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Literature, film, design and the everyday culture of Asian cities from Seoul to Jakarta.

DreamWorks' 'Forgotten Island' Tells a Filipino Diaspora Story of Memory and Loss
Culture

DreamWorks' 'Forgotten Island' Tells a Filipino Diaspora Story of Memory and Loss

DreamWorks' 'Forgotten Island' blends fantasy with a heartfelt look at Filipino migration and separation. The film's themes of memory and lo

Nguyen Van Linh ·
Remembering 9/11 from the still-screaming streets of New York
Culture

Remembering 9/11 from the still-screaming streets of New York

Days after the 9/11 attacks, Ground Zero becomes a pilgrimage site of grief and gawking. Vendors sell trinkets, evangelists preach, and surv

Akio Tanaka ·
Why Asian American art deserves more than mockery
Culture

Why Asian American art deserves more than mockery

Critics mock Asian American art as repetitive, but the genre spans far beyond familiar tropes. From animation to literature, its scope is br

Nguyen Van Linh ·
Mahjong's global comeback: a Chinese tradition reshaped by commerce and culture
Culture

Mahjong's global comeback: a Chinese tradition reshaped by commerce and culture

Mahjong is experiencing a global revival, driven by social media, post-pandemic socializing, and pop culture. The trend raises questions abo

Akio Tanaka ·
Why the West studies China's power but not its civilization
Culture

Why the West studies China's power but not its civilization

Chinese language enrollments at US universities fell 14.3% from 2016 to 2021. Without deeper cultural literacy, diplomacy and business risk

Nguyen Van Linh ·
Kashmir's poet-saints: a shared spiritual heritage beyond the conflict
Culture

Kashmir's poet-saints: a shared spiritual heritage beyond the conflict

Kashmir's rich spiritual heritage, shaped by centuries of Hindu-Muslim exchange, is often overshadowed by geopolitical tensions. The poetry

Akio Tanaka ·
Iran's 1979 revolution reshapes five lives in Booker-shortlisted novel
Culture

Iran's 1979 revolution reshapes five lives in Booker-shortlisted novel

The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran, shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize, uses a polyphonic structure to follow five members of o

Nguyen Van Linh ·
In Tehran and Online, Iranians Turn to Art and Memes Amid Missile Strikes
Culture

In Tehran and Online, Iranians Turn to Art and Memes Amid Missile Strikes

Iranians are reclaiming agency through physical presence in public squares, cultural performances, and digital satire. Artists like Mohsen C

Akio Tanaka ·
Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical on AI and Human Dignity: A Vision for Asia's Digital Future
Culture

Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical on AI and Human Dignity: A Vision for Asia's Digital Future

Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnificent Humanity reframes human dignity for the digital age, drawing on Pico della Mirandola and the School of

Nguyen Van Linh ·
Uzbekistan's World Cup Debut Highlights Central Asia's Quiet Transformation
Culture

Uzbekistan's World Cup Debut Highlights Central Asia's Quiet Transformation

Uzbekistan has become the first Central Asian nation to qualify for the men's World Cup, debuting in the expanded 2026 tournament. The achie

Akio Tanaka ·
University Project Races to Digitally Preserve China's Dong Minority Heritage
Culture

University Project Races to Digitally Preserve China's Dong Minority Heritage

The Dong people, an indigenous group in southwestern China with an oral tradition, are the focus of a university project to digitally record

Nguyen Van Linh ·
The 'Wasian' Label: Empowerment or a New Racial Hierarchy?
Culture

The 'Wasian' Label: Empowerment or a New Racial Hierarchy?

The term 'Wasian' has gained traction among Gen Z celebrities and social media meetups, but critics argue it centers whiteness. This article

Akio Tanaka ·