Life

A still from the hit film "Detention," which explores the "White Terror," a 38-year period of martial law in Taiwan during which vigilance against communist infiltration dominated daily life. (Courtesy of 1 Production)
Life

Ignored by China, Taiwan cinema walks its own road

Taipei film awards honor homegrown hit 'Detention'

1 December 2019
Tourists can ride a tram in the historic Ashio Copper Mine in Nikko, north of Tokyo.
Travel & Leisure

Japan underground: Explore a vast 'temple,' lake or gold mine

The country's subterranean world is rich in history and mystery

1 December 2019
Rose Kingdom, former winner of the prestigious Japan Cup, is now a resident of Versailles Resort Farm in Hokkaido.
Business trends

Hokkaido farm bets on crowdfunding to care for retired racehorses

Facility provides 'safe space' for former stars of the Japan Racing Association

30 November 2019
Girl group Blackpink performs on stage on January 23: K-pop bears the inflated dreams and desires of a country in crisis.
Opinion

K-pop deaths highlight South Korea's desperation for soft power

In unpromising economy, music groups are rare financial and cultural success

30 November 2019
South Korean demonstrators show support for Hong Kong protesters at a recent rally in Seoul. (Photo by Raphael Rashid)
Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong demonstrators look to Korea for inspiration

Success of democratization movement seen as hopeful model

29 November 2019
Emoji were ubiquitous in Japan by the early 2000s, but it was not until Apple added an emoji keyboard to its worldwide iPhone operating system in 2011 that they emigrated to global stardom. (Nikkei montage)
Business trends

How emoji became a multimillion-dollar business

From emoticons to Line Friends, they offer a creative and emotional vocabulary

27 November 2019
Former Korean Air Lines Vice President Cho Hyun-ah, the central figure in the infamous "nut rage" incident, is transferred to a detention house, in Seoul in December 2014.
Tea Leaves

In Asia, 'sorry' can be lost in translation

Knowing when and how to apologize is tricky, especially for foreigners

27 November 2019
Casks of sake donated to a shrine in Kyoto. Two Japanese universities have recently introduced a new discipline called sakeology (the study of sake) to deepen students' understanding of local industries and products.
Education

Sake, ninja and Kyoto hot topics at Japanese colleges

Courses designed to pique interest in local industries and revive communities

24 November 2019
Apple CEO Tim Cook chats with Masako Wakamiya about her iPhone app in San Jose, California, in June 2017.
Technology

Meet the 84-year-old Japanese app developer who inspired Tim Cook

Masako Wakamiya says it's never too late to learn about IT and finance

23 November 2019
An Australia-inspired offering at Bali's Sea Circus.
Life

Modern Australian cuisine makes waves in Bali

Expatriate chefs rule culinary roost on Indonesian resort island

22 November 2019
Tokyo workers are leaving their offices earlier than they used to in 2017, mobile tracking data show.
Society

When the clock strikes 5, Japan's workforce goes back to work

Reforms to improve work-life balance have left some hustling for extra cash

22 November 2019
American-born historian Thant Myint-U had front-row seats to Myanmar's opening up and uncertain transition toward democracy.  
Life

Historian gives inside view of Myanmar's bumpy journey

New book by former adviser Thant Myint-U brings difficult transition to life

20 November 2019
Both Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, pictured, and leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim have said that Malaysia cannot accept LGBT rights. 
Politics

Malaysia's LGBT community under siege as government ignores abuse

Jail terms stoke fears of rollback on human rights promises

20 November 2019
A firefighter works to contain a bush fire in the Australian town of Old Bar, in New South Wales, on Nov. 9.
Tea Leaves

Australians confront 'trial by fire'

Unprecedented bush blazes disrupt politics and social norms Down Under

20 November 2019
Pope Francis has put emphasis on creating a society which does not exclude anyone.
Opinion

Pope Francis brings message of respect for life in visit to Japan

Archbishop of Tokyo calls for greater compassion for refugees and disabled

19 November 2019
The opening ceremony of the 2018 George Town Literary Festival. The main theme of this year's event is "forewords/afterwords." (Courtesy of George Town Literary Festival)
Life

Bookworms and big ideas collide at George Town Literary Festival

Award-winning Malaysian event gets a revamp under new leadership

15 November 2019
As disposable income increases in China, more families are splurging on big-ticket items like pianos, which are becoming status symbols while also contributing to a child's education.  (Photo courtesy of Yamaha)
Companies

China's piano market hits the right note for Yamaha

Japanese company sees sales surge as parents push for music education

14 November 2019
Sadako Ogata talks to a young refugee family from Myanmar at their camp in Thailand in October 2000: she represented Japan's boots-on-the-ground with a heart. 
Opinion

Sadako Ogata's legacy should restrain Shinzo Abe's military enthusiasm

Changing Japan's constitution betrays humanitarian example

14 November 2019
Dry Clean Only founder Patipat "Best" Chaipukdee looks over some of his latest retro-collage creations. (Photo by John Krich)
Life

Boundary-busting Thai fashion upstarts enjoy breakout moment

Bangkok's emerging young designers seek to rival Paris and Tokyo

13 November 2019
People at a Beijing railway station use their smartphones to watch President Xi Jinping deliver a speech at a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Tea Leaves

Why moral outrage is scarce in China

Many citizens know what is happening in their country, but choose not to care

13 November 2019
Sorn is one of two Thai restaurants to receive two stars in the 2020 Michelin Guide. (Photo courtesy of Sorn)
Food & Beverage

Two Thai restaurants receive two Michelin stars for first time

Tourism chief hopes for first triple-star rating in the country

12 November 2019
Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako wave to the crowd during his enthronement parade from the Imperial Palace to the Akasaka Imperial Residence in Tokyo on Nov. 10. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Japan's Reiwa era

Japan's Imperial couple draws thousands for enthronement parade

Motorcade procession marks last event in Naruhito's ascent to the throne

10 November 2019
Tsumago is the first post town to be designated a historical preservation district for its architecture. (Photo by Hideyuki Miura)
Life

The 10 best places to experience Japan's Edo period

Walk ancient samurai roads and travel back in time

9 November 2019
Automobiles, not gleaming high-speed trains, are the preferred mode of transport among locals in the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang. (Photo by Ankur Shah and Vivek Pisharody)
Life

Exploring the remote realities of China's Belt and Road

Little enthusiasm for high-profile projects along the border with Russia

8 November 2019
Shuri Castle, pictured in October 2012: Chinese influences are intuitively clear.
Opinion

Shuri Castle fire highlights unique Okinawan history and identity

Uniting Japanese, Chinese and Ryukyuan elements, heritage site should rise again

7 November 2019