Featured stories about East Asia
Stories about East Asia
27 September 2016
Artist Draws Attention to the Plight of Child Laborers and Young Women in Myanmar
"Art becomes more important for the people to see and feel the reality, and motivate them to make changes in society."
25 September 2016
The Beginning Autumn Gives Japanese People a Great Excuse to Post to Social Media
It's that time of year when pictures of flowers, food, and cats are washing over Twitter in Japan.
Need the Latest News on Flooding? In Jakarta, There's an App for That.
In a “living laboratory for disaster,” a social media app is helping Jakartans improve upon the government's response to frequent flooding.
24 September 2016
Convicted of Sexual Assault, Elite Japanese University Students Get Suspended Sentence
After the sexual assault of a university student, sex, class, privilege -- and strong cultural attitudes -- all play a role in the lighter sentences handed down to the perpetrators.
23 September 2016
Drone Video Exposes Illegal Burning of Land on Palm Oil Plantations in Indonesia
A drone video has captured the extent of land clearing in western Indonesia, which has caused a cloud of haze to descend in the region and in nearby countries.
21 September 2016
One Australian Nurse's Stirring Response to the Refugee Crisis
"I have learnt that not everyone is as caring; that the term ‘refugee’ is a dirty label that strips people of their identity."
19 September 2016
There's a Premier Dinosaur Museum in Japan's Oft-Overlooked Fukui Prefecture
The Fukui Dinosaur Museum is one of the top tourism attractions in Japan, allowing visitors to get an up-close look at fossil remains from millennia gone by.
18 September 2016
Japan Finally Gets Free Public WiFi… Just Not For Japanese Residents
"Japanese government has announced plans to expand public WiFi access points across Japan. But just for tourists."
Singapore Debates Whether Paralympic and Olympic Gold Medalists Should Receive the Same Rewards
"We cannot measure (or reward) human endeavour by money alone but withholding it sends a wrong message to society too."
17 September 2016
Malaysian Animal Lovers Launch Online Petition Against Malacca State Law Banning Dogs at Terrace Houses
"Take action only [against] dog owners who do not comply through fines or means other than forcing them to give up the dogs."
14 September 2016
Chinese Police Violently Crack Down on Protests Against an Elected Village Leader's Imprisonment
Residents believe Lin Zuluan was forced into confessing that he took a bribe because he had planned to protest land seizures taking place without the village's consent.
13 September 2016
How Beijing Manipulates Legislative Elections in Hong Kong
Mainland China is doing its best to rig Hong Kong democracy, but risks a popular backlash in the process.
12 September 2016
Filipinos Find Ingenious Ways to Build Their Own Basketball Hoops
"It still amazes me to see these makeshift courts everywhere and anywhere and people of all ages playing – sometimes in only flip flops."
11 September 2016
Insects Swarm Japanese Social Media: Beautiful, Breathtaking, and Bamboo
A Japanese artist is using traditional artisanal craft techniques to create compelling bamboo insects that have developed a devoted following online.
Taiwanese-Japanese Leadership Hopeful's Candidacy Exposes Japan's Xenophobia
Renho Murata will have to convince many that she and the newly formed Democratic Party are 'Japanese enough' if she wins the leadership nomination next week.
Indonesian Movie Tackles the Bugis Marriage Custom of Giving Dowry to the Bride
This is the first time that a mainstream film in Indonesia has focused on the Uang Panai’ marriage custom.
Timorese Olympic Athletes Didn't Win a Medal in Rio but Still Inspired Their Country
"We will tell the youth to focus on sports and contribute to the nation. It's similar to the path shown to us by our heroes in their fight for independence."
10 September 2016
Apparently, Being Pro-China in Hong Kong Is No Guarantee Against Political Threats From Beijing
"I don’t know how they knew, including people very close to my family circle, important friends who support me...they read them out one by one, I started to feel afraid."
8 September 2016
Hong Kong Lawmaker Receives Death Threat Four Days After Being Elected
NGOs are condemning the persecution of Chu and urging the police to put an end to political violence that threatens the rule of law and freedom of speech.
6 September 2016
Hong Kong Voters Elect Pro-Democracy Legislators to Defend the City's Autonomy From China
Despite a massive push by the pro-China establishment to influence the vote, Hong Kong's opposition won three more seats than in 2012.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
