Tea Leaves
Foreign-born candidate shows Tokyo, all politics are local
Mumbai native's integration agenda draws support in Tokyo local election
Opinion
Taiwan's same-sex marriage law should encourage rights reform across Asia
Welcome progress in states defending sexual minorities even when public opinion is hostile
Life
Singapore shakes and stirs Asia's cocktail craze
Island city tops 'Best 50 Bars' list, along with Hong Kong, Bangkok
Life
Tokyo food trucks get in gear
Once viewed with disdain in Tokyo, food trucks are now transforming disused parts of the city thanks to a canny new company.
Life
Bangkok design duo turns trendy into timeless
As hotels adapt to changing tastes, their interior designers are innovating. Bangkok's Studio Freehand is equal to the task.
Politics
Japan wants foreign media to put last names first
Olympics seen as chance to shake off Western-style writing convention
Life
Lost in translation: Signs puzzle overseas tourists in Japan
Language miscues provoke amusement, confusion -- and sometimes outrage
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Life
Ready or not, here comes contemporary Chinese cuisine
Innovative twists on tradition take center stage in Hong Kong and Macau
Business trends
Japan space agency stirs up public support with heavenly meals
JAXA and Rakuten partner to create recipes using Japanese astronaut food
Tea Leaves
Life imitates Lego in Asia's urban innovation
Stacked and printed dwellings change face and pace of old-fashioned building
Arts
Japanese gardens to rival Kyoto's
Far from the tourist trail, Shimane prefecture fosters unique landscaping traditions
Tea Leaves
As world's leading metropolis, Tokyo goes for gold
But will Olympics spoil its pristine image?
Startups
Coffee entrepreneurs seek success in Myanmar's poorest state
Partners pin hope on wine and cosmetics as tickets out of poverty
Life
Empty golf links highlight charm and despair of remote rural Japan
Missing putts, missing people and splendid scenery are par for the course
Business trends
Decaf poised to perk up Japan's coffee market
Imports of decaffeinated beans double in 5 years
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Life
Thai women go back to the kitchen -- to take charge
A new generation of top female chefs emerges in Bangkok's gourmet restaurants
Business trends
India's hungry delivery man triggers online uproar, then a shrug
The haves order meals via smartphone apps; the have-nots deliver the food
Tea Leaves
Inconvenient truths of Japan's 'combini' culture
From auto-flushing toilets to 24/7 stores, Japan's convenience mentality has downsides
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Life
Kaiseki on wheels
For the fortunate few, luxury train offers glimpses of rural Japan in ultimate comfort
Business trends
Asians dip into Japanese-style hot spring baths
Bathing facilities are popping up in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia
Arts
Making Cantonese Opera Great Again
Hong Kong composer Edward Li bids to revive a moribund art with a little help from The Donald
Tea Leaves
Tailor-made uniformity threatens Thai creativity
Strict social hierarchy leaves growth prospects hanging by a thread
Life
Breathing new life into Asia's colonial buildings
Innovative conservation projects mix cultural spaces and commercial developments
Tea Leaves
Malaysia highlights disconnect in approach to popular culture
Cinema release for 'Banglasia 2.0' challenges Southeast Asian cultural conservatism