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Pop culture in Asia

Pop culture in Asia
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Pop culture in Asia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The beloved penguin mascot of Tokyo’s Suica transport smart card is set to be replaced when it retires early next year. Regarded by many as the most popular mascot in the country and beyond, the Suica penguin will be replaced by a new character. The new mascot will be selected from three contenders by public vote, set to conclude on September 23.
Japan

Video | Japan’s ‘Suica penguin’ to be replaced in public vote

The public will pick the penguin’s replacement from among 3 candidates by September 23.

Japan

Video | Chinese games among growing overseas presence at Comiket in Japan

Japan

Video | Hong Kong wins World Cosplay Championship

Social media

Video | Japan’s viral property agents get weird

A Tokyo estate agent in a green-screen bodysuit has gone viral – but are the gags stealing the show?

Japanese property agents are finding new ways to promote themselves through social media, using visual gags, stunts and innovative hooks to find new audiences.
02:37
Pokemon

Video | Pokemon cards are fuelling a global crime spree

A burglary at a trading-card shop in Niigata, Japan, saw 5,000 cards worth 10 million yen (US$62,000) stolen on Monday.

Shenzhen

Being Chinese | Once, I was proud of the Shenzhen miracle. Now I’m not so sure

The Taiwanese-influenced accent my voice carries is a relic of the 2000s and hints at how differently my generation understands modernity.

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Hong Kong

Video | Hong Kong Comic Con makes its debut

Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Lloyd are part of the celebrity line-up at Hong Kong’s first event, which takes place May 29-31.

Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Lloyd are part of the celebrity line-up at Hong Kong’s first event, which takes place May 29-31
01:47
On Our Radar

Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con unites global fandoms with star-studded line-up

Hong Kong Comic Con 2026 brings celebrities, geeks and cosplayers together in a pop culture extravaganza mixing Stranger Things, Harry Potter, Star Wars and local gems.

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Mainland China

Being Chinese | How to deal with this ‘very Chinese time’ in Western lives

The question is not whether outsiders are getting China or Chinese culture right, but what we choose to do with their attention.

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Asean

Cultural capitals: Southeast Asia seeks soft power to outlast the buzz

The region’s creators are going global, but the structures to sustain them are still catching up.

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Illustration: Mario Rivera
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.

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.
08:58
Tourism

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

From armour to art, ‘Samurai’ at the British Museum traces the Japanese elite class’ evolution and cultural impact, from anime to Star Wars.

Pokemon

Video | Pokemon turns 30

Created in 1996 as a Game Boy video game, the multibillion-dollar franchise now boasts a range of anime series, merchandise and trading card products.

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’.

Social media video shows visitors brought to tears as Pokemon ‘comes to life’.
01:04
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.

A shopper walks inside a Pop Mart store in London on May 21, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
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.

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.

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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.

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.
03:40
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.

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.

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.

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.

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Photo: SCMP Composite
Labubu

Video | Labubu craze hits Singles’ Day in London

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

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.

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.

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.

The underdog horse who won hearts, not races
02:50
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.

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.

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