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. […]
Small and Medium sized K-pop agencies expand globally with the help of a new project
K-pop entertainment agencies are turning a new leaf with the help of South-Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). The Ministry and KOCCA have introduced a new funding initiative aimed at helping small and medium sized entertainment agencies expand into international markets. Starting this year, the government […]
A historic bond: Dutch Japanese relations
This year, we are celebrating the 425 years old relations between Japan and the Netherlands, although they have actually already lasted for 426 years. In 1600, when a Dutch ship from Rotterdam named De Liefde, ‘The Love’ in English, shipwrecked in Japan after a long and challenging journey. De Liefde’s arrival in Japan in […]
A healthy way to eat: Hara hachi bu
Japan is one of the healthiest nations on earth and the life expectancy of the Japanese ranks among the highest. Low obesity rates and active everyday lives contribute to this record. Of course, much also depends on the Japanese diet. However, the is also another important factor at work, known as hara hachi bu. It stands for […]
Wereldmuseum Leiden presents Museumnacht: Oostenwind.
On June 6, 2026, Wereldmuseum Leiden presents Museumnacht: Oostenwind. Experience art, music, and culture from South Korea, Samoa, and West Papua. Discover K-pop: A Snapshot, enjoy a live outdoor performance by Korean band NuMori, explore the work of Yuki Kihara, and learn more about the stories behind Time for Papoea. Place: Wereldmuseum Leiden Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS Leiden Time: 20.00 – 01.00 Museumnacht: Oostenwind – Wereld Museum Leiden