How Porcelain Became a Cultural Medium
When people think of art it is often the emotions that leave the strongest impression. Yet, art also has the remarkable ability to bring people together across boundaries. Art encourages mutual understanding, respect, and acceptance, by connecting various cultural influences. A powerful example of this is the work done by Philip Read, a Canadian […]
When School Bullying Might Cost You Your Job
South-Korea has been strongly influenced by Confucianism, a philosophy that prioritises social harmony and the group over the individual. People are therefore usually encouraged to blend in with society rather than stand out. Academic achievement is also highly valued, especially among students, because Confucianism requires you to engage in self-cultivation. Getting good grades, attending high-quality […]
From Cultural Diplomat to Cultural Filmmaker
During the recent visit by President Xi Jinping to President Trump people-to-people diplomacy, i.e. interactions between people from different countries that help build mutual understanding, played an imported part. Thus, President Xi proposed providing opportunities for 100,000 American students to study in China. The expectation is that China-US relations will benefit from the opportunity offered […]
The National Museum of Korea’s dress-up Contest
The National Museum of Korea is number three on the list of the world’s most popular museums. The question is what causes this high ranking. There are many fascinating artifacts on display in the National Museum of Korea. The museum offers visitors a chance to explore Korea’s history and culture through its expansive collection. But […]
Cultural exchange through fashion
Cultures are not airtight, but, on the contrary, constantly interacting in time and space. Fashion is part of this transcultural exchange: it combines components of different cultural identities while crossing time and place. In recent years, modern artists have taken inspiration from traditional Asian clothing in the fashion industry. Fashion based on the Japanese kimono, which historically represented status, identity […]
BTS’s stance on the new Grammys category
The Grammy Awards are an annual music awards ceremony broadcasted on television since 1959. Through the awards, outstanding achievements in the music industry across different genres including pop, rap, jazz, and others are recognized. This includes celebrating the entire process of music making such as production, songwriting, and audio engineering. A new category, […]
Unlikely box-office hit in China
Currently, one of the most popular films is the Chinese production called Nu Lai. The film centres on Nui Lai, a bull who dreams of adventures and must meet certain challenges such as crossing a lake while learning different aspects of life alongside his mother. The film draws huge audiences, since its release on August 5th it has made almost $6.7 million in […]
Dealing with intimidation in South Korean Schools
A recently released drama series from South Korea, called Teach You a Lesson, addresses the relations between teachers and students at Korean schools, in which intimidation sometimes play as role. Even though the drama itself is fictional, some episodes are based on real life events. The series revolves around the fictional Teachers’ Rights Protection Bureau, a government […]
Japan Festival 2026 Impressions
As mentioned before in the blog post ‘A historic bond: Dutch Japanese relations’, the bonds that already exist for 426 years were celebrated in Amstelveen on June 28. The atmosphere was very lively and the food that was on offer was delicious. The presence of corporations like Mitsubishi and Nintendo shows that the event is considered an important podium for sharing […]
Manga and Anime are prominent expressions of Japanese culture
Manga and Anime are two entertainment genres in Japan. Manga represents a type of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, while Anime refers to Japanese animated TV shows and movies. Anime can therefore be regarded as a more dynamic version of the more static manga. Because of their unique storytelling and strong connection to Japanese culture, both have gained popularity throughout the world. […]