The library
ArticleMoutai: The Chinese Spirit That Trades Like a Blue ChipMoutai (茅台), the baijiu of Guizhou: its twelve-month production cycle, its diplomatic role, its Shanghai listing, and why a…
ArticleCapsule Hotels: Born in Osaka in 1979, Designed by KurokawaThe Japanese capsule hotel: the first one opened in Osaka in 1979 by architect Kisho Kurokawa, the regulated dimensions,…
ArticleKabukichō Host Clubs: The Job, the Rankings, the TabJapanese host clubs: how a Kabukichō club works, the shimei system, the champagne call, the sales rankings, and the 2025 law that…Manga & webtoons20th Century BoysThriller manga by Naoki Urasawa, serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from 1999 to 2006, followed by 21st Century Boys in 2007.CinemaAkiraKatsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk manga and film, a milestone of Japanese animation.Dramas & seriesAlice in BorderlandJapanese survival series adapted from Haro Aso's manga, produced by Netflix in 2020-2022 (2 seasons, 16 episodes).Dramas & seriesAll of Us Are DeadSouth Korean zombie drama of 12 episodes adapted from Joo Dong-geun's webtoon Now at Our School, released on Netflix in 2022.Video games & franchisesAnimal CrossingNintendo's life and community simulation series.Term72 micro-seasonsJapanese poetic division of the year into seventy-two periods of about five days each.TermAKB48Giant Japanese idol group that pioneered the 'idols you can meet' concept.BeautyAnessaThe ultimate sun protection
RecipeBeef Rice BowlThe iconic Japanese beef rice bowl: thin beef slices and onions simmered in a sweet-savory dashi sauce.
ArticleTaobao Villages: Whole Towns Living Off an Online ShopTaobao villages (淘宝村): how Chinese villages specialised in online selling, the official definition, the case of Dongfeng, and the…
ArticleComiket: The World's Largest Fanzine FairComiket (コミックマーケット): 32 tables in 1975, 35,000 today. The history of Tokyo's dōjinshi fair, how it runs, its legal grey zone and…
ArticleUndōkai: The Sports Day of Japanese SchoolsUndōkai (運動会), the Japanese school sports day: its 1874 naval origins, its team events, the human pyramid controversy, and why it…AnimeAstro BoyOsamu Tezuka's robot, a pioneer of modern manga and anime.Video games & franchisesAtlus (アトラス)The studio of niche RPGs turned global, from Shin Megami Tensei to Persona.AnimeAttack on TitanHajime Isayama's dark manga about humanity besieged by giants.Video games & franchisesBandai NamcoThe Japanese entertainment, video game and toy group.Dramas & seriesBegin AgainChinese romantic drama of 35 episodes aired on Hunan TV in 2020.TermAkihabaraTokyo district that is the global hub of otaku culture, anime goods and electronics.TermAkō incidentThe 1701-1703 affair in which the lord of Akō was condemned, sparking the 47 Rōnin's revenge.BeautyAnuaCalm skin, simply
RecipeBibimbapThe Korean bowl where everything mixes: rice topped with colorful namul, marinated beef, fried egg and gochujang. A world dish born from ancestral…
ArticleJeonse: The Giant Deposit That Holds Up Korean HousingJeonse (전세): handing over 60% of a property's value and paying no rent. How this uniquely Korean system works, why it produced…
ArticleReikin and Shikikin: What a Japanese Lease Really CostsReikin (礼金) and shikikin (敷金): Japan's key money and rental deposit. The full move-in bill, renewal fees, restoration rules and…
ArticleSorting Rubbish in Japan: Up to 45 CategoriesJapanese waste sorting: rules set town by town, the village of Kamikatsu and its 45 categories, paid collection for bulky waste,…Manga & webtoonsBerserkKentaro Miura's dark fantasy manga.AnimeBleachTite Kubo's supernatural shonen, alongside Naruto and One Piece.Manga & webtoonsBlue LockFootball manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro (story) and Yusuke Nomura (art), serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 2018.Studios & publishersBroccoliJapanese entertainment company. Creator of franchises like Uta no Prince-sama and Galaxy Angel.Dramas & seriesBusiness ProposalSouth Korean drama of 12 episodes adapted from HaeHwa's webtoon, aired on SBS in 2022.TermAnimeJapanese animation, from feature films to TV series, often adapted from manga.TermBanchanArray of small side dishes served alongside a Korean meal.BeautyBanila CoB by Banila
RecipeBlack Bean NoodlesKorean black bean noodles: thick noodles coated in a rich, glossy sauce with pork and vegetables.
