TOPIC

Pop culture in Asia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Pop culture in Asia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Despite the Japanese anime industry being valued at a whopping 3.8 trillion yen (US$24.3 billion), most animators work 10-hour days earning only 700 yen (US$4.50) per hour.

Artificial intelligence

Video | Why the crunch-ridden anime industry rejects AI as a lifeline

Despite the Japanese anime industry being valued at a whopping 3.8 trillion yen (US$24.3 billion), most animators work 10-hour days earning only 700 yen (US$4.50) per hour.

8 Mar 2026 - 9:00AM

Tourism

Gripping samurai exhibition explores Japan’s warrior class, cuts through myths

3 Mar 2026 - 4:15PM

Pokemon

Video | Pokemon turns 30

1 Mar 2026 - 10:00AM

Pokemon

Video | Tickets sell out fast for Tokyo’s Pokemon theme park

Social media video shows visitors brought to tears as Pokemon ‘comes to life’.

6 Feb 2026 - 9:53PM

Pop Mart

Labubu toymaker Pop Mart picks London as European headquarters in overseas push

CEO Wang Ning reveals firm’s latest expansion plan at Friday’s closed-door meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

31 Jan 2026 - 7:30PM

Food and Drinks

Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

The latest additions to the Oxford English Dictionary include many words and phrases from popular Korean and Japanese culture.

18 Jan 2026 - 4:15PM

Indonesia

Soft power, hard cash: inside Southeast Asia’s billion-dollar anime obsession

Driven by Gen Z spending and streaming, the region’s US$1.3 billion anime market represents a triumph for Japan’s cultural push.

13 Jan 2026 - 9:36AM

Fans attend last year’s Anime Festival Asia in Singapore. The event consistently draws more than 100,000 visitors. Photo: SOZO/Handout

Tokyo

Video | Digital ‘Tamagotchi’ pets mark 30 years

The egg-shaped plastic toys that were a playground craze in the 1990s feature digital pets needing to be cared for like live household animals.

10 Jan 2026 - 8:00AM

Hong Kong society

Video | Hong Kong’s biggest fan-hosted anime event returns

Rainbow Gala, first held in 2007, has been held at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo for a second time after the redevelopment of the Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre in 2024.

6 Jan 2026 - 10:15AM

China’s soft power

From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year of China’s soft power?

Chinese lifestyle brands and other cultural exports proved to be a hit around the world this year, here are some of our most notable stories.

21 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM

Internet

Video | How a block of online text led to a cafe’s viral stardom

Tai Bo Cafe in Yuen Long has gone viral online thanks to a copypasta trend on Threads recommending their meat patties, and have seen customers from as far as Macau.

13 Dec 2025 - 9:03AM

Yuen Long cafe’s meat patties skyrockets to fame after viral online copypasta trend

02:06

Music

Video | European EDM festival Tomorrowland makes China debut in Shanghai

Thousands of ravers dance to the beat of EDM festival at Shanghai’s Hero Dome.

24 Nov 2025 - 4:17PMvideocam

Labubu

Video | Labubu craze hits Singles’ Day in London

Labubu craze hits London on Singles’ Day with AliExpress live shopping show.

12 Nov 2025 - 3:08PM

Hong Kong

Jarvis Cocker’s record shop mishap moved the needle on vinyl revival

The Pulp frontman’s tumble helped boost desirability of the old-school music format, which many in the city now collect as a labour of love.

29 Oct 2025 - 3:15PM

Rob Deal (far right), owner of the Wake Concept Listening Room in Hong Kong, with Wake Concept’s Anson Ma (far left), Brian Lee (bottom left), Alex Fung (centre) and Lawrence Chiu. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

On Our Radar

The Avengers of pop culture are floating into Hong Kong. And one of them is purple

Colossal inflatables turn the harbour into their paddle pool from October 25, plus a waterfront market of collectibles and games.

17 Oct 2025 - 6:15PM

Giant inflatable sculptures of (clockwise from top left) Labubu, Grimace, Elmo and Doraemon are prepared for a sea trial in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, in September. Photo: Elson Li

Japan

Video | The underdog horse who won hearts, not races

Despite never winning a race, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national and global icon, inspiring fans with her determination and perseverance.

