Seiichi Suzuki, chief representative of the India liaison office at Dai Nippon Printing, had a great-uncle who fought in northeastern India during World War II. (Photo by Satoshi Iwaki)
Life

India unveils monument to dead from brutal World War II battle

Survivors recall Imperial Japanese Army's failed push toward Delhi

11 May 2024
Takashi Morita of Morita Tatami Mat Shop sees growing export potential for his traditional Japanese floor covering product. (Photo by Takumi Kobayashi)
Business trends

Japan's tatami makers lay foundation for overseas sales

Traditional aesthetics attract customers from U.S. and Europe

11 May 2024
Located in a converted former residence in the Jakarta neighborhood of Menteng, Common Grounds is a quiet, homey oasis for coffee lovers. (Courtesy of Common Grounds) 
Life

Coffee's 'third wave' gathers pace in Jakarta

Shifting tastes among young Indonesians help brew specialty cafe culture

11 May 2024
The Melbourne Writers Festival draws more than 50,000 attendees annually and authors from around the world. (All photos courtesy of the Melbourne Writers Festival)
Life

Melbourne Writers Festival returns to full glory

First event since COVID-19 lockdown will host more than 100 authors

7 May 2024
Indonesia's men's national team coach Shin Tae-yong has brought joy to the country's long-suffering soccer fans.
Sports

South Korean soccer coaches make mark in Southeast Asia

Shin Tae-yong's success with Indonesia's national side is latest example

6 May 2024
The Saga Indonesia Dreams, led by team captain Rizki Ramadhan, second from the right, line up before their pro baseball league debut on April 13 at a ballpark in Saga prefecture, in southwest Japan. (Photo by Koga Hashizume)
Sports

Southeast Asian pro baseball club finds field of dreams -- in Japan

Indonesians, Filipinos, Sri Lankans compete in Kyushu independent league

5 May 2024
Satoru Araki prepares sushi at his restaurant, Sushi Satoru, which has attracted attention from foreign visitors thanks to a mention in the latest Michelin Guide for Tokyo. (Photo by Phoebe Amoroso)
Life

Gastronomy becomes key draw for high-end travelers to Japan

International interest in fine dining is soaring, but capacity is limited

28 April 2024
"Japandi" design is characterized by simplicity and an emphasis on the natural. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Life

Australians cozy up to Japan-influenced 'Japandi' design

Japanese-Scandinavian interior style catches on with remote work

22 April 2024
A Laytu Chin woman in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state: German photographer Jens Uwe Parkitny has been documenting the facial tattoos of ethnic Chin women since 2001. (Photo by Jens Uwe Parkitny)
Life

Photographer documents disappearing face tattoos of Myanmar's Chin women

Traditional practice is often misunderstood by Western observers who regard them as ugly

20 April 2024
Stream article image
Life

A voyage across culinary India - in Tokyo

Discover the subcontinent's cuisine in all its glorious variety in Japan's capital

19 April 2024
Hokkaido's Lake Kussharo is given a dreamlike quality by long-exposure photography and Michael Kenna's insistence on using black-and-white film. (Photo by Michael Kenna)
Arts

Michael Kenna's 'Japan/A Love Story' opens in Tokyo

Photographer has made capturing Japan's aesthetics and spirituality his life's work

17 April 2024
Thein Soe, 56, is pictured with his new 3D-printed prosthetic arm at his house in Mae Sot, Thailand, on Jan. 25. (All photos by Valeria Mongelli)
Life

Innovative prostheses offer hope on Thai-Myanmar border

3D-printed replacement arms change lives amid raging conflict

14 April 2024
Ocean Women participant Aminath Shifza teaches two girls to swim in the waters off Rasdhoo Island as part of her instructor training. Despite being surrounded by water, many Maldivian girls face barriers to learning how to swim. (Photo by Anne Pinto-Rodrigues)
Life

Program seeks to get Maldivian women into the swim of things

Lack of female instructors, busy parents, gender stereotypes keep girls out of the water

12 April 2024
Many people in Chinese sightseeing spots like to take photos of themselves in "han fu" clothing. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)
Business trends

China's new fashion trend incorporates traditional elements

Patriotism and self-confidence in young citizens drive change

7 April 2024
Japanese food and culture has contributed 23 new words to the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. (Screenshot from Oxford English Dictionary website)
Food & Beverage

Japanese food grabs more entries in Oxford English Dictionary

Increasingly popular cuisine helps English speakers expand their vocabulary

6 April 2024
Chuwit Kamolvisit, whose colorful career has ranged from massage parlor tycoon to parliamentarian, poses for a photo in his Bangkok office in August 2023. (All photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Life

The fast life and slow exit of Thai showman Chuwit

Flamboyant public figure leaves sex, scandals and politics behind. Or does he?

6 April 2024
Located in Yamaguchi prefecture, Junya Ishigami's House & Restaurant combines the family home and workplace for a chef within a single concrete structure embedded in the earth. (© junya.ishigami+associates)
Books

Books: Documenting the genius of Japanese houses

An intimate look at the most important homes designed by architects since World War II

31 March 2024
A noodle and dumpling stall attracts a crowd at Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's oldest markets. (Photo by Matthew Ng)
Life

International appetite drives evolution of South Korean street food

Favorite dishes are being transformed by foreign ingredients

30 March 2024
An old-style movie signboard graces the platform of Ome Station. Such playful nods to the Showa era (1926-89) can be seen throughout this town just inside the fringes of western Tokyo. (All photos by Stephen Mansfield)
Life

Three Tokyo destinations where the past is delightfully present

Yanaka, Sugamo and Ome districts may not be hip but brim with nostalgia-laden charm

24 March 2024
A beach on the Philippine island of Palawan: For one recent group of Indian holidaymakers, Palawan offered the natural beauty of such popular tourist destinations as Mauritius or the Maldives but without the crowds and higher prices. 
Life

'Dupe destination' boom hits social media

Travel trend gathers momentum as vacationers seek copycat locations

23 March 2024
Taylor Swift's show in Tokyo in February made headlines, but her songs have not ranked high in sales in Japan.
Life

In Japan, even Taylor Swift can't make it to the top of the music charts

Western songs out, U.S.-influenced K-pop in as listeners come to ignore nationality

22 March 2024
The Mekong and other rivers are the lifeblood of Laos. (All photos by Zinara Rathnayake)
Life

Remote boat: Traveling the rivers of northern Laos

Life in landlocked country is inextricably linked to its waterways

10 March 2024
Akira Toriyama in 1982 and Son Goku, a hero from the "Dragon Ball" series. Originally published as a comic, "Dragon Ball" became a hit animation globally. (Source photos by Jiji and Bird Studio/Shueisha/Kyodo)
Obituaries

Akira Toriyama, creator of 'Dragon Ball,' dies at 68

Renowned Japanese comic artist died of acute subdural hematoma

8 March 2024
A Tokyo bookstore employee holds translated South Korean novels, which are drawing more readers in Japan. (Photo by Kana Watanabe)
Arts

South Korean tales of inequality strike chord with Japan readers

Boom started with 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,' about a woman facing sexism

8 March 2024
Leather watch straps by Delugs come in a rainbow of colors. (Photo by Mayuko Tani)
Consumer

Singapore watch strap brand aims for global reach

Delugs' handcrafted leather bands cater to any style

3 March 2024