Culture7 min
Anisong: When Anime Music Conquered the World
From Astro Boy theme songs to Animelo Summer Live concerts, the story of anisong, Japanese anime music turned global industry and a musical genre in its own right.
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The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
22 articles
Culture9 min
Jeong: understanding Korean affective attachment
Jeong (정), the Korean affective bond said to be untranslatable: definition, miun jeong, uri and the culture of we. Understanding the feeling that weaves society.
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Culture11 min
Han: Korean Melancholy, Between Grief and Pride
Han (한, 恨), that Korean sorrow made of swallowed resentment and endurance, is it an age-old essence or a colonial invention? An honest inquiry.
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Culture15 min
The Cat in Japan: Maneki-neko, Bakeneko and Cat Islands
From the lucky maneki-neko to feline yōkai bakeneko, from cat islands to cat cafés: a journey through a Japan that both worships and fears the cat.
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Culture7 min
The classical gardens of Suzhou: nature reinvented
Discovering the classical Chinese gardens of Suzhou: the Master of the Nets, the Humble Administrator, rocks, water, philosophy and UNESCO heritage.
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Culture13 min
Yokai: The Supernatural Bestiary That Haunts Japan's Imagination
A complete guide to Japanese yokai: kitsune, tanuki, tengu, kappa, oni, and other supernatural creatures. Origins, cultural significance, from Toriyama Sekien to Pokemon and Ghibli.
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Culture12 min
Gyaru: The Japanese Fashion Subculture That Defied Convention
A complete guide to gyaru (ギャル): from Shibuya's kogal girls to ganguro, the history of a rebellious Japanese subculture, its styles, its magazines, and its lasting influence on global fashion.
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Culture14 min
Donghua: The Rise of Chinese Animation Challenging Japan
A complete guide to donghua (动画): from the Wan brothers to Bilibili studios, the overlooked history of Chinese animation, its masterpieces, and its meteoric international rise.
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Culture10 min
C-Drama: The Guide to Chinese Series Captivating the World
Complete guide to C-dramas (Chinese series): unique genres (xianxia, wuxia, palace drama), must-watch shows, streaming platforms and the international rise of Chinese television.
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Culture5 min
Nami Island: nature escape and K-drama legend in the heart of Korea
Discover Namiseom, Nami Island in Gapyeong: the legendary Winter Sonata filming location, metasequoia lanes, culture and tourism in South Korea.
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Culture11 min
Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku: Japan's Synthetic Pop Revolution
The history of Vocaloid software, Hatsune Miku's rise as a virtual pop star, the creative community behind the phenomenon, and the cultural revolution of Japanese synthetic music.
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Culture10 min
Cosplay: From American Sci-Fi to Japanese Pop Culture Phenomenon
From 1930s American science fiction conventions to a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon, the complete history of cosplay, its Japanese transformation, major events, and worldwide cultural impact.
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Culture9 min
Boys Over Flowers: How a Japanese Manga Became a Korean and Global Phenomenon
From Hana Yori Dango to Boys Over Flowers, a look back at the history of a franchise that crossed borders, languages, and screens, from shojo manga to the most widely exported K-drama of the 21st century.
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Culture6 min
Feng shui: the Chinese art of harmonizing space and qi
History and principles of feng shui, the Chinese art of harmony: qi, yin and yang, the five elements, the luopan compass, and the line between tradition and superstition.
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Culture7 min
Wuxia: the wandering knights of the Chinese imagination
Discovering wuxia, the world of Chinese wandering knights: the xia, the jianghu, Jin Yong, swordplay cinema and the values that animate this ancient genre.
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Culture6 min
The qipao: history of the Chinese dress and its mandarin collar
History of the qipao (cheongsam), the iconic Chinese dress: Manchu origins, the 1920s-30s Shanghai revolution, symbolism, decline and revival.
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Culture5 min
Hallyu: How the Korean Wave Conquered the World
The history of hallyu, the Korean wave: the birth of the term, K-dramas, K-pop, Parasite and Squid Game, soft power and the state strategy behind a global phenomenon.
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Culture6 min
The hanok: the genius of the traditional Korean house
History and secrets of the hanok, the traditional Korean house: ondol underfloor heating, maru wooden floor, curved tiled roofs, hanji paper and harmony with nature.
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Culture6 min
The Chinese dragon: the serpent that brings the rain
Symbolism of the Chinese dragon (long): benevolent creature of the waters, imperial five-clawed emblem, master of rain, and why the Chinese call themselves its descendants.
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Culture7 min
Traditional Chinese medicine: qi, yin-yang and needles
Understanding traditional Chinese medicine: qi, yin and yang, the five phases, acupuncture, herbal pharmacopoeia, its founding texts and today's scientific debate.
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