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
Achieving Peace Through Sport?

On 20 May a soccer match was played in South Korea between the women’s teams of Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang Women’s FC. The North Korean Naegohyang Women’s FC beat its South Korean opponent 2-1. This remarkable match did raise the question whether a political motive was involved. Could this game of soccer bring peace […]
Blending of Traditional and Modern Korean Music

The Korean music scene is not only about modern trends but also represents traditions. Thus, the singer Song So Hee links the past to the present by successfully fusing traditional Gyeonggi minyo folk singing with contemporary musical genres. In a similar manner, @_sabristar demonstrates the synergy between modern Korean music and cultural tradition by fusing […]
Worthwhile Asian streaming platforms: Rakuten Viki

Rakuten Viki is an American-based streaming platform, owned by the Rakuten Group, focusing on Asian dramas and movies. The content features Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Thai dramas and movies. It uses a unique crowdsourced subtitle system, which means that fans can translate content themselves through a contributor program on the Rakuten Viki website. A good amount of content is accessible with a free account. However, to avoid ads, and to be able to access […]
De nieuwe webshop van Joybuy groeit in Nederland

JD.com has launched its webshop Joybuy in several countries in Europe, namely Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The platform was also recently introduced in the Netherlands. The webshop has a selection of approximately 150,000 different products to offer, such as an air fryer for fry lovers, Asian skincare for those who appreciate […]
Previous Messages

Date Posted: April 8, 2026 Pansori at the Oscars At the 98th Academy Awards in 2026, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden” becoming the first K-pop number to win a Grammy. Earlier the three voices behind the song, Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, performed the winning song for a live audience. The song […]
Thee: van het oude China naar de moderne drinkcultuur

Many people are used to drinking a few cups of tea every day. Not everyone is aware that this tradition began in ancient China. In 2737 BC, leaves accidentally fell into a cup of boiling water that had been prepared for the Chinese emperor Shennong. He decided to taste it and discovered that the drink was delicious. This is how tea as a drink was born. People have been drinking tea in China for thousands of […]