This Week in Asia /

Lifestyle & Culture

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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
Asia travel
Fame and celebrity
A Japan Post worker was arrested for sending a condom filled with semen to a colleague. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Japanese worker arrested for mailing used condom to colleague ‘to satisfy urges’

The incident has sparked safety concerns and an investigation into similar cases.

South Korea

In South Korea, digital sex crimes soar amid rise in AI, deepfake technology

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Malaysia

‘Stamp out cross-dressing’: Malaysian sarong event under fire for LGBTQ exclusion

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Japan

Japan’s Kyoto offers natural disaster survival tips for foreign visitors

The move comes as more foreign travellers have been visiting the ancient Japanese capital in recent years.

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Visitors to Kyoto can find tips on how to cope with a major natural disaster in the prefecture via a website set up by local authorities. Photo: AFP
Visitors to Kyoto can find tips on how to cope with a major natural disaster in the prefecture via a website set up by local authorities. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia exposes child protection flaws

In one shocking case in Kelantan, a 15-year-old girl became pregnant after she had sex with her 11-year-old cousin.

South Korea

Seoul palace restroom gets hi-tech spy-cam detector to combat ‘molka’ filming

The installation addresses South Korea’s struggle with illegal filming, driven by the ease of access to small, hidden cameras known as ‘molka’.

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Japan

Babies conceived in winter less likely to become obese adults: Japan study

A person’s brown fat, one of two types of body fat, and cold weather appear to be linked to a lower possibility of weight gain in adulthood.

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The researchers acknowledged the limitations of the study given that it was focused on Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
The researchers acknowledged the limitations of the study given that it was focused on Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Japan’s biggest yakuza gang ends internal feud as membership hits historic low

Japan’s largest yakuza gang, declared an end to a decade-long feud amid dwindling membership and tougher policing.

South Korea

South Korean man jailed for stabbing business partner after Chinese insult

The incident occurred when one business partner in Seoul called the other Chinese, reflecting ongoing national identity tensions.

Japan

Work with a smile? But that’s harassment, say nearly half of Japanese polled

45.7 per cent of respondents say they think asking store staff to smile is harassment, suggesting growing sensitivity to pressures on service workers.

Sales staff discuss specialty chocolates with shoppers at a chocolate store in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Getty Images
India

In India, cyber scams targeting elderly fuel digital safety concerns

One 82-year-old victim lost nearly US$400,000 after fraudsters convinced him of their credentials by fabricating Supreme Court letters.

A man checks his mobile phone while commuting on a tram in Kolkata, India. Two recent cyber fraud cases involving retired Indian army officers have grabbed national attention. Photo: EPA-EFE
A man checks his mobile phone while commuting on a tram in Kolkata, India. Two recent cyber fraud cases involving retired Indian army officers have grabbed national attention. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea

K-pop remains top global symbol of South Korean culture, survey shows

Nearly 1 in 5 global fans say K-pop comes to mind first, beating out Korean food, TV dramas and beauty products.

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Japan

Japanese bar district gets bilingual wristbands to gauge revellers’ mood

Six colour-coded wristbands help drinkers start or avoid conversations in Noge, a neighbourhood in Yokohama dotted with bars and pubs.

Malaysia

Second pygmy elephant corpse find in Malaysia raises fears of ivory poaching

The practice of giving tusks as dowry in neighbouring Indonesia may be behind the killings, conservationists say.

Borneo pygmy elephants drinking water from Kinabatangan river in Malaysia’s state of Sabah. Photo: Reuters
India

Lamborghini crash in India reignites debate over privilege and impunity

The car’s driver was released on a bail of US$300 after critically injuring two construction workers, sparking accusations of unequal justice.

Deepak Kumar is seen in a video of the incident. Photo: Handout
Deepak Kumar is seen in a video of the incident. Photo: Handout
Japan

Close encounters: inside Japan’s growing fascination with UFOs

Politicians claim sightings, museums report rising visitor numbers – and ‘contact events’ draw thousands seeking alien encounters.

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South Korea

In South Korea, crushing academic pressures start in kindergarten

Forget play dates – in some parts of Seoul, four-year-olds are already training for the notorious Suneung college entrance exam.

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Japan

Walk this way: Tokyo’s Ginza to get New York-like ‘High Line’ makeover

To promote a walkable city, Tokyo is converting a clogged motorway into a green pedestrian space, inspired by New York’s High Line.

People enjoying the pedestrian-friendly space during Ginza Sky Walk 2024. Photo: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
People enjoying the pedestrian-friendly space during Ginza Sky Walk 2024. Photo: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
South Korea

Jeju unsettled by rise in crime as Chinese tourists return in droves

Official data shows Chinese visitors accounted for 66 per cent of foreign crimes between 2019 and 2023 67 per cent in 2023 alone.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s ‘lonely’ wives seek divorce from phone-addicted elderly husbands

Social media addiction was a key complaint raised by women during marriage counselling sessions, according to a Selangor-based counsellor.

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SCMP Highlights

ByteDance founder denies Singapore citizenship, Hong Kong cinemas: 7 highlights

From ByteDance founder’s citizenship status to Hong Kong cinemas closing, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance. Photo: Chinatopix Via AP
The Philippines

US horror writer mistaken for Duterte’s lawyer: ‘not how I wanted to get famous’

Diehard supporters of the Philippine ex-president flooded Nicholas Kaufmann’s Facebook page, demanding he bring their hero home.

American horror story novelist Nicholas Kaufmann. Photo: Facebook/Nicholas Kaufmann
American horror story novelist Nicholas Kaufmann. Photo: Facebook/Nicholas Kaufmann
Thailand

Thais outraged by expensive furniture for now-collapsed Bangkok tower

Corruption watchdog page reveals list of items including sofas costing nearly US$5,000 and 28 rosewood armchairs for State Audit Office building.

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South Korea

South Korea’s ‘Kim Soo-hyun’ petition urges tougher statutory rape law

Kim Soo-hyun, the star of Queen of Tears, is accused of dating the late actress Kim Sae-ron from when she was 15 years old.

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Japan

Japan bento chain’s ‘no rice’ April Fool’s joke goes down the wrong way

The joke is ‘not funny’ and in bad taste, given how rice shortages are a big concern in Japan, its unhappy critics say.

A Japanese takeaway rice bowl chain has upset people with its April Fool’s joke saying it was not serving rice any more. Photo: Getty Images
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