This Week in Asia /

Lifestyle & Culture

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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
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The yellow alley is about 10 minutes from a metro station. Photo: X/@rojiura_sanpo
Japan

Red light to yellow alley? Street colour change in Japan reduces prostitution

Police believe the striking colour makes the streetwalkers and their potential clients feel uncomfortably conspicuous.

South Korea

Dolls’ ‘over-sexualised’ image sparks complaints in South Korean city

Japan

Survey finds 45% of Japan’s workers are ‘quiet quitting’, defying grind culture

Japan

Japan’s low press freedom ranking signals self-censorship remains rife: analysts

Political pressure affects media coverage in Japan as journalists fear angering the government over their reporting, analysts say.

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Japan ranked 66th out of 180 countries and regions for press freedom in the annual Reporters Without Borders survey. Photo: AFP
Japan ranked 66th out of 180 countries and regions for press freedom in the annual Reporters Without Borders survey. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Kidnap of Malaysian witness by ‘police officers’ sparks public safety fears

Pamela Ling’s abduction while on her way to testify is the latest in a series of vanishings involving businesspeople and activists.

South Korea

‘Detrimental to K-pop’? How NewJeans saga upends South Korea’s music industry

Amid industry concern about similar moves by other artists, the group’s dispute may also prompt a review of the K-pop system, analysts say.

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Japan

Baker tops list of dream jobs for Japanese 6-year-olds but YouTuber rising fast

Survey shows girls still drawn to sweets and stardom, while boys look to badges, baseball and, increasingly, content creation.

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First-grade students and their teacher Teruko Takakusaki pose for a photo during lunch at Takinogawa Elementary School in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Reuters
First-grade students and their teacher Teruko Takakusaki pose for a photo during lunch at Takinogawa Elementary School in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

Beauty and beast: is Malaysia’s booming beauty industry a front for drug gangs?

A beauty influencer has been arrested in Malaysia after police uncovered a kilo of methamphetamine and links to a major drug syndicate.

Indonesia

Indonesians criticise public transport mandate for Jakarta’s civil servants

The civil servants have to take public transport every Wednesday in the capital, which is ranked the world’s seventh most congested city.

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South Korea

‘Not an easy path’: K-pop’s Bain breaks taboos as ‘first’ openly gay idol

South Korea remains deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance, with 50 per cent opposing same-sex marriage, according to a survey last year.

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Bain at the concert in Los Angeles where he came out as gay. Photo: Bluedot Entertainment
Malaysia

Mistrust of Malaysian healthcare by Orang Asli minority grows after leprosy death

The Orang Asli community is seeking answers after a teenager’s preventable leprosy-related death.

Close up of a person suffering from leprosy. Photo: Shutterstock
Close up of a person suffering from leprosy. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Fake Japanese police uniform, reportedly from China, sparks real-life concerns

Concerns have arisen over images of a man wearing a realistic Japanese police uniform, suggesting a risk of impersonating an officer, which is illegal in Japan.

Thailand

‘Life worth living’: an Irish man’s mission to save Thailand’s stray dogs

Niall Harbison aims to reduce Thailand’s street dog population through sterilisation and care, gaining global attention and celebrity support.

Japan

Naked man’s deadly rampage in Japan leaves public demanding answers from police

“I shouldn’t talk about it,” he said when arrested, leading people to speculate on the motive behind his bizarre behaviour.

A naked man went on a rampage stealing and crashing cars, and assaulting people in Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippines’ new digital nomad visa: a boost for tourism or Pogo loophole?

Strict laws should be put in place to prevent these visas from being exploited by banned offshore gaming operators, critics warn.

Philippines is looking to attract digital nomads with its new visa. Photo: Shutterstock
Philippines is looking to attract digital nomads with its new visa. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

Quick-thinking South Korean police rescue woman after silent 112 call for help

The wordless phone call received a rapid police response thanks to Senior Patrol Officer Kim Hye-jin’s instincts and training.

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Japan

‘Panda politics’: sorrow and suspicion in Japan as China recalls 4 pandas

With the animals’ return in June before the expiry of a loan agreement, Japan will be left with just two pandas at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.

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Japan

As tourist bookings plunge over earthquake prophecies, Japan shuts down rumours

The Chinese embassy in Tokyo inadvertently added to the fears by warning citizens to take precautions against natural disasters.

Foreign tourists gather on a platform at Kyoto station on April 16. Photo: AFP
Foreign tourists gather on a platform at Kyoto station on April 16. Photo: AFP
South Korea

Air Busan passenger detained by Chinese police after latest emergency door scare

South Korean airlines have been urged to enhance their security measures following a spate of mid-flight incidents.

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Japan

Biting, kicking, sex harassment: inside the abusive world of Japanese nursing

Japan’s nurses hope a high-profile case will finally force change in their abusive workplaces.

The Philippines

Remembering Nora Aunor: actress, ‘rebel’ and the Philippines’ ‘Superstar’

Filipino screenwriter Ricardo Lee pays tribute to Aunor, who spent her career fighting stereotypes and giving voice to the marginalised.

Filipino actress Nora Aunor at a photocall for “Sinapupunan (Thy womb)“ during the 69th Venice Film Festival in September 2012. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysians poor? ‘We have free healthcare, grandpa,’ they tell Bill O’Reilly

The US political commentator drew the ire of Malaysians by suggesting they were too poor to buy a hat or afford a proper meal.

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Bill O’Reilly hosts the No Spin News channel on YouTube. Photo: Instagram/Bill O’Reilly
Bill O’Reilly hosts the No Spin News channel on YouTube. Photo: Instagram/Bill O’Reilly
Japan

Japan’s World Expo struggles with low visitor figures amid a litany of woes

Despite hitting 1 million visitors, Osaka Expo 2025 has been plagued by a bomb scare, methane explosion and long queues.

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South Korea

Police suspect noise dispute behind deadly South Korea flat fire

The 61-year-old is suspected of having set fire to his former neighbours’ flats after nearly two years of conflicts over noise issues.

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Malaysia

Malaysian journalist in bribe scandal returns, vows to report ‘without fear’

B. Nantha Kumar has been allowed back to Malaysiakini after an internal inquiry cleared him, although he still faces a criminal trial.

Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar has returned to work. Photo: Facebook/Nantha Kumar Balachandram
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