Journal

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.

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5 articles

Korea

Les huit membres du groupe coreen Hearts2Hearts en tenue de scene noire assortie, micros-casques aux levres, poses en deux rangees devant des faisceaux lumineux bleus lors d'une rencontre avec les fans en fevrier 2026

Pop Culture7 min

K-pop's fifth generation: the rookies rewriting the rules

Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, ALLDAY PROJECT, AHOF: what the 2025-2026 rookie class really says about K-pop's fifth generation and its new methods.

August 10, 2026Read

Korea

Scène de concert baignée de lumières roses et bleues avec un groupe d'idols coréens en pleine performance.

Society8 min

The Korean Idol System: Trainees, Agencies, and the Star Factory

How the trainee system works in South Korea. Recruitment from age 10, 2-7 years of intensive training, Big 4 (HYBE, SM, JYP, YG), trainee debt and 2025 reforms.

July 5, 2026Read

Korea

Scène de concert K-pop éclairée de rose et de bleu, danseurs devant une enseigne lumineuse.

Pop Culture8 min

The five generations of K-pop: from Seo Taiji to NewJeans

Seo Taiji, TVXQ, BTS, NewJeans: what really separates K-pop's five generations, with dates, founding groups and shifts in the model.

July 1, 2026Read

Korea

Public du K-pop World Festival, illustration de la vague coréenne hallyu.

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.

April 20, 2026Read

Japan

Maiko en kimono traditionnel, apprentie geisha au Japon.

Arts11 min

Manga, manhwa, manhua: an East Asian culture glossary

Shōjo, seinen, hallyu, xianxia, webtoon: a dictionary of the terms, genres and traditions of Japan, South Korea and China, sorted by country.

March 21, 2026Read