Author: t
-
TIFF 2024 ▞ Introduction▞ 8. Band of Outsiders: On Neo Sora’s Happyend▞ 7. The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s By The Stream▞ 6. The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam▞ 5. The Master and Her…
![[TIFF 2024] “The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s 𝐵𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚” by Nirris Nagendrarajah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/by-the-stream.png?w=1024)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Toshihiko Tanaka (director), Rei 莉の対, 2024. 190 min. Toshihiko Tanaka, an actor and photography enthusiast, crafts a compelling narrative in his minimalist yet emotionally resonant debut, Rei. The story…
![[REVIEW] “The Parallax Effect: Toshihiko Tanaka’s 𝑅𝑒𝑖” by Marianna Jaśniak](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/rei-1.png?w=1024)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Matthew Meyer (author and illustrator), The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons: A Field Guide to Japanese Yokai, Hardcover Collector’s Edition, 2015. 224 pgs. Images copyright 2015-2025 © Matthew…
![[REVIEW] “Tales of Japanese monsters, ghosts, and spirits: Matthew Meyer’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠” by Marsha McDonald](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshot-2024-11-29-at-22.20.32.png?w=1024)
-
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
![Protected: [REVIEW] “The Strangeness Within: On Rajyabardhan Dhal Mahapatra’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑑’𝑠 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒” by Kathiravan Annamalai](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/copy-of-copy-of-copy-of-untitled-design.png?w=600)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Yan Lianke (author), Carlos Rojas (translator), Sound and Silence: My Experience with China and Literature, Duke University Press, 2024. 192 pgs. In late April 2024, Literary Hub released an…
![[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “Yan Lianke: The Reader Comes First” by A. B. Freeman](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/feb5978a-5dfd-11ea-be3e-43af5536d789_image_hires_104029.jpeg?w=1024)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Click HERE to read all entries in Cha on The Life of Tu Fu. Eliot Weinberger, The Life of Tu Fu, New Directions, 2024. 64 pgs. A flying goose dropping out of…
![[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “A Fictional Autobiography: Eliot Weinberger’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑢 𝐹𝑢” by Juan José Morales](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshot-2024-11-29-at-17.39.54.png?w=1024)
-
茶 FIRST IMPRESSIONS 茶 REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Beyond Stereotypes: Ronald Weitzer’s Sex Tourism in Thailand” by Akin Jeje Ronald Weitzer, Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia’s Premier Erotic Playground, New York University Press, 2023. 337 pgs. Ronald…
![[REVIEW] “Beyond Stereotypes: Ronald Weitzer’s 𝑆𝑒𝑥 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑” by Akin Jeje](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/sex-tourism-in-thailand-inside-asias-premier-erotic-playground-1.jpg?w=1000)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Sanaka Hiiragi (author), Jesse Kirkwood (translator), The Lantern of Lost Memories, Picador, 2024. 224 pgs. What if, when you die, someone greets you with drinks and snacks, briefing you…
![[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “Between the Living and the Dead: Sanaka Hiiragi’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠” by Aditi Yadav](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/sanaka-hiiragi.png?w=1024)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Benjamin Hegarty, The Made-Up State: Technology, Trans Femininity, and Citizenship in Indonesia, Cornell University Press, 2022. 198 pgs. I grew up seeing transwomen day and night. During the day,…
![[REVIEW] “Dress Up for Indonesia: Benjamin Hegarty’s The Made-Up State” by Mario Rustan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/finalreadingsbooklaunch20april2023_poster.jpg?w=816)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Yasunari Kawabata (author), Edward G. Seidensticker (translator), Snow Country, Vintage, 1996. 192 pgs. The short review goes a little something like this: Is it possible for one to love…
![[REVIEW] “Love Lies Wasted: Yasunari Kawabata’s 𝑆𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑦” by A. B. Freeman](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/yasunari-kawabata.jpeg?w=1000)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Paul French, Her Lotus Year: China, the Roaring Twenties, and the Making of Wallis Simpson, St. Martin’s Press, 2024. 298 pgs. Wallis Simpson will forever be imprinted on British…
![[REVIEW] “Remembering Wallis—Paul French’s 𝐻𝑒𝑟 𝐿𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟: 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠 𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑜𝑛” by Susan Blumberg-Kason](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/f09d90bbf09d9192f09d919f-f09d90bff09d919cf09d91a1f09d91a2f09d91a0-f09d918cf09d9192f09d918ef09d919f-f09d90b6e2848ef09d9196f09d919bf09d918e-f09d91a1e2848ef09d9192-f09d9185f09d919cf09d918ef.png?w=1024)
