Asia Culture

Every morning in the Japanese town of Shibuya, Professor Ueno awakens and is greeted by his loyal Akita dog, Hachiko. They enjoy a breakfast together before the professor leaves to catch the train to the school where he teaches. And Hachiko sits at the station eagerly awaiting his master’s return. Then one afternoon Professor Ueno does not return. And Hachiko waits. Days and weeks pass and still no one - not even the young boy Yasuo who comes to care for him - can persuade the faithful dog to leave his post. Years go by and yet still he waits.

Three sisters listen to their grandmother recount a mesmerizing childhood memory on a rainy afternoon. The long complex story, filled with danger and excitement, relates what happened when Ying-ying was seven and celebrating the Moon Festival in China. On that long-ago night of the Moon Festival, she encountered the Moon Lady, who grants the secret wishes of those who ask.

What does an Irish town and a village in India have in common? A water crisis that only a group of kid geniuses can fix! Max and her CMI friends attempt to use their smarts to find solutions, but it's hard to save the world when you're trying not to be kidnapped! A greedy corporation with an eye on capturing Max seems to know their every move. It's almost like the bad guys have a spy inside the Change Makers....

It's 2020, and children are stuck indoors as the novel coronavirus finds its way into India. A nationwide lockdown is announced, and amidst the growing crisis, Ajja and Ajji welcome their grandchildren and Kamlu Ajji into their house in Shiggaon. From stitching masks, sharing household chores, preparing food for workers to losing themselves in timeless tales, the lockdown turns into a memorable time for the children as they enter the enchanting world of goddesses, kings, princesses, serpents, magical beanstalks, thieves, kingdoms, and palaces, among others.

Korean Sun-hee and her brother, Tae-yul, must study Japanese language and culture in school. The symbols of their beloved Korea - like its flag and the rose of Sharon tree - can never be displayed or mentioned in public. When the emperor of Japan decrees that all Koreans must take Japanese names, Sun-hee and Tae-yul become Keoko and Nobuo. But as World War II explodes all around them, Sun-hee and Tae-yul wage their own war to stay true to their family, their country, and themselves.

On the last night of the Hungry Ghost Festival, Liang discovers something evil hiding in his family’s candle shop. It's a zombie! With her friend, Tong, she must banish him away before the festival ends at midnight! Will they succeed? Or will the zombie take their qi or life energy?

Set in contemporary India as well as that of several hundred years in the past, The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming continues the adventures of Anand and his efforts to become a fully fledged member of The Brotherhood of the Conch. This time Anand's journey takes him back to Moghul times, as he encounters powerful sorcerers, spoiled princes, noble warriors and evil jinns. Divakaruni is a master storyteller, and once again she weaves a vibrant tapestry of action, suspense, and rare beauty.

With her inspired works, acclaimed author Grace Lin has earned a Geisel Honor and a Newbery Honor. In Dumpling Days, Pacy’s family travels to Taiwan for a month. This is Pacy’s first trip to Taiwan, so she’s extremely excited. But soon, she realizes that everything about this trip is difficult: speaking the language, following her art teacher’s directions—even making friends. Fortunately, it’s not long before Pacy sees that the trip isn’t all bad—and that the family bonding that occurs makes everything else worthwhile.

When aspiring photographer Dylan Moore is invited to join his best friend Rohit Lal on a family trip to India, he jumps at the chance to embark on an exciting journey just like their Lord of the Rings heroes, Frodo and Sam. But each boy comes to the trip with a problem: Rohit is desperate to convince his parents not to leave him behind in Mumbai to finish school, and Dylan is desperate to use his time in India to prove himself as a photographer and to avoid his parents' constant fighting. Keeping their struggles to themselves threatens to tear the boys apart.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

The Second World War is regarded as one of the most brutal conflicts of the modern era. This book investigates what war can do to one's identity, character, and culture. The Imperial Japanese soldiers from New Guinea, Chichijima, and other Asia Pacific Islands ate the flesh of prisoners of war and slave laborers, sometimes stripping the meat from live men. Who is to blame? Cannibalism Culture: The Bushido Horror in World War II uncovers the hidden causes of horror in war.

When Kimi travels to Japan to escape her problems, she quickly learns more about the mother she left behind, and realizes she must figure out where her own heart lies.

Discover the endless fascination of Indian culture with five tales, selected for you for their power of evocation, wisdom and humor. "The Alligator and the Jackal" is a tale of wit and cleverness, about which will defeat the other. "Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals" is another example of how cleverness can overcome even the most powerful. "The Farmer and the Money-Lender" shows the eternal struggle between class, and a way to trick the tricker; "Who Killed the Otter's Babies?" will bring you deep reflections about causality and responsibility; and Tit for Tat is a powerful lesson about the dangers of habits.

In India, stories spread about the magical powers in the songs of a young boy named Tansen. Years later while hunting in the forest, Emperor Akbar witnesses the magic of Tansen’s voice. Now a member of Akbar’s court, Tansen is challenged by the other musicians to perform the Deepak Raga, a song that could bring fire and death to the singer. Will Tansen be able to survive the dangers of this song?

Travel to China. Find out the facts about this country in Asia.

Named Temujin at birth by his nomadic family in early Mongolia, the great Genghis Khan used his skill and cunning to create the Mongol Empire and conquer almost the entire continent of Asia. As ruler of the largest empire in human history, he was as respected as he was feared. Learn more about the man and the legend in Who Was Genghis Khan?

All in all, Japan seems to be a country of paradoxes and oppositions, of yin and yang. Yet it doesn’t seem to suffer from it; instead, it is thriving, growing, and developing, and it has been doing so for a long time. From those contradictions, a sense of unity and pride arose, guiding Japanese history and civilizational development through the ages, leaving an unquestionable mark on the world heritage and mankind. But this is only the surface of an astonishing culture that deserves a deeper look.

Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture illustrates how the spaces between tiles and the moments between games have fostered distinct social cultures in the United States. This mass-produced game crossed the Pacific, creating waves of popularity over the 20th century. Annelise Heinz narrates the history of this game to show how it has created a variety of meanings, among them American modernity, Chinese American heritage, and Jewish American women's culture.

Take an alphabetical exploration of the people, geography, animals, plants, history, and culture of Russia! The Country ABCs series makes learning about countries and cultures as simple as A to Z.

This audiobook provides an alphabetical exploration of the people, geography, animals, history, and culture of India.