Peter Hessler intended to tell a different story when he set out to write his engaging memoir, but his carefully laid plans were hijacked by an unexpected series of events. (Source photos Penguin Press, Peter Hessler) 
Books

Author Hessler charts extraordinary scenes in China's COVID-19 debacle

Virus forces pivot in five-year plan to focus on generational change

14 September 2024
Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru who was later jailed for human rights violations, is seen at Government Palace in Lima, in July 1997. 
Obituaries

Peru ex-President Fujimori dies at 86

Son of Japanese immigrants won praise on economy, criticism on human rights

12 September 2024
A meaty stir-fry and egg roll -- both made of tofu -- at Jujube Tree, also known as Vegetarian Lifestyle. (All photos by Jake Galen)
Life

Meatless feasts in Shanghai: 5 delicious destinations

Interest in vegetarian and vegan food is rising in China's trendsetter city

12 September 2024
A man prepares a drink at a tea kadai. Found across India, these stalls attract people not just for their tea and snacks, but also for their role as informal community hubs. (All photos by Meenakshi J)   
Tea Leaves

How life and politics converge in India's tea shops

As gathering places, traditional 'kadai' are focal points for information, gossip and butter cookies

11 September 2024
James Earl Jones is pictured with the Darth Vader Costume from the Star Wars movies, which was presented to Planet Hollywood Chicago in October 1993.
Obituaries

James Earl Jones, actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93

Renowned Shakespearean performer loved role in 'Star Wars' 'myth'

10 September 2024
A woman works in her paddy field in Munger, India. "Women Farmers: Unheard Being Heard" highlights the roadblocks faced by women in agriculture and offers solutions to the challenges. (All photos by Sugandha Munshi except where indicated)
Life

Books: Female farmers in South Asia plow hard fields

Women are widespread in agriculture but struggle to compete, study says

8 September 2024
Chowking's halo-halo includes familiar ingredients for Filipinos such as flan, tapioca pearls and ice cream made from ube purple yam. (Photo by Yuki Fujita)
Food & Beverage

Icy Philippine dessert halo-halo gets fancier to woo fans

From fruits to edible gold, myriad mix-ins make a treat for eyes and taste buds

7 September 2024
American author Robert Whiting's latest book performs a valuable service by giving exuberant life to a neglected, underreported era in postwar Japan history. (Source photos Tuttle Publishing, Robert Whiting)
Books

Author unveils treasure trove of hidden stories about postwar Japan

Robert Whiting captures underworld figures, other colorful 'outsiders' of era

7 September 2024
Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara's "Puff Marshie (Hirosaki Version, Shanghai Version)" is displayed at the Tokyo Gendai international art fair in July. Strong demand among Japanese collectors at this year's event bodes well for the city's future as a global art hub. (Courtesy of Tokyo Gendai 2024)
Arts

New York gallery sets pace in Japan's nascent art market

Recent sales of contemporary works highlight shift in collectors' attitudes

6 September 2024
Former child star Ke Huy Quan quit acting for 20 years after struggling to find work in Hollywood. He returned with a bang in 2022, becoming the first Vietnamese refugee to win a best actor Oscar for "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
Tea Leaves

Golden age for Hollywood's Asian leading men

New generation of cinema stars upturns traditional notions of macho male leads

4 September 2024
Works are displayed at Frieze Seoul 2023: More than 70,000 visitors are expected at this year's edition, which will feature 110 galleries spanning 32 countries. (Courtesy of Frieze Seoul)
Arts

Frieze Seoul returns as South Korea deepens its art hub drive

Latest in a series of international art fairs showcases local and global artists

3 September 2024
Walt Disney executive Carol Choi, who oversees original content production for the Asia-Pacific region, said that the Japanese movie market has "recovered very well" from the COVID-19 slump. (Walt Disney)
3 September 2024
Ratan Tata speaks during an interview with Nikkei in Tokyo in 2017. (Photo by Keiichiro Sato)
Life

For India's Tata Group, the philosophy behind 'sky burial' lights the way

Zoroastrian family's business empire stands out for its philanthropic practices

1 September 2024
Australian furniture designers are winning international acclaim for creating pieces that focus on sustainable, organic materials and reflect the country's diverse landscape and broad mix of cultures. (Source photos by Duncan Meerding, Manapan Furniture, Pier Carthew)
Arts

Australian furniture designers carve out sustainable future

Homegrown industry reflects landscape and cultural diversity

1 September 2024
A barista prepares a drink at Tim Hortons' new cafe at Sunway Velocity Mall in Kuala Lumpur. The Canadian coffee chain opened its first two outlets in Malaysia this month, tapping into strong local demand. (Photo by Hakimie Amrie)
Food & Beverage

Tim Hortons' arrival highlights Malaysia's coffee boom

Consumption and number of outlets has surged in recent years

31 August 2024
Hayao Miyazaki's works include the Oscar-winning films "The Boy and the Heron" and "Spirited Away."
Arts

Hayao Miyazaki among five Magsaysay awardees for 2024

Foundation praises animator's gift for making complex issues relatable to kids

31 August 2024
Art and food are key pillars of Thailand's soft-power push backed by new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, pictured here at a Bangkok forum in June that showcased the government's vision. (Source photos Thai Ministry of Commerce, Getty Images)
Arts

New Thai PM spearheads economy-orientated 'soft power' drive

Paetongtarn Shinawatra has promised a creative boom, but critics point to daunting bureaucracy and confusing vision

31 August 2024
A mainstream supermarket in Sri Lanka: A recent shopping trip by the author drove home the extent to which local agriculture has declined. (Photo by Zinara Rathnayake)
Tea Leaves

You can learn a lot from a country's supermarkets

Sri Lanka's economic crises and farming decline have driven up prices, led to shortages

28 August 2024
The Hara Cafe is located in Hong Kong's bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Life

All aboard: Life-size Japanese model trains debut at Hong Kong cafe

Retro railcars by world-renowned modeler Hara transport guests to 1920s Japan

25 August 2024
The author on his latest adventure, a 3,000-kilometer ride through Sumatra, the largest island fully inside Indonesian territory. This photo was taken at sunset at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra province. (All photos courtesy of Ian Lloyd Neubauer)
Life

From Tibet to PNG, touring Asia-Pacific on two wheels

Adventure biking yields a unique view of a diverse region

25 August 2024
Former baseball player Shogo Shibata, third from right, hopes to increase fans of the sport in Southeast Asia through the Asia Koshien 2024 baseball tournament. (Photo by Junichiro Sato)
Sports

Indonesia's 'field of dreams': Youth tournament to pitch baseball to nation

Former Japan pro player spearheads project to spread sport in Southeast Asia

24 August 2024
With his book, historian Frederik Cryns wanted to write an accurate, faithful biography of William Adams, the English sailor who inspired the "Shogun" story. (Source photos Reaktion Books, Getty Images)
Books

Books: William Adams, 'blue-eyed samurai' who never was

Japan-based historian and author pieces together puzzle of the would-be English shogun

24 August 2024
Pakistani Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem throws the javelin at the Stade de France on Aug. 8.
Sports

Pakistan Olympic winner trades homemade javelins for superstardom

First gold medallist in decades turns cricket-mad nation on its head

21 August 2024
The friendship bridge spanning the Tiau River serves as an important commercial lifeline between the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram and western Myanmar's Chin state. 
Tea Leaves

Thai border town offers geopolitical lesson for India

Bangkok's discreet yet pragmatic stance on Myanmar refugees works better than India's hostility

21 August 2024