Life

KADR owner and designer Enkhbaatar Bat-Ulzii said that many Asian traditional outfits bear some semblance to the Mongolian deel due to the influence of the Mongol empire. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Life

Mongolian 'deel' wins over dedicated followers of fashion

Young people see unique identity in modernized traditional garb

9 April 2019
Foreign tourists check out bottles of Japanese sake at a department store in Ginza, Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Life

Japanese sake goes global, intoxicating many

From sommeliers to master brewers, the drink is winning devotees abroad

7 April 2019
The Japanese government says approximately 613,000 people aged 40 to 64 are believed to live as shut-ins.
Economy

Japan's middle-aged recluses reveal lasting damage of hiring 'ice age'

Startling survey finds 613,000 people aged 40-64 live in isolation

6 April 2019
Crane games like this one in Taipei offer players a quick dose of fun and investors a 40% profit margin on sales.
Business trends

Crane games pick up Taiwanese spirits in tough times

Arcade standbys give consumers cheap thrills and investors quick returns

6 April 2019
Ichiro Suzuki: One of the greatest baseball players the world has ever seen.
Life

How star baseballer's US success changed postwar Japan

Ichiro Suzuki's career helped overcome 'national inferiority complex'

5 April 2019
Akaza ebi, a menu highlight at Odette, named No. 1 at the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards. (Courtesy of Asia's 50 best Restaurants)
Life

Asia's top chefs go green

Singapore's Royer tops 50 Best Restaurants awards beating Bangkok's Gaggan in glittering Macao ceremony

3 April 2019
The train at Taunggyi, waiting to depart for Saikkhaung  (Photo by Lindsay Stubbs)
Tea Leaves

In rural Myanmar, rail lines founder while military spends

Aging Shan State trains are local lifelines but starved of public funds

3 April 2019
Fairycake Fair, a bakery in Tokyo Station, helps Japan usher in the coming Imperial era with a bit of celebratory icing on the cake.
Japan's Reiwa era

Japan’s Reiwa frenzy picks up as businesses get ready for new era

Retailers are starting Reiwa-themed campaigns and introducing new projects

2 April 2019
The gengo system provides a different concept of time. (Photo by Koji Uema) 
Opinion

Reiwa -- coming age of harmony and orderly plum blossom viewing

Japan may profit from globalization but sticks resolutely to its own time warp

1 April 2019
Crown Prince Naruhito, left, will ascend the throne in about a month, marking the beginning of a new imperial era. 
Japan's Reiwa era

Ancient tradition carries forward with Japan's new era

System of naming periods has deep cultural roots dating back over 1,000 years

31 March 2019
The Ganga Aarti is one of Varanasi's main touristic draws. (Photo by Kit Yeng Chan)
Life

Varanasi cleans up despite Ganges pollution failure

India's holiest ancient city is modernizing, with help from volunteers

30 March 2019
103 - Bed and Brews is located on trendy Soi Nana in Chinatown. (Courtesy of 103 - Bed and Brews)
Life

Boutique hotels gain new ground in Bangkok

After lagging regional competitors, Thai capital invests in heritage accommodations

27 March 2019
The No. 100 bus may only travel from East London to the City, but it carries the world inside. (Photo by Simon Landy)
Tea Leaves

All aboard London bus to China's future

At western reaches of the Belt & Road, symbolism abounds

27 March 2019
Students at a Japanese elementary school program a spherical robot's movements. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Economy

Coding will be mandatory in Japan's primary schools from 2020

Tokyo aims to plug IT worker shortage and catch up to other countries

27 March 2019
The Koryogwan Wing Cafe in Dandong, China, serves both North Korean and American cuisine. (Photo by Daisuke Harashima)
N Korea at crossroads

Mystery North Korean border cafe serves American fare

Eatery reflects Pyongyang's conciliatory stance toward Washington

25 March 2019
A popular destination among anime fans is Ibaraki Prefecture's Oarai, the setting for the "Girls und Panzer" series featuring tank battles among schoolgirls. A local train carries the images of the main characters. (Photo by Takuya Fujisawa) 
Business trends

Rural Japan counts on anime 'holy sites' to lure foreign tourists

Publishing house Kadokawa partners with Japan Airlines to turn fans into pilgrims

25 March 2019
Eisai is one of many drugmakers worldwide hoping to develop Alzheimer's treatments. (Photo by Masayasu Ito)
Companies

Eisai abandons Alzheimer's drug in late-stage testing

Japanese company was advised treatment would miss goals

22 March 2019
Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki returns to the field for waiting fans after the second game of the MLB opening series against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on Thursday.
Life

Ichiro says goodbye to baseball after 28 seasons

'Magician with the bat' amassed 4,367 hits in Japan and US

22 March 2019
Shouya Grigg, the British creator of the Somoza art-commercial complex (Photo by Akiyoshi Inoue)
Life

Niseko and the art of change

Local and foreign creatives make their mark on Hokkaido's famous ski resort

20 March 2019
Mio, a bottled sparkling sake, has helped Takara Shuzo become Japan's largest sake brewer in terms of shipments.
Companies

Bubbly beverage shoots Takara to top spot in Japan's sake market

Creating the right fizz and buzz key to success of brewer's 'Mio' sparkling sake

20 March 2019
A barista prepares an ancient elixir in a Jakarta cafe that is winning over some of the capital's health-conscious corporate warriors.
Life

Traditional Indonesian herbal tonic meets modern-day barista

A drink made with turmeric, ginger and island spices catches on in Jakarta

20 March 2019
The gardens of Sunder Nursery in New Delhi (Photo by Pallavi Aiyar)
Tea Leaves

Time to change course on New Delhi's crumbling heritage

Unguarded monuments are often razed or torn down for building material

20 March 2019
Japanese weddings are growing more popular in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Business trends

Asia's sweethearts flock to Japan for destination weddings

Demand from inbound travelers is a boon for industry facing a shrinking market

19 March 2019
The Brooklyn Nets play the LA Clippers on March 17 in Los Angeles. Alibaba will stream video clips of NBA games in China for free.
Companies

Alibaba launches free streaming of US basketball games

Chinese e-commerce giant hopes to spur sales of related paraphernalia

19 March 2019
A model shows off a Roger David shirt and jacket during the 2016 Melbourne Fashion Festival. The iconic Australian company closed the last of its stores in December 2018.
Business trends

Australia's fashion industry shrinks as global brands move in

Domestic clothing makers squeezed as e-commerce and a slow economy reshape market

17 March 2019