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Asia Life
Sports, culture and the arts are a passion for billions in the Asia-Pacific, and offer unique insights into what makes countries here tick. From the latest cricket match to prize-winning novels and the latest art exhibitions, The Diplomat's bloggers cover it all, giving you a fresh perspective on the region.
The Revival of Boléro in Vietnam
By Dinh Duy
Ironically, while the North won the war, it is the once-banned yellow music of the South which Vietnamese love.
Forbidden Ink: Redrawing the Lines of Japan’s Tattoo Debate
By Jonathan DeHart
As fashion and social context evolves, could attitudes towards tattoos change in the country?
India: The Dying Home of Hume
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The house of the founder of the oldest party in India is slowly turning into ruins.
Why Are Chinese Tourists So Badly Behaved?
By David Volodzko
Narratives of exceptionalism and nationalism are crucial ingredients in making an "ugly Chinese" tourist.
Forbidden Ink: Japan’s Contentious Tattoo Heritage
By Jonathan DeHart
Despite an illustrious past and revered status overseas, Japanese tattoos have long struggled for acceptance at home.
New Dengue Vaccine Potential Game Changer for Asia
By Tikki Pang
A recent WHO recommendation on vaccination signals a potential tipping point in the global fight against dengue.
Why Did Vietnam’s Thanh Nien News Close Its English-Language Service?
By Helen Clark
Thanh Nien was no propaganda tool, it was far too interesting for that and it will be missed.
The Mountain Monks of Japan
By Jonathan DeHart
Meet the Yamabushi, a group of alpine ascetics who are opting out of the rat race and reconnecting with nature.
Painting the Bangkok Night
By Jonathan DeHart
An interview with American artist Chris Coles on his watercolor visions of Bangkok’s seedy side.
Tokyo 2020 and Japan’s Soft Power
By Yukari Easton
Japan's cultural appeal is at its best when the government takes a hands off approach.
Drowning Yunnan's Valleys
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
In northern Yunnan, the future of multiple rural villages are under threat from hydropower dams along the Lancang.
Dams and the Rise of Lancang River Fishing
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
In Jinggu county, the construction of dams on the Lancang have created a recent fishing boom, though it may not last.