Stories about East Asia from January, 2016
Japanese TV Personality's Career Demolished After Affair With Married Musician
A relatively tame sex scandal highlights the unforgiving nature of Japan's entertainment industry.
Crowdsourced Photography Website Showcases the Beauty of Everyday Life in Myanmar
As Myanmar prepares to pursue more reforms in the next few months, websites like Featured Collectives are essential in documenting everyday life in a rapidly changing society.
Hong Kong’s Plan to Phase Out Domestic Ivory Trade
The authorities in Hong Kong have announced plans to impose a ban on the import and export of elephant hunting trophies, phasing out entirely the domestic ivory trade.
A Rare Snowy Day in Taiwan
Many Taiwanese took the opportunity to take photos of the perhaps once-in-a-lifetime snowy scenery.
Are You Scanning Me, or Am I Scanning You? The Power Dynamics of China's WeChat
"Our phones have become extensions of our social and physical selves. When these devices touch, it’s an intimate gesture with the ability to convey identity, power, and intention."
Meet the Thai Facebook User Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Insulting the Monarchy
"It made me question why Thailand is still so poor, and why the poor in Thailand are so repressed.”
Chinese Netizens Climb Over the Great Firewall to Go After Advocates of Taiwanese Independence
A mainland Chinese netizens’ movement aimed at silencing pro-independence Taiwanese "through civilized methods” has become a humourous emoji battle and a tech lesson in scaling the Great Firewall of China.
Get a Glimpse of Life in ‘Fair Japan’
Japanophiles, rejoice! Many amazing images of the country can be found in the New York Public Library's digital image archive, now in the public domain.
Photos of a Misty Morning Sun Rising Over Myanmar's Last Royal Capital
Photographer Zaw Zaw captured the beauty of Mandalay during one morning above Myanmar's last royal capital.
The Ever-Blurring Line Between Entertainment and Politics in China and Taiwan
A teenage K-pop performer's apology for waving a Republic of China flag—interpreted as supporting Taiwanese independence—recently went viral.
Vintage Postcards Show Life in Vietnam in the Early 20th Century
The postcards are part of the digital collection of The New York Public Library, which recently released more than 180,000 digitized items into the public domain.
In Photos: Farmers Harvest Buckets of Glimmering Sea Salt in Myanmar
Many salt farmers in Myanmar are already migrating to other countries in search of better opportunities. This photo montage features salt farming along Myanmar's southeast coast.
China Is Blocking Circumvention Tools With Help of Cloud Service Providers
Experts estimate that between 1% and 3% of China's internet users are using circumvention tool to visit overseas websites. But this could change with new restrictions.
Expand Your Movie-Watching Horizons With These 16 Films From Around the World
Follow the exploits of a transgender dad, a rotten tomato, Iranian rockers, a janitor-turned-mayor and others in this list of films that take you to the world beyond Hollywood.
Why Do Hong Kongers Call Chief Executive CY Leung ‘689’?
Hint: it's not a nice nickname.
Taiwan Welcomes First Woman to Be Elected President
Taiwan has elected its first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, an opposition candidate who won 56.12 percent of the popular vote (almost 7 million ballots), soundly defeating her rivals.
Viral Story About Special Train Service for Hokkaido Schoolgirl Causes Problems for Student
Heard of that viral story about the train station in Japan with just one young passenger? It's full of inaccuracies. And the female student is being harassed by train nerds.
After Attack, Defiant Indonesians Declare #WeAreNotAfraid
"This attack won't weaken Indonesia; on the contrary, Indonesia will be stronger."
Hong Kong's Government Is Walking All Over Chinese Dolphins—Literally and Figuratively
"You don't want the real one and kill them all. Then you step on the fake one and take a photo while laughing. What kind of mentality is this?"
This Group Exposes Social Woes and Promotes Philippine Culture Through Street Art
"Doing street art is our way of bringing 'ART' closer to the masses. It is special for us because it's where the purest intention of an artist can be seen."
Japan Celebrates the Spectacular Images of a Volcanic Island Being Born
A volcano south of Japan is providing spectacular images of a new island's slow creation.
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