With many Japanese putting off their holidays in the wake of recent events, it’s been reported that one popular Asian destination is already seeing a noticeable decline in tourism. The resort island of Bali, Indonesia has long been popular with Japanese—who are the third largest incoming traveler group behind Australia and China. Hopefully visitor numbers from Japan to Indonesia will resume in the coming future.

On a related note, last month I had the pleasure of visiting North Sumatra and staying in its capital, Medan, for a few days. The first thing that captured my attention upon leaving Polonia International Airport was the unique architecture of the city. Although I was aware of the history of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, I hadn’t imagined buildings with distinctly European characteristics to be so abundant throughout Medan and its surrounding areas.

Well, according to FNE Travel, it’s the presence of ‘lovely Dutch architecture' that attracts tourists to Medan—including notable structures like the town icon, a huge water tower, plus City Hall and Titi Gantung bridge, which were built by the Dutch in the early 1900s. All three were proudly pointed out to me by locals during my short stay.

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Many of us don’t tend to see Confucianism, the ancient philosophy, reflected in contemporary Chinese society and culture.

But when I recently spoke to Daniel Bell (author of China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society) on the revival of Confucianism he sees in China today, he told me that you might actually find it in a ubiquitous modern hangout—the karaoke bar. ‘Why is karaoke so popular in East Asian countries with a Confucian heritage and not nearly as much in North America and Europe?’ he asked. ‘University students in the West go to bars, but more often or not in Asian countries, they go to karaoke.’ Indeed, during my own student days in Canada, I spent a total of zero time singing karaoke with my friends.

Bell explained how one of the core ethics of the Confucian philosophy may very well have popularized the pastime in places like China: ‘Confucianism emphasizes the human voice as being important for generating harmony…It’s really hard to explain why it’s become so popular otherwise here and not elsewhere,’ he suggested.

In Japan also, karaoke is a favourite group activity amongst the young and old. In the book Confucius Lives Next Door, author T.R. Reid argues that Confucianism influences everyday Japanese and that values such as harmony and the importance of treating others decently is what has led East Asia to realize its ‘other miracle,’ in the form of ‘dramatically low rates of crime, divorce, drug abuse, and other social ills.’

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This weekend, a powerful wave of creativity and optimism traveled around the globe, raising awareness and funds to help rebuild disaster-struck communities in Japan.

Global PechaKucha Day began in Tokyo and Christchurch in the early evening (EST) of Saturday April 16 and subsequently hit over 90 cities around the world, before wrapping up in Quito, Equador. The unique event brought people together to share and listen to ideas for contributing to the recovery effort in Japan. Global PechaKucha Day was headed by Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein-Dytham Architecture, who are also the founders of the popular PechaKucha 20X20 initiative, which has for nearly a decade brought together members of the creative community in Japan. In fact, in recent years PechaKucha 20X20 has become something of a global phenomenon, with over 200 branches emerging in cities from San Francisco to Cape Town.

Saturday’s PechaKucha Day was based on four key themes: INSPIRE, JAPAN, THE ISSUES and RECOVERY and presenters at each local event were asked to speak on things that are inspiring about Japan, or ‘great ideas or solutions that help deal with the issues at hand whether earthquake, tsunami or nuclear—and the road to recovery.’ In Tokyo, the presenters list included architects, designers, innovators and more, who came together to share their unique initiatives with audiences. Some notable presentations were made by Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, co-founder of renowned architecture firm Atelier Bow Wow, representatives from runaway charity project Quakebook, and hip new music initiative AudioMovement.jp, which helps musicians around the world help victims of disaster.

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Even international pop sensation Lady Gaga has gotten on board. The singer has donated $1.5 million from the sales of a wristband featured on her website to the Japan relief effort. And it’s just been announced that she’ll be heading to Tokyo in a few months to perform at a June 25 MTV benefit show for the Japanese Red Cross.

Whether making the headlines or not, there are many dedicated groups and individuals pushing on with their fundraising and relief efforts for those affected by the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

I mentioned before I’ll keep readers updated throughout the upcoming weeks and months, on some of these projects.

Today I spoke to one long-time Tokyo resident who’s come up with a small, but unique and heartfelt way to benefit the cause. Business consultant Bernd Kestler experienced the earthquake firsthand (in an elevator in Yokohama) and was shaken up, but never once thought of leaving the city, or country. In fact he told me that he feels the entire 13 years he’s lived in Japan has been a ‘blessing.’

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This is the first in a series of dispatches by New Emissary blogger and Tokyo art gallerist Bob Tobin, as he travels through Thailand on ‘art business’ …and more.

The first stop I make in Bangkok is always the same—The Silom Galleria, not too far from Bang Rak on the Skytrain. Where else can I see so much art in one place? I’m not sure it was originally planned as a place for art galleries. In fact, it’s still usually referred to as an art and gem center and you have to climb over a lot of gem dealers to get to the art.

On my recent trip there, I started in the basement and headed right to the Number 1 Gallery, which now has three exhibition areas. They usually show contemporary Thai painters, and I like the many political works I’ve seen there, including work from Vasan Sithiket.

Sithiket’s known all over Asia not only as an artist, but as a political activist. When the now-deposed Thaksin Shinawatra was elected Prime Minister, here’s what he said: 'Our country has entered the Dark Ages led by the most powerful politician since military dictators ruled the country in the 1950s and 1960s.'

He doesnʼt hold back in his art either. Itʼs the kind of work you love or hate. Itʼs right in your face along with excrement and sexual organs.

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