Arts

Long Meng Rou, left, who sings the Chinese version of "Planet," stands with the original Japanese composer, Shinjiro Inoue. (Photo by Daisuke Harashima)
Arts

J-pop song finds new life in China, a decade on

Avex to release Chinese version of the staple wedding song

20 June 2018
"Bestiarium" -- an Indian temple lion transformed by artist Konstantin Bessmertny (Courtesy of Konstantin Bessmertny)
Arts

Russian-born painter adds bite to Macau art scene

In China's casino capital, Konstantin Bessmertny takes the biggest risks

17 June 2018
The Astor's rose-colored facade delights visitors. (Courtesy of the Astor, Kolkata)
Life

Phoenix rises at Kolkata heritage hotel

One man's mission to turn back years of neglect and restore the Astor

27 May 2018
Street Boundaries, one of Malaysia's most dedicated anti-fascist skinhead Oi! bands. The late Rozaimin Elias, a anti-fascist hero, plays guitar on the far left corner (Photo by Cole Yew)
Arts

Punk and metal bands riff on conservative Islam

In Indonesia and Malaysia, subcultures lyricize hardline religious views

25 May 2018
Hiroshi Sugimoto at the Enoura Observatory: Childhood memories of a similar view of the Pacific Ocean drew him to this spot.
Arts

Enoura museum reflects artist's 'unplanned' life

Japanese photographer pays tribute to memory and passage of time

19 May 2018
Khun Sreynich, a contemporary dance artist from Cambodia, demonstrates a traditional <i>chib</i> hand gesture with another performer. (Photo by Nathan A. Thompson)
Arts

Cambodia's first contemporary dance company pushes boundaries

Modern dancers dispel doubts as art forms diverge from country's traditions

12 May 2018
Filming in progress on "Say Nam Lai" (The River Flows), the first Lao-Japanese film, released in 2017
Arts

Laos movie industry begins to flower after decades of neglect

Local directors are creating critically acclaimed films despite limited resources

17 April 2018
“Lost in the Fumes” documents Hong Kong localist leader Edward Leung Tin-kei, best known for his pro-independence stance during the 2016 Legislative Council election. (Courtesy of Nora Lam)
Arts

Hong Kong film flirts with political controversy

Cinemas shun documentary on 'localist' figure's independence stance

14 April 2018
Ethnic Tibetans play basketball in "Ritoma," a documentary by Hong Kong's Oscar-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang. (Courtesy of Chang Ai Media Project Ltd.)
Arts

Hoop dreams on the Tibetan Plateau

Documentary explores nomads' changing lives and a favorite sport: basketball

4 April 2018
R.D. Nolane and Felix Molinari, "The Flying Tigers" (1994), left, and Will and Maurice Tillieux, "Adventure in Burma" (1976)
Arts

Graphic novels chart Myanmar's history

Exotic climate, turbulent past an inspiration to comic writers

1 April 2018
The Hong Kong Arts Sculpture Park features works from major artists such as Yayoi Kusama's 2008 installation "Pumpkin: big." (Photo provided by Harbour Arts Sculpture Park 2018)
Arts

Hong Kong embraces its role as a global art hub

Art Basel, auction houses and galleries transform city into a vibrant market

28 March 2018
Papuan youths parade on Sorong's sports field during the first Festival Noken in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. (Photo by Kit Yeng Chan)
Arts

Breathing new life into Asia-Pacific indigenous arts

Festivals and performers help Austronesian cultures win wider audience

25 March 2018
North Korea's Samjiyon Orchestra performs in Gangneung, South Korea, this February.
International relations

South Korea to stage goodwill concerts in Pyongyang

K-pop stars and popular singers head north to sustain harmony

21 March 2018
Puppets from the Ehelepola Kumaraya play, the story of a nobleman's son resisting a Sinhalese king influenced by the colonizing British (Photo by Rajpal Abeynayake)
Arts

Masks and puppets tell Sri Lanka's ancient tales

Local performers battle to keep traditional art forms relevant

18 March 2018
A woman performs a traditional tea ceremony during the 'Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony' event in 2016, organized by Arts Council Tokyo.
Arts

Tokyo lures artistic talent ahead of 2020 Olympics

Creators from 29 countries and regions have applied for grants up to $1.8m

10 March 2018
An artist's rendition shows how the Tokyo National Museum displayed a replica folding screen against a projected backdrop during a recent exhibit. VR videos and more replicas are on the way.
Arts

Virtual reality to take Japan's national treasures nationwide

Rent proceeds to be used to repair damaged items

5 February 2018
Actors Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe pose with the director and other cast members of "The Last Samurai" in Kyoto, Japan, in November 2003.
Politics

Aiming to get its name in lights, Japan pitches movie locations

The next 'Last Samurai' might actually be filmed in the country where it is set

23 January 2018
Actors dressed as storm troopers arrive for the China premiere of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' at the Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China in December 2017.
Business trends

China's box office is back thanks to piracy crackdown

Good news for Hollywood studios but 'Star Wars' flop reveals challenges ahead

21 January 2018
Artist Yohei Takahashi helped design one of the two guest rooms at Tokyo's BnA Hotel Koenji.
Arts

Hostels and inns are Japan's new art galleries

Artisans create spaces where they can embrace the casual observer

13 January 2018
Laotian filmmaker Xaisongkham Induangchanty is proclaimed the winner of the Talent Lab competition at the Luang Prabang Film Festival as his producer Abigail Lazaro takes the microphone. (Courtesy of the Luang Prabang Film Festival)
Arts

Laos film festival nurtures big screen dreams

Luang Prabang has no cinema, but annual event is attracting growing global attention

1 January 2018
American art dealer Joan Mirviss was inspired to represent ceramicists by the work of Shinobu Kawase. (Photo by Richard Goodbody)
Arts

American advocate of Japanese ceramics still unearthing talent

After 40 years, Joan Mirviss' US gallery is a game-changer for young Japanese artists

24 December 2017
Malaysia's most controversial cartoonist, Zunar, still finds humor in official censure. (Photo by Peter Guest)
Arts

Malaysia's most 'dangerous' cartoonist wields sharp humor

Despite threat of decades in jail, artist Zunar says mission is to expose wrongs

8 December 2017
The George Town Literary Festival attracted readers with an eclectic selection of books by Gerakbudaya Bookshop. (Photo by Marco Ferrarese)
Arts

Malaysian festival highlights rise of pan-Asian literature

George Town celebrates growing status of the region's writers

3 December 2017
Lacquerware maker Shitsurindo has developed a bicycle with a frame coated in green lacquer in collaboration with a Tokyo-based bike manufacturer.
Arts

Japan's 'urushi' lacquerware hits the road on two wheels

An offbeat bike is developed to promote a traditional craft

28 November 2017
Team members try to save a squirrel balloon. (Photo by Steve Gilmore)
Arts

Sparks and sponsorship light up Myanmar's Shan State

Modernity meets tradition as firework-laden hot air balloons transform hilltop capital

19 November 2017