The Plight of the Kopino

The term Kopino is derived from Korean-Filipino; its connotation, however, is a negative one- it refers to the children of Filipina Korean comfort women with Koreans who have visited the country as tourists or on short business trips.

Often forced into prostitution, the women are not much more than girls- and that’s why the topic is so disturbing- and, perhaps, why there hasn’t been enough news coverage on it. Read More

Halloween Fever In Japan

Two decades ago the idea of getting dressed up in ghoulish costumes, decorating your home with jack-o-lanterns and going door-to-door asking for candy was thought of as a bizzare western custom in Japan. Not anymore.

This weekend, the streets of Tokyo were packed with people in costume and shopfronts were adorned with witches and pumpkins – Halloween fever has hit Japan. Read More

Explosions Rock China’s Xinjiang Region, 2 Killed

Beijing — At least two people were killed and several injured as China’s Xinjiang region was hit by a series of deadly explosions on Sunday, the authorities said.

The blasts occurred in multiple locations across Xinjiang, an ethnically sensitive region that has experienced a spate of violent incidents in the recent months. According to the government operated Tianshan news portal, three powerful explosions took place at about 5 p.m. in Luntai County, located in the southwest of the regional capital, Urumqi.

Although the report said the injured were rushed to the hospital, it did not give any information on how many people suffered injuries or what was the cause behind the explosions.

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Korean Crackdown on Sex Industry

Brothel owners and high-class callgirls will have you believe that their business is all part of doing business in Korea. But as News.com.au recently reported, the South Korean tax office has been cracking down on these types of “sleazy services”, frustrating many local sex industry businesses. Read More

Japan-China Relations: Where is it Heading to?

Of all the countries that Japan had conquered in the past and have established friendly relations with later, it is China that has become so hostile in recent years. Many people including journalists are wondering why this is so when the others do not feel so much hatred towards Japan.

Despite its economic cooperation, China and Japan continue to be in conflict over several issues. These cover Japan’s wartime atrocities that caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Chinese and claims of ownership of the eight small islands off East China Sea collectively known as Senkaku/Daioyu among others. Read More