manila, a $2.4 billion integrated resort and casino, has heated up in recent days. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Media & Entertainment

Okada Manila's Hong Kong parent rejects tycoon's casino takeover

Fight for control over Philippine integrated resort continues with new lawsuits

6 June 2022
The Sanrio character Kuromi has shot to fame on Chinese social networking services, which "play an extremely large role in communication between young people."
Media & Entertainment

Sanrio's little fiend character Kuromi becomes sleeper hit in China

Cosplay video triggers popularity, boosting use of messaging-app stamps

5 June 2022
Unlike the U.S., which follows the doctrine of fair use, Japan requires the permission of copyright holders before anyone can share content online. 
Media & Entertainment

Japan to allow freer sharing of content with obscure copyrights

Current strict rules hamper posting of old movies and music online

3 June 2022
China’s e-book market is increasingly hazardous given Beijing’s tightening censorship and data-security controls.
Media & Entertainment

Amazon.com closes book on Kindle in China

Pioneering e-reader has lost market share to local rivals

2 June 2022
A "Naruto" exhibit forms part of the Anime Village area at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Season 2022.
Media & Entertainment

'Demon Slayer' and other anime take stage at Saudi festival

Japanese companies hope to export hits to Middle Eastern market

30 May 2022
Sony Group expects the PS5 to outstrip predecessor PS4 in sales volume for its first four years. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
Media & Entertainment

Sony eyes record PS5 production and chip output boost

Group executive reports supply chain issues are improving

28 May 2022
A Hakuhodo group company will sell in-game ads in virtual worlds on Roblox, a popular game platform. (Photo courtesy of Digital Advertising Consortium)
Technology

Japan's Hakuhodo dives into metaverse with virtual ads

With sales on Roblox platform, agency enters market projected to top $800bn

25 May 2022
China Literature's apps give readers access to a huge trove of online novels. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
China tech

Tencent spins web novels into game and drama gold

As ad revenue dives, fiction from users provides fodder for entertainment business

21 May 2022
Bungie, developer of the popular multiplayer shooter Destiny 2, figures into Sony's metaverse plans.
Technology

Sony to expand entertainment into metaverse and EVs

Japanese company touts Bungie purchase and Honda partnership as key moves

19 May 2022
Analysts had expected quarterly revenues for the social media and gaming company to grow about 4% from a year earlier. 
Media & Entertainment

Tencent revenues fail to grow for first time since 2004 IPO

President says it will take time for tech sector to benefit from Beijing's support

19 May 2022
Hybe still relies on BTS for the bulk of its revenue.
Media & Entertainment

BTS agency Hybe looks to churn out more K-pop idols

South Korean company delves into games and NFTs to diversify profit base

18 May 2022
Former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd before the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY, USA. May 7, 2022. © Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Media & Entertainment

Musk says he would reverse Trump's 'foolish' Twitter ban

Tesla CEO accuses the social media platform of having a San Francisco bias

11 May 2022
Companies such as Bandai and Tomy are promoting the recycling of their products to cut back on the use of petroleum-based plastics. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Companies

Japanese capsule toy makers go green, cutting plastic use

Bandai promotes recycling; Tomy redesigns products

7 May 2022
Alibaba founder Jack Ma has been little seen since attacking regulators in a speech in October 2020.
Politics

China's CCTV in spotlight after 'Ma' arrest report shakes market

Brief plunge in Alibaba stock erased $27bn in share value

4 May 2022
Stand News acting chief editor Patrick Lam was arrested last year on allegations of "conspiracy to publish seditious publication."
Hong Kong security law

Hong Kong tanks to 148th in press freedom as Beijing tightens grip

Sharp drop reflects shuttering of Apple Daily, Stand News and other outlets

4 May 2022
The owner of a wedding dress store puts a wedding dress on a mannequin during the coronavirus outbreak in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. 
Society

Marriage phobia: More Chinese women opt for single life

Unrelenting decline in weddings gives Xi Jinping administration headache

1 May 2022
With its acquisition of Bungie, Sony looks to get its hands on the talent behind popular titles like Destiny 2. (Image courtesy of Bungie)
Technology

Sony and Microsoft vie for game developers as metaverse grows

Capcom boosts base salaries by 30%, while Sega offers performance-linked pay

29 April 2022
Zhihu listed on the New York Stock Exchange in March 2021.
Markets

China's Zhihu tumbles 24% in Hong Kong 'homecoming'

Q&A site set for worst debut among U.S.-listed companies seeking backup position

22 April 2022
Stream article image
#techAsia

Shanghai's supply chains under strain

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

21 April 2022
Netflix said the suspension of its service in Russia and winding-down of all Russian paid memberships resulted in losing 700,000 users in Europe.
Media & Entertainment

Netflix subscribers fall for first time in more than a decade

Asia-Pacific only bright spot as U.S. streaming giant's shares plummet over 25%

20 April 2022
Stream article image
#techAsia

GoTo lists and China presses start on video games

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

14 April 2022
Taiwanese authorities have forced Beijing-backed Hong Kong broadcaster Phoenix TV to close its office on the island. (Source photos by Reuters and screenshot from Phoenix TV's website) 
Politics

Taiwan's ouster of Phoenix TV shows shift of view on Hong Kong

Authorities forced Beijing-backed broadcaster to leave island over ownership rules

13 April 2022
Prior to the freeze, China's gaming regulator signed off on 80 to 100 new titles a month. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Media & Entertainment

China approves first batch of video games in 9 months

Unofficial freeze ends, but no new titles licensed for NetEase and Tencent

12 April 2022
Fortnite is a popular title from Epic Games. (Image courtesy of Epic Games)
Media & Entertainment

Sony to pump $1bn more into Fortnite developer Epic Games

Japanese conglomerate looks to expand metaverse footprint

12 April 2022