9 Oct 2025 - 7:13PM

Icons and Influencers

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Behind the animated avatars are real people who offer a glimpse into the new industry and how they connect with fans on a deeply personal level, forming devoted communities worldwide.

27 Sep 2025 - 8:00AM

Icons and Influencers

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Already selling out concerts in New York, Hong Kong and Japan, VTubers are transforming what it means to be an entertainer, without ever revealing their real faces.

27 Sep 2025 - 12:10PM

VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

13:35

Japan

The cult of cute: inside Sanrio’s multigenerational grip

Sanrio’s Kuromi and My Melody turn 20 and 50 this year. What explains the cross-generational pull of cute characters in a hyper-fast world?

28 Jul 2025 - 12:15PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Pop culture in Asia

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Why the crunch-ridden anime industry rejects AI as a lifeline

Despite the Japanese anime industry being valued at a whopping 3.8 trillion yen (US$24.3 billion), most animators work 10-hour days earning only 700 yen (US$4.50) per hour.

Gripping samurai exhibition explores Japan’s warrior class, cuts through myths

Video | Pokemon turns 30

Video | Tickets sell out fast for Tokyo’s Pokemon theme park

Social media video shows visitors brought to tears as Pokemon ‘comes to life’.

Labubu toymaker Pop Mart picks London as European headquarters in overseas push

CEO Wang Ning reveals firm’s latest expansion plan at Friday’s closed-door meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

The latest additions to the Oxford English Dictionary include many words and phrases from popular Korean and Japanese culture.

Soft power, hard cash: inside Southeast Asia’s billion-dollar anime obsession

Driven by Gen Z spending and streaming, the region’s US$1.3 billion anime market represents a triumph for Japan’s cultural push.

Video | Digital ‘Tamagotchi’ pets mark 30 years

The egg-shaped plastic toys that were a playground craze in the 1990s feature digital pets needing to be cared for like live household animals.

Video | Hong Kong’s biggest fan-hosted anime event returns

Rainbow Gala, first held in 2007, has been held at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo for a second time after the redevelopment of the Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre in 2024.

From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year of China’s soft power?

Chinese lifestyle brands and other cultural exports proved to be a hit around the world this year, here are some of our most notable stories.

Video | How a block of online text led to a cafe’s viral stardom

Tai Bo Cafe in Yuen Long has gone viral online thanks to a copypasta trend on Threads recommending their meat patties, and have seen customers from as far as Macau.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Video | European EDM festival Tomorrowland makes China debut in Shanghai

Thousands of ravers dance to the beat of EDM festival at Shanghai’s Hero Dome.

Video | Labubu craze hits Singles’ Day in London

Labubu craze hits London on Singles’ Day with AliExpress live shopping show.

Jarvis Cocker’s record shop mishap moved the needle on vinyl revival

The Pulp frontman’s tumble helped boost desirability of the old-school music format, which many in the city now collect as a labour of love.

The Avengers of pop culture are floating into Hong Kong. And one of them is purple

Colossal inflatables turn the harbour into their paddle pool from October 25, plus a waterfront market of collectibles and games.

Video | The underdog horse who won hearts, not races

Despite never winning a race, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national and global icon, inspiring fans with her determination and perseverance.

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Behind the animated avatars are real people who offer a glimpse into the new industry and how they connect with fans on a deeply personal level, forming devoted communities worldwide.

Video | VTubers: the virtual stars redefining entertainment

Already selling out concerts in New York, Hong Kong and Japan, VTubers are transforming what it means to be an entertainer, without ever revealing their real faces.

The cult of cute: inside Sanrio’s multigenerational grip

Sanrio’s Kuromi and My Melody turn 20 and 50 this year. What explains the cross-generational pull of cute characters in a hyper-fast world?

Video | Why the crunch-ridden anime industry rejects AI as a lifeline

Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

Video | European EDM festival Tomorrowland makes China debut in Shanghai