-
📁RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Shiori Ito (director), Black Box Diaries, 2024. 102 min. This review may contain spoilers. In Bangkok, I went with a friend to see Black Box Diaries, directed by Shiori…
![[REVIEW] “Shiori Ito’s 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐵𝑜𝑥 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠: Documentation is a Political Action, Courage Too” by Peixuan Xie](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshot-2024-11-25-at-19.39.56-1.png?w=1024)
-
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
![Protected: [REVIEW] “All in All, We’re Just Another Brick in the Wall—Saikat Majumdar’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑢𝑟: 𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑦” by Kabir Deb](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/the-amateur.png?w=600)
-
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
![Protected: [REVIEW] “Violence, Guilt and the Weight of Inaction in As You Stood in Lee Jung-rim’s 𝐴𝑠 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝐵𝑦” by Dorina Tataran](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lee-jung-rim-director-as-you-stood-by-2025.-tv-mini-series.-60-min.jpg?w=1024)
-
Chris Song’s note: Roses in the Floating World 浮世薔薇 is the debut novel of Luwei Rose Luqiu 閭丘露薇, bearing an autobiographical touch as it recounts the lives of three generations of women—Miss Zhao, Ruolin, and Xiaoyu. The narrative follows these…
![[TRANSLATION] “𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 [An Excerpt]” by Luwei Rose Luqiu, translated by Chris Song](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/luwei-rose-luqiu-and-chris-song_cha-an-asian-literary-journal.png?w=1024)
-
📁 RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁 RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Click HERE to read all entries in Cha on All We Imagine as Light. Payal Kapadia (director), All We Imagine as Light, 2024. 118 min. Payal Kapadia’s debut feature All We Imagine as Light is…
![[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “A Poetic, Nocturnal Film: Payal Kapadia’s 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑊𝑒 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡” by Oliver Farry](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/all-we-imagine-as-light.png?w=1024)
-
“… In this way, too, poems are en route; they are headed toward. Toward what? Toward something open, inhabitable, an approachable you, perhaps, an approachable reality.” —Paul Celan, tr. Rosemarie Waldrop. Cha is accepting submissions for a new poetry-focused section…
-
We will be pausing the publication of new pieces on our websites until Monday 25 November 2024. During this period, all content on our three platforms (asiancha | chajournal | hkprotesting) will remain fully accessible for your perusal. While new…
-
茶 FIRST IMPRESSIONS 茶 REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “On Memory” by Jonathan Chan Permutations (detail), 1976. Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (South Korean, 1951–1982). Black and white, 16 mm film on video, silent; 10 min. Collection of the University…
![[ESSAY] “On Memory” by Jonathan Chan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/permutations-detail-1976.-theresa-hak-kyung-cha-south-korean-1951e280931982.jpg?w=904)
-
© Mavis Cheung MONG KOK 忙/忘 mong4 kok—we forgot why we are in such a mongstate that we are okayeveryday we dash for thecash. was it our 夢 mung6? you don’t even have a kokthis is not mung kok,mong kok,…
![[EXCLUSIVE] “Two Poems: Mong Kok and Miasma” by Mavis Cheung](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/mong-kok-1.jpg?w=1024)
-
TIFF 2024 ▞ Introduction▞ 8. Band of Outsiders: On Neo Sora’s Happyend▞ 7. The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s By The Stream▞ 6. The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam▞ 5. The Master and Her…
![[TIFF 2024] “The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s 𝑉𝑖𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁𝑎𝑚” by Nirris Nagendrarajah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/viet-and-nam.jpg?w=753)
-
[TIFF 2024] “The Master and Her Muse: On Jia Zhang-ke’s 𝐶𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠” by Nirris Nagendrarajah
TIFF 2024 ▞ Introduction▞ 8. Band of Outsiders: On Neo Sora’s Happyend▞ 7. The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s By The Stream▞ 6. The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam▞ 5. The Master and Her…
![[TIFF 2024] “The Master and Her Muse: On Jia Zhang-ke’s 𝐶𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠” by Nirris Nagendrarajah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/caught-by-the-tides.jpg?w=560)
-
TIFF 2024 ▞ Introduction▞ 8. Band of Outsiders: On Neo Sora’s Happyend▞ 7. The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s By The Stream▞ 6. The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam