Life & Arts

An evening view at Ryotei Hanzuiryo, a luxury inn on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu. (Courtesy of Ryotei Hanzuiryo)
Life

Three nights and three views of tourism in Japan

Kyushu trip shows how small, unexpected events can be transformational

21 October 2022
Children are seen at the Mae La refugee camp in April 2022. Three generations of Burmese children, many of whom do not speak Burmese, have grown up in the camp, the largest of nine refugee camps established in the 1980s along the Thai-Myanmar border inside Thailand. (Courtesy of Visual Rebellion Myanmar)
Arts

Bangkok photo exhibit portrays plight of Myanmar refugees

Those forced to live in Thai borderlands face an "Endless Escape"

20 October 2022
Tens of thousands attended the BTS concert in Busan, with 49 million more tuning in from around the world via livestream. (Photo courtesy of Hybe)
Media & Entertainment

BTS free concert draws worldwide 'Army' decked out in purple

Busan event marked milestone for K-pop sensation amid news of military induction

19 October 2022
The resurgence of vinyl records over the past decade has been well-documented. Now the compact cassette, for all its imperfections, has been placed in the revivalist ranks. (Getty Images)
Tea Leaves

Cassette tape revival turns old trash into new treasure

Musicians and fans like its affordability and physical qualities in a digital world

19 October 2022
A bidder among many at new auctions at Bangkok's River City mall. (Courtesy of The Art Auction Center)
Arts

Thai collectors embrace new art of auctions

Prices and demand increase for 'character-driven' figures and toys

19 October 2022
"The Power of Clothing: History of Cross-dressing in Japan" looks back several centuries, drawing a line between gender-boundary-crossing characters in some of Japan's oldest myths to the sequined stars of today's drag-entertainment scene. (Nikkei montage; Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum, top, Diamonds Are Forever, middle, and Yayoi Museum) 
Life

Japan's centuries-old game of fantasy

Tokyo exhibition shines light on the power of clothing

14 October 2022
A still from "Bali 2002," a four-part miniseries released on the Australian streaming service Stan to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombings. (Credit: Tony Mott)
Life

Australian miniseries revisits 2002 Bali bombings

Critics say production does not do full justice to tragic event

12 October 2022
People walk past a Hong Kong Jockey Club off-course branch promoting soccer betting. In 2021, 11 of the 20 soccer teams in the English Premier League had Chinese betting companies as shirt sponsors.
Tea Leaves

Growth in Asian sports corruption causes a flutter

Gambling industry remains a good bet, despite legal handicaps

12 October 2022
A reenactment of the young footballers -- whose ages ranged from 11 to 16 -- asleep while trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non Cave in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. (Courtesy of Netflix) 
Arts

Thai cave rescue drama returns to screens, again

Uniquely, the latest documentary features interviews with the trapped children

12 October 2022
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Life

Five of the best 'sento' bathhouse experiences in Tokyo

Soak up the calming, charming atmosphere at these Japanese institutions

11 October 2022
"The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida" author Shehan Karunatilaka grew up in Colombo, largely insulated from the horrors of Sri Lanka's civil war. (Courtesy of Shehan Karunatilaka)
Arts

Books: Sri Lankan wartime satire mixes fantasy and dark reality

Shehan Karunatilaka is year's only Asian Booker Prize finalist

10 October 2022
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Life

An insider's guide to Tokyo's Koreatown

Where to shop and eat in Shin-Okubo, one of the city's buzziest districts

8 October 2022
J.M. Xu, 29, of Hong Kong has built up a collection of about 2,000 bottles of rare Japanese whisky. (Courtesy of J.M. Xu)
Life

Japanese whisky reaches new heights ahead of centenary

Rare bottles fetch record prices as pandemic draws young Asian buyers

7 October 2022
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Life

Where to feast on Japan's regional flavors -- without leaving Tokyo

Let the capital take you on a culinary journey around the nation

6 October 2022
Tattoos may not have yet entered the mainstream in Japan, but the stigma surrounding them is fading. (Screenshot from Red Bunny Tattoo's Instagram page)
Tea Leaves

Japan's 'cool' tattoo culture reflects changing values

Indelible body art is no longer confined to ranks of the underworld

5 October 2022
A woman views a sculpture depicting former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, as the Philippine mythological figures Malakas and Maganda (Strong One and Beautiful One), in an exhibit curated by Pio Abad. (Courtesy of Pio Abad). 
Arts

When art becomes evidence of truth

Exhibitions of Imelda Marcos' paintings and jewelry defy historical revisionism

5 October 2022
People pitch tents to enjoy picnics in a Shanghai park on Sept. 25. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)
Travel & Leisure

China's zero-COVID policy fuels camping boom

School rules keep families from venturing out of town

5 October 2022
Antonio Inoki, seen here in 1992, became known for his trademark flying scissors and drop kicks which he executed with lightning speed.
Sports

Antonio Inoki's life spanned sports, politics and diplomacy

Influential and colorful wrestler leaves indelible mark on Japan's postwar history

4 October 2022
Frieze Seoul is the first Asian edition of the London-founded art festival. (Photo courtesy of Frieze and Let's Studio)
Arts

Seoul aims to ride Korean culture wave to art hub status

Hong Kong's strict COVID rules send dealers, gallery owners to look elsewhere

4 October 2022
Takashi Miike’s “Connect” stars Jung Hae-in as a man who has his eye removed by a criminal gang of organ hunters.  (Courtesy of Walt Disney Co.)
Arts

Foreign directors create their own Korean dramas

Films by Japan's Miike and Kore-eda to be showcased at Busan festival

3 October 2022
The tests were conducted with 21 babies and their parents in Japan, Italy and elsewhere.
Science

Japanese research finds most effective way to put baby to sleep

'Carry and walk' for 5 minutes, then hold in arms for 8 more

3 October 2022
Vehicles line up to buy petrol in Colombo on June 17. Long lines are a common sight across Sri Lanka due to a fuel shortage. 
Life

A journey into Sri Lanka's despair

Economic collapse deepens but calls for systemic change go unheard

30 September 2022
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Westminster Hall in London on Sept. 14. The pomp that accompanied the queen's funeral was steeped in the kind of elaborate symbolism and arcane rituals seen in parts of Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Tea Leaves

Why Britain's royal succession resonates in Asia

Queen Elizabeth's funeral highlights similar focus on reinforcing national identity

28 September 2022
The Shang Sisters: Winnie Ho, left, Janet Lee, center, and Mian Tan. Their eponymous second album, released in June, is a mix of originals and covers of old Malay and Mandarin language classics, interspersed with snatches of sounds and conversations from Malaysian history. (Courtesy of the Shang Sisters)
Arts

Southeast Asia leads vintage Chinese jazz revival

A century on, 'indecent' Shidaiqu music is blossoming in Malaysia and Singapore

28 September 2022
Asahi Shuzo is one of the most active exporters among Japanese sake brewers.
Food & Beverage

Asahi Shuzo to build high-quality sake breweries in Japan, U.S.

'Dassai' brand sake brewer expands to meet growing overseas demand

24 September 2022