Culture

A weeb, or weeaboo, is a Japanophile: someone who appreciates and loves Japanese culture, its people and history. The previous term, “Wapanese,” is now considered derogatory.

Japanese farmers hang teru teru bōzu, small handmade dolls made of white paper or cloth, outside their windows in the hope they will bring good weather.

The Trobiand Islands off the east coast of New Guinea offer a fascinating look into a culture unaffected by Western civilization.

Otherwise known as “giving the finger” or the “one-finger salute,” flipping the bird has its origins in ancient Greece, becoming the obscene hand gesture it’s known for today.

At 101, Whang-Od is the world’s oldest and last living practitioner of Kalinga, a Filipino tribal tattoo practice

Humour is often overlooked when trying to tackle and raise awareness of social issues. That’s not an accusation you can level at British designer Laila Laurel. Laurel’s anti manspreading chair is a funny and clever take on how to deal with the ills of man-spreading.

Glass Gem Corn has been an internet hit due to it’s beautiful rainbow colours. However, the real story is how a determined Carl Barnes patiently developed rainbow corn and helped restore an important piece of lost Cherokee heritage.

Rigged elections? Russian Facebook trolls influencing voter behaviour? None of these accusations are being leveled after the Estonian region of Kanepi adopted the cannabis leaf for a new coat of arms.

A German union is making the case for a 28-hour shortened work week in a bid to secure an improved work-life balance for it’s members.

From shopping malls to gas stations, over-sized, pink, female-only parking spaces are springing up in China. The initiative has stirred controversy amid claims that woman-only parking spaces enforce a stereotype of bad female drivers.