|  | | A new film is causing a buzz in Japan. Released on Nov. 11, anime director Makoto Shinkai's latest work "Suzume no Tojimari" ("Suzume Locking Up the Door") has already brought in a total of around 3 million admissions and 4.1 billion yen ($29 million) in ticket sales. The film, which centers around 17-year-old high school student Suzume, follows her journey across Japan to close "Doors of Disaster." "In Japan, it is customary to hold a jichin-sai (groundbreaking ceremony) before construction begins on a new building or home, but we do nothing when we close them down," Shinkai said. "Like we mourn the dead at funerals, I thought it was a good idea to write a story of mourning deserted places." |
 | | Taipei, meanwhile, held its first in-person pride march since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite pouring rain, some 120,000 people joined the celebration. The rapturous music and huge public backing serve as colorful symbols of Taiwan's progressive modernity. The Taiwanese forged their democracy in the 1990s after suffering under the iron-fist rule of strongman Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang. The island has come a long way since then. For many young people, being a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community is an important aspect of their sense of Taiwanese identity. |
 | | Elsewhere on the Life & Arts desk, we offer you a look at pandemic-born art by Chinese contemporary artists, who have faced harsh and heavily enforced health restrictions. Nikkei Asia associate editor Dominic Faulder writes about life beyond Bangkok, Thailand's rich and sophisticated capital. For more on Southeast Asia, check out our story on digital nomads, who are being reevaluated by governments across the region as a source of long-term income, rather than a nuisance. |
You can always read all of our Life & Arts pieces here. |
|
|
