The Role of Language in Asian Martial Arts

Martial arts has a deep and complex history with sumo wrestling’s roots dating back all the way to 23 AD in Japan. Since then, numerous forms of martial arts have…

Linguistic Richness and Idioms of Lunar New Year: Vietnam Edition

If you find yourself in Vietnam for the first time around February 10th this year, you’ll be absolutely astounded by the festivities taking place. This is when the country begins…

Lost in “Localization”: Anime Edition

Anime is stylized Japanese animation that has taken the world by storm. With numerous titles being translated and localized for Western audiences, anime localization has become quite controversial. That’s partly…

The Golden Week in Japan

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…

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…

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…

A deeper dive into Filipino culture through their holidays

You can understand people more by learning their history. And there’s no better way to find out about a country’s history than by looking at their holidays, festivals, and celebrations.…

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…