Culture
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ArticleMoutai: The Chinese Spirit That Trades Like a Blue ChipMoutai (茅台), the baijiu of Guizhou: its twelve-month production cycle, its diplomatic role, its Shanghai listing, and why a…ArticleCapsule Hotels: Born in Osaka in 1979, Designed by KurokawaThe Japanese capsule hotel: the first one opened in Osaka in 1979 by architect Kisho Kurokawa, the regulated dimensions,…ArticleKabukichō Host Clubs: The Job, the Rankings, the TabJapanese host clubs: how a Kabukichō club works, the shimei system, the champagne call, the sales rankings, and the 2025 law that…Manga & webtoons20th Century BoysThriller manga by Naoki Urasawa, serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from 1999 to 2006, followed by 21st Century Boys in 2007.CinemaAkiraKatsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk manga and film, a milestone of Japanese animation.Dramas & seriesAlice in BorderlandJapanese survival series adapted from Haro Aso's manga, produced by Netflix in 2020-2022 (2 seasons, 16 episodes).Dramas & seriesAll of Us Are DeadSouth Korean zombie drama of 12 episodes adapted from Joo Dong-geun's webtoon Now at Our School, released on Netflix in 2022.Video games & franchisesAnimal CrossingNintendo's life and community simulation series.Term72 micro-seasonsJapanese poetic division of the year into seventy-two periods of about five days each.TermAKB48Giant Japanese idol group that pioneered the 'idols you can meet' concept.BeautyAnessaThe ultimate sun protectionRecipeBeef Rice BowlThe iconic Japanese beef rice bowl: thin beef slices and onions simmered in a sweet-savory dashi sauce.ArticleTaobao Villages: Whole Towns Living Off an Online ShopTaobao villages (淘宝村): how Chinese villages specialised in online selling, the official definition, the case of Dongfeng, and the…ArticleComiket: The World's Largest Fanzine FairComiket (コミックマーケット): 32 tables in 1975, 35,000 today. The history of Tokyo's dōjinshi fair, how it runs, its legal grey zone and…ArticleUndōkai: The Sports Day of Japanese SchoolsUndōkai (運動会), the Japanese school sports day: its 1874 naval origins, its team events, the human pyramid controversy, and why it…AnimeAstro BoyOsamu Tezuka's robot, a pioneer of modern manga and anime.Video games & franchisesAtlus (アトラス)The studio of niche RPGs turned global, from Shin Megami Tensei to Persona.AnimeAttack on TitanHajime Isayama's dark manga about humanity besieged by giants.Video games & franchisesBandai NamcoThe Japanese entertainment, video game and toy group.Dramas & seriesBegin AgainChinese romantic drama of 35 episodes aired on Hunan TV in 2020.TermAkihabaraTokyo district that is the global hub of otaku culture, anime goods and electronics.TermAkō incidentThe 1701-1703 affair in which the lord of Akō was condemned, sparking the 47 Rōnin's revenge.BeautyAnuaCalm skin, simplyRecipeBibimbapThe Korean bowl where everything mixes: rice topped with colorful namul, marinated beef, fried egg and gochujang. A world dish born from ancestral…ArticleJeonse: The Giant Deposit That Holds Up Korean HousingJeonse (전세): handing over 60% of a property's value and paying no rent. How this uniquely Korean system works, why it produced…ArticleReikin and Shikikin: What a Japanese Lease Really CostsReikin (礼金) and shikikin (敷金): Japan's key money and rental deposit. The full move-in bill, renewal fees, restoration rules and…ArticleSorting Rubbish in Japan: Up to 45 CategoriesJapanese waste sorting: rules set town by town, the village of Kamikatsu and its 45 categories, paid collection for bulky waste,…Manga & webtoonsBerserkKentaro Miura's dark fantasy manga.AnimeBleachTite Kubo's supernatural shonen, alongside Naruto and One Piece.Manga & webtoonsBlue LockFootball manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro (story) and Yusuke Nomura (art), serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 2018.Studios & publishersBroccoliJapanese entertainment company. Creator of franchises like Uta no Prince-sama and Galaxy Angel.Dramas & seriesBusiness ProposalSouth Korean drama of 12 episodes adapted from HaeHwa's webtoon, aired on SBS in 2022.TermAnimeJapanese animation, from feature films to TV series, often adapted from manga.TermBanchanArray of small side dishes served alongside a Korean meal.BeautyBanila CoB by BanilaRecipeBlack Bean NoodlesKorean black bean noodles: thick noodles coated in a rich, glossy sauce with pork and vegetables.