New Books in East Asian Studies

China's household debt has exploded from 11% of GDP in 2006 to over 62% today—a profound transformation in a traditionally savings-focused society. How is this reshaping social relationships and daily life?In this episode, Dr. Jiaqi Guo from the University of Turku reveals findings from her corpus analysis of China's largest debt support forum. Her research uncovers the practice of "contact bombing" (爆通讯录), where collectors harass debtors' entire social networks, causing what Chinese debtors call "social death" (社死).With minimal institutional protection, desperate debtors are forming underground support networks and developing their own legal expertise. This cultural shift exposes a human dimension of China's economic growth that statistics alone cannot capture.Dr. Jiaqi Guo is a University Lecturer in Chinese at the University of Turku, Finland.This episode is hosted by Hanna Holttinen, University Teacher in Chinese language at the University of Turku, Finland.The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the following academic partners: Asia Centre, University of Tartu (Estonia), Asian studies, University of Helsinki (Finland), Centre for Asian Studies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku (Finland) and Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University (Sweden) and Norwegian Network for Asian Studies.We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Successful cult films like The Host and Snowpiercer proved to be harbingers for Bong Joon Ho's enormous breakthrough success with Parasite. In Bong Joon Ho (U Illinois Press, 2024), Joseph Jonghyun Jeon provides a consideration of the director's entire career and the themes, ambitions, techniques, and preoccupations that infuse his works. As Jeon shows, Bong's sense of spatial and temporal dislocations creates a hall of mirrors that challenges us to answer the parallel questions Where are we? and When are we?. Jeon also traces Bong's oeuvre from its early focus on Korea's US-fueled modernization to examining the entanglements of globalization in Mother and his subsequent films. A complete filmography and in-depth interview with the director round out the book. Insightful and engaging, Bong Joon Ho offers an up-to-date analysis of the genre-bending international director. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Kishore Mahbubani, longtime Singaporean diplomat and academic, opens his new memoir with a provocative line: “Blame it on the damn British.” Kishore, who later served as Singapore’s ambassador to the UN and founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, was born to poor migrants in Singapore, studied philosophy on a government scholarship—and from there, somehow got roped into the foreign service.Kishore was one of the first guests on the show when he joined to speak on Has China Won?: The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy (PublicAffiars: 2020) all the way back in October 2020—and he joins us again to talk about his latest book, Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir (PublicAffairs: 2024)Kishore Mahbubani is a veteran diplomat, student of philosophy, and celebrated author, he is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute. His careers in diplomacy and academia have taken him from Singapore’s Chargé d’Affaires to wartime Cambodia and President of the UN Security Council (Jan 2001, May 2002) to the Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2004-2017).You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Living in the Asian Century. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia.Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Catherine Lila Chou, a World History expert at National Chengchi University, and Mark Harrison, a Senior Lecturer specializing in Taiwanese politics at the University of Tasmania, dive into the complex identity of Taiwan. They challenge oversimplified narratives, discussing Taiwan's revolutionary journey to democracy since the late 20th century. The duo highlights Taiwan's unique position on the global stage, the symbolism in its national identity, and personal reflections on its evolving sociopolitical landscape amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Jiaqi Guo, an Assistant Professor in Chinese at the University of Turku, delves into the complexities of Nordic Style as portrayed on Chinese social media. The conversation explores how misinformation shapes cultural perceptions and consumerism. Guo emphasizes the oversimplification of Nordic aesthetics, challenging the commercial narratives dominating the digital landscape. The discussion reveals the importance of independent creators in countering misleading portrayals and highlights the broader implications for cultural exchange between Nordic brands and Chinese consumers.

In this engaging discussion, Mario Cams, an editor and scholar of East Asian studies, and Elke Papelitzky, co-editor and scholar, delve into the intricate world of Ricci maps. They explore the rich complexities of cultural exchanges between East and West during the sixteenth century, emphasizing the collaborative nature of map-making. The conversation highlights how these maps have been continually reinterpreted and contextualized, revealing the interconnectedness of various East Asian nations while challenging common misconceptions about their historical significance.

Xian Wang, an Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame and author of "Gendered Memories: An Imaginary Museum for Ding Ling and Chinese Female Revolutionary Martyrs," explores the legacies of female revolutionary martyrs in China. She discusses the innovative concept of an imaginary museum that juxtaposes personal narratives with historical memories. Wang argues that the stories of figures like Ding Ling challenge established gender norms. The conversation dives into societal expectations, agency amidst patriarchy, and the complexities of representing these women's sacrifices.

Xiangli Ding, an associate professor of history specializing in modern China and environmental history, discusses his book, highlighting the dual nature of hydropower in China. He explores the historical evolution of dams, revealing their impact on landscapes and communities. The conversation delves into the human cost of hydropower development in the 1950s, emphasizing resettlement challenges. Ding also examines the interplay of energy, ecology, and political change, illustrating how infrastructure projects reshaped not just energy systems but also social dynamics.

Dr. Seungsook Moon’s Civic Activism in South Korea: The Intertwining of Democracy and Neoliberalism was published by Columbia University Press in July 2024. She provides in-depth qualitative studies of three different types of organizations to show how civic organizations that emerged from the democratization movement with a conscious emphasis on social change have sought to address socioeconomic and political problems caused or aggravated by South Korea’s neoliberal transformation. Examining how “citizens’ organizations” in South Korea negotiate with the market and neoliberal governance, Seungsook Moon offers new ways to understand the intricate relationship between democracy and neoliberalism as modes of ruling.Dr. Moon is a professor of sociology at Vassar College in New York. She is political and cultural sociologist, scholar of gender studies, and East Asianist specializing in South Korea. Leslie Hickman is a student at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. She has an MA in Korean Studies from Yonsei University and lives in Seoul, South Korea. You can follow her activities at https://twitter.com/AJuseyo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

In recent years, manga and anime have attracted increasing scholarly interest beyond the realm of Japanese studies. This Companion takes a unique approach, committed to exploring both the similarities and differences between these two distinct but interrelated media forms. Firmly based in Japanese sources, The Cambridge Companion to Manga and Anime (Cambridge UP, 2024) offers a lively and accessible introduction, exploring the local contexts of manga and anime production, distribution, and reception in Japan, as well as the global influence and impact of these versatile media. Chapters explore common characteristics such as visuals, voice, serial narrative and characters, whilst also highlighting distinct challenges and histories. The volume provides both a basis for further research in this burgeoning field and a source of inspiration for those new to the topic.Listeners are also invited to observe an author roundtable on Feb.19, 2025. Please RSVP here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies