GU: Uniqlo’s emerging sibling, crafting style with social media
GU (极优) is a Japanese brand founded in 2006 specializing in affordable and casual clothing. It is a subsidiary of Fast Retailing, the parent company of the retail giant Uniqlo. The brand’s name, “GU”, is a pun on the Japanese word “jiyū” (自由), “freedom” in English, signifying an escape from high-priced clothing. As of August […]
“Would you still choose Japanese skincare products?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Twelve years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown in 2011, Japan was set to release treated radioactive waste into the Pacific Ocean due to limited space to contain the waste. This raised concerns over safety issues revolving around potential contaminations of Japanese skincare and cosmetic products among Chinese netizens. In the 1st week of April, there […]
Saizeriya in China: how a Japanese chain of Italian food turned into a cult favorite
It has been roughly twenty years since the opening of Saizeriya’s (萨莉亚) very first restaurant in Shanghai in June 2003. By the end of 2021, the Japanese franchise has grown to a total number of over 1,553 outlets across the globe and more than 362 outlets in Mainland China, making it one of the most […]