South Korean with paralysis completes master’s degree using only his eyes
Jang Ik-sun, 37, was diagnosed at age five with the incurable condition that weakens and degenerates muscles, which gradually took away his ability to move. Despite this, he…
Spotlight
Japanese company sun-dries straw hats in the cold of winter
Tanaka Boshi Ten (Tanaka Hat Shop) in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, produces about 40,000 various types of straw hats annually. Its craftsmen make the hats with sewing machines.…
Japanese Nobel Laureate Mishima’s letter spurred writer Ishihara to enter politics
The letter that encouraged Ishihara to take that path was sent three years before Mishima (1925-1970) killed himself at a Self-Defense Force garrison in the Ichigaya district of…
Pashupatinath premises in Kathmandu abuzz with Babas ahead of Shivaratri
Shivaratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is considered one of the most sacred nights according to the Vedic calendar, alongside other holy nights such as Kaalratri, Moharatri, and…
Live well, die well: As South Korea ages, investors turn to funeral services
The funeral services market has been rapidly evolving, with nearly two in 10 South Koreans (8.92 million people) subscribed to prepaid funeral plans as of 2024.
No tuition or travel, but Singapore family with four children say ‘we have all we need’
The father of the four children, Mr James Ong, 42, had heard from older relatives and friends that they wished they had spent more time with their families. And so, while others…
One Vietnamese man’s quest to keep a language alive
Born in 1949, Ninh grew up speaking the Thai language and learning about his ethnic group’s culture and traditions. However, like most people in his community, he could neither…
Chepang beekeepers of Nepal taste success in honey business
The indigenous community has been campaigning to conserve Chiuri trees, which provide nectar for bees.
Japan’s mountain trails are seeing more hikers, but trail menders are ageing
Until five years ago, the trail was overgrown and abandoned. Its revival began in 2019. Wakana Fukushima, a TV personality who serves as “Mitake health ambassador,” started to…
The Gulgee Museum in Karachi is a son’s tribute to a master
When Amin started working on the museum, everything started to fall into place. He ended up dividing his father’s collection into 17 sections. “Of course, I’m a huge fan of…