Stories about East Asia from August, 2015
Chairman Mao Wasn't at WWII's Cairo Conference. So Why Is He on the Movie Poster?
Some believe President Xi Jinping is using 'The Cairo Declaration' film and a September 3 military parade to rewrite the Chinese Communist Party's involvement in fending off the Japanese.
Malaysia’s 34-Hour Bersih Rally Against Government Corruption Gathers 100,000 People
"To many, Bersih 4 is something that gave them the courage to dream. To know that a fair and just Malaysia can truly exist."
Migrant Filipinos and Their Families Tell the Government: ‘Hands Off Our Balikbayan Boxes!’
"The implied accusation that they are out to cheat government is an insult they can never forgive and forget."
China Won't Tolerate Anything but Praise for Its Showy World War II Parade
"...all news and comments related to the military parade must be carefully reviewed before posting to guarantee they are positive and not offensive..."
Chinese Cultural Revolution Sci-Fi Wins Hugo Awards’ Best Novel Prize
"Even with all the dodgy science in Liu Cixin's sci-fi, his values and literary skill aside, his imagination still far surpasses that of other contemporary Chinese sci-fi writers."
A Japanese Woman’s Impressive Appetite Leaves the Internet Hungry for More
Yuka Kinoshita has gained famed for the sheer amount of food she can pack away. She uploads her videos to YouTube.
‘Why Does the Thai Government Want to Destroy Krabi With Coal Power Plant?’
The government is proposing to build a coal plant in Krabi to boost local power supply, but it also threatens to destroy a popular tourism destination and protected environment site.
Indonesian Court Orders Family of Former President Suharto to Return Embezzled Funds
Indonesia's Supreme Court has ruled that the foundation of the late President Suharto is guilty of embezzling state funds from 1976 to 1998. It ordered the family of Suharto to...
Netizens Think Official Explanations for Tianjin's Dead Fish Are as Likely as Fish Drowning
"These fish felt ashamed. They saw that so many people had died. They felt sorry and drowned themselves."
Scammers Make Use of Mainland China's Reputation for Corruption to Con Hong Kongers
Scammers pretending to be mainland Chinese police called up Hong Kong people, telling them they were wanted fugitives in mainland China and must pay to be declared innocent.
Malaysia Considers Forcing News Websites to Register with Government, As Political Scandal Unfolds
"It is highly unlikely that this move is intended to achieve anything other than the shutting down of criticism."
Hong Kong Investigative Journalism Start-Up ‘Factwire’ Crowdfunds HK $3 Million
“Hong Kong is one of the few places where information flows almost completely freely. If Paris has Agence France-Presse, New York has the Associated Press...why [shouldn’t] Hong Kong have FactWire?”
A Ping-Pong Table Puts Singapore's Intellectual Property Regulation Under the Spotlight
"...we feel that more can be done to encourage, respect and protect content creation. Unfortunately, limited understanding of artists’ rights and standard industry practices remains."
After 2 Bombings in Bangkok, Thai Internet Users Join #StrongerTogether Movement
Two bomb blasts rocked central Bangkok in the past two days, killing 20 people and injuring hundreds. Now Thailand tries to move forward.
Instagram Photos Offer a Peek Into Nagasaki's Unique Send-Off for the Dead
Isolated Nagasaki, in western Japan, has a unique approach to Obon, the festival of the dead observed in Japan each year in mid-August.
Tianjin Lives Up to Its ‘City Without News’ Nickname After Deadly Blasts
Netizens were shocked that local media aired Korean dramas and cartoons in the immediate wake of the disaster, then followed up with coverage dripping with praise for local authorities.
The Hilarious Mystery Surrounding Items Forgotten on Japanese Trains
A Matome Naver user has compiled a list of perplexing items that Twitter users have found inside train cars, including a brass tea kettle, a bonsai tree and a tomato.
Amazing Japanese TV Commercial Racks Up Views
A popular commercial about an amazing game of baseball has gone viral in Japan.
Meet the Displaced Kachin People of Northern Myanmar
"There are no happy moments here in the camp. We are all struggling to live and we are always busy with our lives."
Using Paperclips, Broccoli or Microchips, This Japanese Artist Creates a Whimsical Diorama Every Day
A Japanese artist makes cool dioramas with everyday objects, and has cultivated a massive following on Instagram.
After “Grossly Distorting” UN Views on the Internally Displaced Ata-Manobos, the Philippine Military Apologizes
"The community wishes to return to its lands but stressed that they will only feel safe to do so if the long-term militarization of their region comes to an end."
About our East Asia coverage
