From the 29th of April to the 5th of May each year, Japan and its citizens celebrate “Golden Week”. This period of festivities includes four very special holidays, which we…
Category: Culture of Asia
The Rise in Popularity of Asian Cinema
Although there’s no single hub for movies like Hollywood in Asia, Asian cinema is steadily gaining popularity and prominence globally. Serious blockbusters and serious wins on the international stage mean…
Translation Challenges: Itadakimasu – the Japanese way to live life with gratitude
There’s a Japanese saying that goes like this: “Seven Gods live in one grain of rice.” And what this means is that when one eats food, one should not waste…
The Year of the Tiger: an insider’s view on the semantics
Legend has it that a Chinese emperor, hundreds or thousands of years ago, gathered all the animals together and told them that if they were to complete his challenge, they…
5 Asian Cinema Classics to Enjoy During the Holidays
Asian cinema has been in the spotlight for some time now. After the success of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, the talented Chinese director Chloé Zhao won an Oscar for her Nomadland.…
How has tea changed the world as it was adopted everywhere?
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that we’ve all enjoyed a cup of tea at some point in our lives, no matter where in the world we’re located. No…
West and East proverbs – They show Cultural Similarities and Differences
There’s a school of thought which believes that there are fundamental differences between eastern and western philosophy arguing that while the east talks about and promotes a more holistic view…
What lies behind the names of Asian countries: Japan
What lies behind the names of Asian countries – Japan The land of the rising sun, Japan is home to a population of 126.3 million people. The country is known…
Why wearing a facemask is common in Korea and Japan
In the days of the coronavirus pandemic, people going about their day wearing a mask has become a usual sight. In some countries wearing a facemask has become obligatory and…
WeChat meets Red Envelopes: Lunar New Year in China
When it comes to China there are so many controversies about it that one can hardly find a middle ground and the Lunar New Year in the midst of a…
Offensive stuff in Asia you don’t know about
As a businessperson doing business in Asia, you might be familiar with common Asian business etiquette. But are you aware of the cultural do’s and don’ts which might be considered…
Kokeshi Dolls – the story behind these small beauties
While known for its anime, sushi vending machines, punctual public transport system, as well as other cultural aspects, Japan is an interesting country and other less known aspects about its…
Kaiju – the monster from Japan and China that took over Hollywood
Halloween took place just about a month ago, but we`re here with some spooky stories about monsters from another land. You might be surprised to find out that Japanese culture…
Kawaii: the Japanese art of being “cute”
If you are a fan of manga, anime or Japanese culture as a whole, then you know pretty well that kawaii is not just another Japanese loanword. Kawaii is an…
Chinese Moon Festival – a story of love, hard work, and self-sacrifice
Chinese culture is steeped in intricacies and wonderful tales, and with a 4000-year history, there are bound to be some stories that are more memorable than others. This is the…
5 Asian ways to call you a “foreigner” and the meaning behind them
Whether you’ve decided to settle in Asia for good or are just visiting, as a foreigner in Asia, you will want to be as fully prepared for Asian culture as…
Ikigai – the Japanese “reason for being”
Every person has their own pace of life and each of us decides for themselves just how much work is enough work. There are some that prefer leisure to hard…
Japan and Korea – the different aspects of Children’s day
Almost every country has a holiday that celebrates children. Youngsters are a very important part of society and there are a lot of traditions all around the world linked to…
Cultural differences: saying “no” in India – how to read between the lines
In this blog, we’re often writing about cultural differences and peculiarities – habits some cultures have adopted that some of us cannot even imagine. Today we are going to go…