The latest trending Culture & Society issues across Korea, the US, Japan, China and Europe, updated every day.
The Mie Prefectural Assembly on Oct. 16 unanimously passed Japan’s first customer harassment (‘kasuhara’) ordinance with penalties. Violating a governor’s prohibition order could bring a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and the ordinance takes effect in April 2027.
High school protests that began in France over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages are spreading to Albania, Greece and Argentina. More than 6,000 people have been arrested in France, 85% of them under 18.
Fans lined up overnight ahead of a new merchandise drop at the Chiikawa shop in Seoul’s Yongsan I’Park Mall, with more than 1,200 people in line at the peak. Limited-edition keychains are being resold at more than five times retail, prompting calls for a reservation system.
Gong cha Japan launched a limited-time ‘Beni Haruka Milk Tea’ made with Beni Haruka sweet potatoes from Ibaraki, topped with the chain’s first ‘sweet potato pearls.’ Korean trend outlet Careet also featured it as a micro-trend rising on Instagram and X.
Penguin Random House withdrew a children’s book by Palestinian American authors Alana Hadid and Jinan Matari days before publication. The authors say editors demanded changes to how Palestinian history was told and will instead publish with Palestinian-owned Interlink Books.