10 years on from Sri Lanka's civil war, old wounds reopen

This week marks 10 years since the end of Sri Lanka's civil war. But the country's relationship with peace, justice and accountability was deeply fractured even before the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, writes Sanjana Hattotuwa.

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Q&A: Vietnam's place in the 5G race

Vietnam has just become the fifth country in the world to successfully test a 5G network. Tech entrepreneur Mitchell Pham has been following Vietnam's 5G developments and spoke with the Asia Media Centre about its progress.

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Research looks at how China views New Zealand

We've been hearing a lot about the China-New Zealand relationship this year. But what does China actually think of us? Here are some takeaways from New Zealand Story's 2018 Perceptions research: How does China see New Zealand.

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What has media in New Zealand been reporting about Asia? Here's a roundup of stories from the past week. 

• Anne-Marie Brady submits strategy for New Zealand to stand up to Chinese government
  STUFF
    
• Chinese interference: Anne-Marie Brady's full submission 
  NEWSROOM
    
• Harassment of outspoken China expert continues
  NEWSROOM
   
• Don't squander this chance to improve democracy
  NEWSROOM
   
• Experts fume over foreign interference 'shambles' 
  NEWSROOM 
   
• Otago lecturer's article censored by China
  OTAGO DAILY TIMES

• China's falling birth rate: What it means for infant formula makers 
  NZ HERALD
    
• Floating ideas: Where to relocate a sinking capital city
  RADIO NZ

• Māori fashion scales Great Wall of China
  MĀORI TV

Grant Otsuki, Victoria University

Get to know Grant Otsuki, a lecturer in cultural anthropology and Japan specialist at Victoria University of Wellington.

What are you working on right now?

One of my current research projects is a historical study of how computing and information science developed in Japan after World War II, looking at how these sciences and technologies have shaped present-day Japanese society.

Tell us the most interesting thing that’s not on your CV:

I once worked at the second-busiest Starbucks in the world in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. During morning rushes, we had three or four espresso machines going at once — my shop was one of the first in Japan to use automatic espresso machines. The shop was in a train station, so we saw a lot of commuters, but because it was Shibuya I occasionally served coffee to celebrities, including Philippe Troussier, when he was coach of Japan’s national soccer team.

What’s your favourite film about Asia?

Since the Avengers are all over the place right now, I’ve been thinking about a 2007 movie called Big Man Japan, directed by and starring Japan’s most famous comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto. It’s a mockumentary following the dismal life of a man who must transform into a giant to defeat monsters that attack his city, but who the public treats like a nuisance. It’s a bizarre take on modern Japanese society, Japan-US relations, and Tokusatsu genre films like Godzilla.

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Myanmar: Pilot safely lands plane without front wheels

A Myanmar National Airlines pilot has won praise for managing to land a jet without its front wheels after the landing gear failed to deploy. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred at Mandalay International Airport on Sunday.

Japan: World's fastest bullet train unveiled

Japan has started testing the fastest-ever shinkansen bullet train, which will be capable of reaching a top speed of 400 kilometres per hour. Named the Alfa-X, the train is scheduled to go into service with railway company JR East in 2030. 

Thailand: German TV show apologises for mocking royals

A German TV show has apologised for lampooning the wedding ceremony of Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. The skit sparked outrage on Thai social media, as it fell foul of the country's strict lèse-majesté laws.