North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/kim-daughter-state-mausoleum/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #kimjongun #northkorea #eastasia
A small but growing number of parents in China are rethinking the country’s rigorous education system and switching to homeschooling, despite a current ban on the practice. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/society/china-homeschool-students-youth/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #china #education #eastasia #children #schools
LandSpace, the first Chinese entity to conduct a reusable rocket test, is now preparing to go public to fund its future projects, as U.S. rival SpaceX considers its own IPO. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/29/landspace-spacex-competition/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #landspace #china #eastasia #space #rockets #elonmusk
Taiwan’s military could respond rapidly to any sudden Chinese attack with all units able to operate under a decentralized mode of command without awaiting orders from above, Taipei’s Defense Ministry has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/16/asia-pacific/taiwan-china-military-response/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #taiwan #china #eastasia
East Asia’s fertility plunge is driven not just by financial costs but by perfectionist cultural expectations that burden parents with intense educational and social demands, discouraging larger families. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/05/japan/east-asias-demographic-crisis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #asia #eastasia #china #japan #southkorea #education #children
East and #SoutheastAsia have the most populated time zones in the world.
Yet most so-called "global" #civilsociety calls or meetings are set at times that are incredibly inconvenient for those of us here. And, as a result, you see so few #Asians participating in a lot of global networks. It's a self-defeating cycle.
The Japan Football Association is planning to join a bid to host the 2046 FIFA World Cup along with other Asian countries. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/07/18/soccer/world-cup/japan-world-cup-joint-bid/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #worldcup #fifa #japanfootballassociation #eastasia #southeastasia