Asian Area Studies Spring 2020

- Gorgeous traditional jeepney There is a distinct shift in the metropolitan scene of Manila in the Philippines as the major mode of transportation has been forced to call it quits.  The jeepney is an “iconic mode of public transport that has chugged on the Philippines’ roads since the 1950s, when American military vehicles left over from World War II were upcycled into hybrids of buses and jeeps.” Thanks to the new Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Plan (PUV) implemented by President Duterte in 2017, there is an apparent shift in priorities for the Filipino government. The obvious environmental benefits from switching to diesel-powered engines to solar-powered vehicles makes a strong case for change, in addition to the incorporation of disabled and senior accommodations within the new vehicles. Another benefit to the change in public transportation is the increase in vehicle safety and rider safety as these new “e-jeepneys” are fitted with CCTV to deter robbers...

The Fukushima nuclear power plant is currently still being dismantled almost nine years after its meltdown caused by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami hitting the islands of Japan. As a result, the area surrounding Fukushima is contaminated with various levels of radiation which proves to be a point of concern regarding the anticipated 2020 Summer Olympics. Locations such as J-Village, which is the starting point for the torch relay, is located 18 km (about 11 miles) south of the Fukushima plant which Greenpeace noted as a “radiation hotspot” in December. In addition to the already indicated radiation hotspots, the company that owns the plant has already had issues regarding water contamination issues and how to dispose of the excess of contaminated water. The article notes how athletes, specifically from South Korea, already plan to pack their own food and radiation detectors for their stay in Japan. While this may highlight the obvious cultural tension between the two nations...

The seemingly incessant continuation of the Star Wars franchise can seem to some like a thrilling development since the original trilogy while to others it seems like a push from the people profiting from the development of such a mass enterprise. It is clear the momentum for the franchise is centered around nationalistic American projection of values and entertainment which is why the entirety of the Star Wars franchise flopped when released in China. In comparison to the Fast and Furious or Marvel franchises, the Chinese audiences are underwhelmed by the recent release of Star Wars movies due to the lack of exposure to Western ideas around the release of the initial trilogy. In addition, the article noted that the recent trade war, “hampered both Hollywood and the Chinese film industry…nationalistic sentiments made it more challenging for films to break down the walls to cross the national, cultural boundaries”. It is relevant to note that the success of the continuation of t...