Stories about East Asia from December, 2012
Japan's Kanji of the Year 2012
The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation has announced the kanji of the year 2012 is gold (金) on December 12, 2012. How do netizens conceive this announcement and how do they look back this year?
From Indigenous Protests to Online Preaching, Portuguese Language Countries in 2012
As the last day of the calendar approaches, we select a few glimpses of citizen media from the action and imagination of the Portuguese-speaking online world.
Cambodia: Major Events of 2012
Albeiro Rodas reviews the major events and issues in Cambodia in the year 2012. He mentions the passing away of King Norodom Sihanouk as the most important event in Cambodia...
Cambodia: Timeline of Human Rights Violations
Sithi provides a timeline of human rights violations in Cambodia from 1993 up to the present. This documentation project also highlights the rise of human right abuses involving land ownership.
Thailand's ‘Skype Doctors’
“Virtual ER”, launched in 2011, serves as a direct means of communication between BNH Hospital's Emergency Room and patients via Skype…Patients or helpers can speak to and see the nurses...
A Memorable 2012 for Myanmar
Burma has experienced a lot of political and social turbulence throughout the past year. Like a dilapidated taxi driving in torrential rain, the country is still moving forward but things...
Japan's Independent Film Theaters are Disappearing
One after the other, independent movie theaters are going out of business in Japan. The wave of closing theaters has changed Tokyo's street scenes, people who gathered and spent their time at these old theaters, have lost their place.
China's Biggest Criminal Cases of 2012
Barry van Wyk from Danwei has written a round-up summary of the top ten biggest criminal cases in China in 2012.
Chinese Scholars Test the New Leadership's Will to Political Reform
More than 70 Chinese scholars and legal experts co-signed a petition urging the new Chinese Communist Party leaders to reform according to the existing Chinese Constitution. Many believe that the moderate reform gesture is to test the CCP new leadership's will to political reform.
What Lies Ahead for China in 2013?
As the end of 2012 draws near, CHINA DIGITAL TIMES has summarized the changes and challenges facing China in 2013 based on different media reports and predictions.
Tocqueville French Revolution Classic on China's Bestsellers List
Thanks to China's top officials, French historian Alexis de Tocqueville’s "The Old Regime and the Revolution”, a 19th-century classic about the French revolution, has become a best seller in China.
International Fast Food Chains Involved in China's Chicken Scandal
A number of international fast-food chains are involved in the latest food safety scandal to hit China. Nationalistic voices are reacting by calling for foreign brands to be kicked out of China, while some believe that the government is to blame for the lack of food safety control.
Witchcraft and Dispute Resolution in East Timor
Following the report of the murder of an alleged witch in Maubisse, Timor Leste, on December 21, 2012, Australian anthropologist Matthew Libbis writes a comment on witchcraft and dispute resolution...
The Personal Lives of China’s New Leaders
Xinhua News has published[zh] a series of personal profiles of China's top leaders, including photos of their families, which was rare in Chinese media. The move was seen by many...
South Korea: X-Mas Mass-Scale Speed-Dating
The first-ever mass speed-dating on the Christmas Eve in South Korea turns out to be a complete failure where 90% of participants were male. Reportedly over 20,000 people signed up and...
Come to China During Christmas to Enjoy Religious Freedom!
In response to the criticism that China does not have religious freedom, the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, Global Times, published an editorial on Christmas Eve inviting overseas China observers to spend their Christmas holiday in China.
From Gangnam Style to Jailed Tweeter: Korea in 2012
Starting from North Korean leadership change, to Gangnam Style spreading over the world and finally the presidential election in December, 2012 has been a dramatic year in South Korea. Here are the top seven Korean stories of the year, which created major social media buzz.
Police Accuses “2channel” for Assisting in Drug Trade
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sent papers on Hiroyuki Nishimura, the founder and former operator of Japan's popular online bulletin board “2channel” [ja] to prosecutors on December 20 2012, accusing...
Philippines: Catholic Church Offers Online Rituals
The Philippine Catholic Church has been actively using the internet to fulfill its evangelical mission. In recent years, it has launched several online platforms which allow Filipinos around the world to celebrate Christian traditions.
China Considers Real Name Registration for All Internet Users
Following the call for more internet supervision by state-run People’s Daily newspaper last week, Xinhua news reported on December 24, 2012 that the Chinese government is considering a new law requiring real-name registration for its 500 million internet users.
What Did Chinese Web Users Search for in 2012?
Baidu, the leading search engine in China, has compiled two Top 10 lists —the most-searched terms online in 2012, and the “fastest rising” words or phrases. TeaLeafNation has a detailed analysis on what...
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