· September, 2012

Stories about East Asia from September, 2012

Myanmar: 500 Prisoners Released

  19 September 2012

More than 500 prisoners in Myanmar are expected to be released[my] this week. A number of netizens assume that it's a political tactic in preparation for the president's trip to the United States.

Southeast Asia: Initiatives to Celebrate International Day of Peace

  19 September 2012

Various youth groups and individuals in Southeast Asia are initiating several activities to celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21. The campaign is timely and relevant since many countries in the region are troubled by long running civil wars, border disputes, and separatist movements.

China: Censor Machine Suspended for Anti-Japan Mobilization?

  16 September 2012

As the tension between China and Japan over the disputed Diaoyu Islands (also known as the Senkaku Islands) has elevated, large scale anti-Japan protests have taken place all over China in more than 50 cities over the weekend. But what lies behind the scenes of the weekend's demonstrations?

Malaysia: Parenting Guidelines on How to Spot Gays and Lesbians

  16 September 2012

A parenting seminar in Penang, Malaysia became controversial after it issued guidelines for parents on how to detect symptoms of homosexuality. The guidelines were allegedly endorsed by the Ministry of Education. According to the guidelines, gays often wear V-necks and sleeveless tops

Thailand: Mobile App for Traffic Reports

  16 September 2012

Thailand's National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre has released a mobile application called FM91BKK which helps users to access specific traffic reports in their areas.

Japan: Imagining Future Japanese-Korean Relations with ‘Free Hugs’

  15 September 2012

A "free hugs" video filmed in Korea by a young Japanese man attracted another round of attention this summer. The creator's intent was to "prove that there is hope for the future of Japan and South Korea". The deterioration in international relations between the two countries, reported upon daily in the media, has been causing a stir recently.

Japan: Radio Airs Story of Fukushima Province Evacuee

  15 September 2012

Multilingual community radio station FMYY in Kobe has aired a radio drama titled “Under Invisible Clouds” [ja], the story of Yasuko Sasaki, one evacuee from the town of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture. This story was produced by volunteers in Hiroshima as a part of the 100 Stories Project [ja] about...

China: Another Waves of Anti-Japan Protest

  15 September 2012

Anne Henochowicz from China Digital Times reports on the new waves of anti-Japan protest in major cities in China. Some angry protesters attempted to attack Japanese restaurants and cars.

China: RMB 4 Trillion Stimulus Package Questioned

  15 September 2012

In the past few months, some online public opinion leaders have openly criticized the Chinese government's RMB 4 trillion stimulus package introduced in 2008 during the global financial crisis. But Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has stressed that the government "will not hesitate to use" the surplus in the upcoming budget year.

Japan: Kansai Queer Film Festival Kicks Off

  14 September 2012

Japan's 7th Kansai Queer Film Festival kicks off in Osaka this weekend September 15-17, and will be held in Kyoto on October 12-14. It celebrates and shows various films that focus on diverse gender and sexuality issues around the world.

China: Guangzhou Students Protest University Gender Quotas

  14 September 2012

Ewan Christie from Nanfang.com reports about university students’ protest against the university gender quotas. Female students have to obtain a much higher score than the male counter part in the public examination to enter the same university.

In Sea of Censorship, China Allows Anti-Japan War Vitriol

  14 September 2012

A fleet of six Chinese surveillance ships has been deployed in response to the Japanese government's move to purchase three disputed islets from their private Japanese owners. Some Chinese netizens have reacted to the news with anti-Japan warmongering on social media channels.

China: The Million Tree Project

  14 September 2012

Jonah Kessel introduces a NGO called Shanghai Roots & Shoots which carried out the Million Tree Project in Kulun Qi of inner Mongolia by working with the national and regional Chinese government.

China: Traffic Jam

  14 September 2012

Chengdu Living blogs about the problems behind traffic jam in China: the rapidly increasing urban population, number of car owners, poor city planning because of corruption.

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.