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Viral stories

An Indian KOL walks without shoes to assess Japan’s cleanliness, surprised to discover that her white socks stay pristine. Photo: SCMP composite/IG@simranbalarjain
Japan

KOL strolls shoeless to rate Japan’s hygiene, finds white socks remain spotless

Cleanliness is central to Japanese culture, reflecting order and discipline, while littering is seen as disrespectful.

Trending in China

Ex-Chinese gymnast Wu blasted by Olympic champion Guan for posting ‘sexy’ videos

Thailand

‘Goofy’ Thai golden tiger captures hearts, emerging as next star after hippo Moo Deng

Japan

Japan teen girls use hot melted glue to create tear-like droplets in makeup

Trend has been criticised in Japan and China as ‘ridiculous’ for resembling sperm and snot.

Japan’s latest make-up trend, popular among teenage girls, involves using hot melted glue to create droplet shapes that mimic tears. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@_griiiiz/X.com
United States

US firm offers service for clients to ‘scold’ bosses without fear of backlash

Company is actively hiring ‘scolders’ but only parents who often use strong language with their kids can apply.

Japan

Japan funeral home offers ‘coffin-lying’ to let people reflect on life and death

‘Coffin cafe’ innovation sees young people flock to funeral home to lie down in open caskets, take photographs, come to terms with death.

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Japan

Japan man avoids decisions for 15 years by sticking to same foods and routines

Man finds reducing personal choices lightens mental load, leading to clearer thoughts.

Kita, above, believes that avoiding daily personal choices helps him prevent “decision fatigue” in our information-saturated world. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
Japan

Japan man loses wife, 3 kids in quake, runs emotional marathon in their memory

Grieving father runs race, trains for it in places where he and late family members used to play together.

Thailand

Thai woman finds surgical needle left in vagina after 18 years of pain

Suture needle cannot be removed by doctors, procedure has been postponed three times because it has shifted within her body.

Viral Paris Olympics star Kim takes break from shooting to spend time with family

The 32-year-old who rose to stardom during the Games, where she won a silver, says she is tired from the competing and public attention.

South Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji posing for a photo during an interview at a shooting range in Seoul in October. Photo: AFP
Vietnam

Vietnam man worries that ‘too pretty’ daughter not his, shocked by birth switch

Distrusting father turns to alcohol over too beautiful daughter, employs DNA test, wife leaves after truth emerges that she is not his.

A man in Vietnam who was suspicious that his “too pretty” daughter was not his child was shocked to find that the child had been accidentally switched at birth. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Trending in China

Chinese basketball clubs hit back at ‘obsessive fans’ after player abused online

Former Liaoning Flying Leopards guard Guo Ailun joined Guangzhou Loong Lions after 14 years, and both clubs have been in the firing line.

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Japan

Japan Buddhist monk shares wisdom, cat photos, links people to cola to promote hope

Thought-provoking posts on social media by abbot attract big online following, actual visits to Buddhist temple.

Japan

Loyal ‘fictosexual’ Japanese man awaits sixth wedding anniversary with ‘wife’

Man’s love for sythesised ‘woman’ fails to dim over time despite being ridiculed as anime addict by online observers.

A Japanese “fictosexual” man is eagerly anticipating his sixth wedding anniversary with his synthesised wife. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
Swimming

Chinese Olympic champion Qin Haiyang insists fiancé’s claims of affair ‘fake news’

World record holder doubles down on stance on allegations, but social media users go on attack after 50m breaststroke win in Singapore.

Qin Haiyang’s win in the men’s 50m breaststroke in Singapore completed a clean sweep of World Cup victories. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Devoted fan welcomes baby at Jay Chou’s Malaysia concert, making headlines

Father says they have picked a name for daughter, but not the one suggested online, which was after Chou.

Indonesia

Thai con woman arrested for not singing Indonesia’s anthem while posing as local

Immigration issues lead authorities to uncover Thai woman on the run for committing staggering US$59 million fraud in native country.

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Japan

Safety fears as Japanese ‘tight men’ in body suits morph into ‘women’ in public

Groups of men dressing up in feminine, cosplay-inspired manner spark wave of concern about safety of real women in Japan.

Safety concerns are growing in Japan over a phenomenon which sees some men “dress up” as women using silicone body suits to appear female in public. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/X.com
Malaysia

Malaysian wife cares for bedridden husband for 6 years, jilted after recovery

Reports indicate that her ex-husband remarried just one week after their divorce.

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Trending in China

China woman arrested for scam after undergoing plastic surgery to elude authorities

Woman accused of defrauding 6 victims by promising them flight attendant jobs with renowned airlines.

Trending in China

‘Rude’ staff at luxury Japan boutique kneel in apology before angry China woman

Speedy removal of shawl from shoulders of woman customer sparks rude service confrontation, fierce online debate.

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Sales staff at a Japan boutique kneel in apology before customer from China after she complains about rude service. Photo: SCMP composite/Xiaohongshu
Malaysia

Malaysia cleaner worked for 27 years without a day off raising successful kids

He recalls hearing about job opportunities in Malaysia and his readiness to take on work others avoided.

A Malaysian cleaner has worked 27 years without a day off, raising three successful children. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@humansofkualalumpur.official
Russia

Overeating ‘Russian Leonardo DiCaprio’ forced to join army, fight in Ukraine

Moscow-based Hollywood star lookalike piles on pounds as work dries up, enlists in Russian army to make ends meet.

Swimming

Getting tickets for family a struggle for Pan at World Aquatics Swimming World Cup

Double Olympic champion says his parents were also not in attendance when he broke the 100m freestyle record at the Paris Olympics.

Trending in China

Next Blackpink Lisa? Cambodia princess ‘to train for stardom’ in South Korea

Precocious 12-year-old speaks five languages, has 910,000 YouTube followers, eyeing K-pop fame.

Next Lisa of Blackpink? Cambodian princess reportedly eyes K-pop stardom. Photo: SCMP composite/IG@lalalalisa_m/Weibo
Trending in China

China ‘lady killer’ gains 1 million fans in a month after sharing life as kept man

He keeps wife company while she does household chores, even though he does not actively assist her.

A Chinese man who admits to being a kept man is praised for his understanding and supportive nature towards his partner. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Japan

Japan man has 4 wives, 2 girlfriends aims to father 54, become ‘god of marriage’

Man says he ‘loves women’, enjoys role of house husband and claims to have sex more than 28 times every week.

Thailand

Global fame of Thai hippo Moo Deng inspires cosmetics, life-enhancing cash gift

Super cute baby hippopotamus stars in hit US comedy show, prompts one woman to fly around world just to visit her.

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Viral stories
Trending events, happenings and people that have made waves on social media or online in wider Asia, and the world beyond.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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