Lifestyle & Culture
‘Obvious abuse’: backlash grows against Japan festival after horse euthanised
Japan’s annual ‘Rising Horse’ festival sees the animals forced to run up a steep hill and clear a two-metre high ‘wall’ while being slapped, yelled at, and hit with ropes, sticks and whips.
Singapore basks in concert hub status after scoring Coldplay, Taylor Swift gigs
The city state’s stability, location and world-class infrastructure help draw top stars to its shores. But tickets can be hard to find, and overnight stays aren’t cheap.
Taylor Swift to only play Singapore in Southeast Asia. Who and what’s to blame?
Singapore is the only Southeast Asian stop for the US singer, to the disappointment of many fans in the region who cannot afford to fly there to see her.
Five Guys burger scalpers face online criticism as US chain makes Seoul debut
South Koreans are the biggest spenders on luxury goods per capita, with many feeling it is important to be seen as rich.
Love the Philippines? Marcos Jnr faces flak over ‘drab and lazy’ tourism slogan
Social media users suggested stylistic changes to the ‘Love the Philippines’ slogan while others urged improving infrastructure to attract visitors.
LGBTQ in Asia’s Muslim-majority nations ‘rightfully paranoid’ amid Pride Month
Across Asia’s Muslim nations, Pride Month has remained muted, with LGBTQ events an easy target for religious hardliners and opportunistic politicians.
Pink Dot: Singapore’s LGBTQ activists eye ‘long road’ to equality
Attendees at the event – now in its 15th year – turned up to send a clear signal of the long road ahead for LGBTQ rights in the country even after Singapore last year repealed the archaic Section 377A law.
Blind singer who wowed Simon Cowell gives hope to Indonesians with music dreams
She won Indonesia’s Got Talent at age 8. Now, Putri Ariani is seeking to dominate the US version of the show, having already wowed Simon Cowell.
‘Crossing the line’: Jocelyn Chia saga shows limits of Asia’s sense of humour
From India to Singapore, some comics say the business of humour is an increasingly risky one, as the line separating ‘offensive’ and ‘illegal’ becomes blurred.
Why Indonesians say Dutch recognition of 1945 independence is a ‘huge insult’
Dutch PM Mark Rutte’s statement, which ‘would not change any existing legal grounds’, is seen as the Netherlands avoiding its responsibility to make reparations for its colonial rule over Indonesia.
Taylor Swift’s Singapore shows leave Malaysian, Thai, Filipino fans dismayed
Swifties in Southeast Asia have struggled to shake off their disappointment that her Eras Tour will only include concert dates in Singapore.
As Coldplay sells out 6 shows in Singapore, Malaysians lament hardline opposition
Extended run is a major boost for Singapore’s 55,000-seat National Stadium, which was criticised for being a white elephant unable to attract top-tier events
‘I come here to be myself’: fetish parties never a drag at Tokyo’s Department H
Department H is a monthly fetish event at the Tokyo Kinema Club, with themes ranging from April Fool’s Day and sumo wrestling to ‘June brides’.
Malaysia police ‘to seek Interpol help’ over comedian Jocelyn Chia’s MH370 joke
As row into Singapore-born Chia’s quip about the missing flight refuses to die down, police chief says international help will be sought in quest to locate her.
In India, Rajasthan state’s once-thriving camel industry could be ‘lost forever’
Camels are in decline due in part to modernisation, meaning fewer animals are needed for industry, transport or combat, but also because of economic realities in a poor state.
Thailand eyes tourism boost from Blackpink Lisa’s visit to Unesco site
Dressed in traditional Thai attire, Lisa toured the ruins, Buddhist temples and dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Ayutthaya.
‘This joke kills’: Singaporean comic enrages Malaysia with MH370 gag
Malaysian social media erupted in fury at Jocelyn Chia’s skit, performed at a New York comedy club and uploaded to TikTok and Instagram, in which she joked about the missing plane and said ‘f*** you Malaysia’.
Japan mulls erasing tattoo ban as military struggles to attract young recruits
Politicians urge the government to boost recruitment numbers in view of the falling birth rate and not to discriminate against those with ‘fashionable’ tattoos.
Indian women wrestlers fight to take down alleged abuser over sexual harassment
Sakshi Malik, 30, and Vinesh Phogat, 28, have been protesting since January against the actions of Wrestling Federation of India head Brij Bhushan Singh, 66, who they accuse of sexual assault.
As hikers flock to Japan’s Mount Fuji, fears of climbing accidents grow
Local authorities are considering plans to limit the number of hikers for the coming climbing season.