Stories about East Asia from December, 2008
Bahrain: Comparing the Bahraini and Japanese work ethic
Bahraini blogger Yagoob is currently studying in Japan - and has seen firsthand the legendary Japanese work ethic. In this post he compares the attitude of many Bahrainis towards work with that of the Japanese.
Taiwan: Charter 08 and Taiwan
David on Formosa commented on Charter 08 along with quotes from Taiwan News and Financial Times. At the end he said: “In realising the dream of a free China lessons...
China: Interview with Bei Feng
Adam from DANWEI interviewed a famous blogger, Bei feng, who talks about new media space in China.
China: Interview with Journalism Professor
ESWN translated an interview with associate professor Hu Yong of Peking University, School of Journalism and Communication at Tianya forum.
Oversleeping in the Philippines
Going against the current traces the cultural roots of oversleeping as a taboo in the Philippines.
Philippines: Watching Pinoy Big Brother
Overwrite views the popular reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother from a Baudrillardian lense: ‘When one watches the show, where is the center-point? Who is watching who? And which side...
Philippines: Music Teacher's Memoirs
A young music teacher from the southern Philippines shares her experience on teaching musical expression to children.
Singapore: Quotable (un)quotes of the year
Singapore Dino compiles the year's “stupid remarks” from Singapore's “Bungling Ministers.”
Singapore Flyer, a white elephant already?
Because of the recession, fewer people are visiting the Singapore Flyer (the world’s largest observation wheel). According to Empty Vessel, “if no drastic measures are taken to restore people’s confidence...
Singapore: Unnecessary study on Tsunami impact
DK is surprised that the government commissioned a S$1.3 million two-year study which only confirmed a well-known fact that Singapore is protected from tsunamis.
Thailand: Blocked websites
The Freedom Against Censorship Thailand has just received a secret list of blocked websites leaked from Thailand’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. The report mentioned 1,303 websites which were...
Vietnam: Blogging to be regulated
Vietnam has introduced some new restrictions on blogging. Blog posts which undermine national security, incite violence or crime, and disclose state secrets are banned. Internet companies are also ordered to...
Myanmar: Shoes, politics and colonialism
Shoes had been a symbol of politics in Myanmar. Aung Zaw of The Irrawaddy writes about a “shoe incident” involving British colonizers who didn't remove their shoes when they met...
Vietnam: Extreme street cables
oobject posts pictures of extreme street wiring in Vietnam cities.
Japan: The year in Japanese blogs
What were bloggers writing about this year in the Japanese blogosphere? The year in Japanese blogs at Global Voices included posts on everything from an American Enka singer making waves in Japan, to debates on the regulation of “harmful” Internet content, to the Olympic torch relay in Nagano.
Taiwan: Pandas arrive at Taipei Zoo
Two pandas arrived in Taiwan yesterday from China and are now in quarantine at Taipei Zoo. They will go on public display in late January. Michael Turton explains the pandas...
Taiwan: Winners of Citizen Journalism Award
Peopo, a unique and successful citizen media project presented by Taiwan's Public Television Service(PTS), just announced the second Citizen Journalism Award winners. The five video reports are about the disaster...
Hong Kong: Not too boring Christmas
Karden, with her black and white cats, wish you a not too boring Christmas. (via inmediahk.net)
Korea: Teachers who have been fired
Recently, some Korean teachers were fired because they were opposed to a new test that the government initiated, Ilje Gosa (one-type test, a nationwide scholastic achievement assessment). It is a...
Japan: Christmas illuminations within a click
Blogger Happy Kernel suggests a website that collects videos of Christmas illumination along the streets of every Japanese city. The idea of this website's creator, Shinya, was to make it...
China: Why China’s Block of the New York Times Doesn’t Matter
Adam from Shanghai Scrap explained why China's block of the New York Times doesn't matter.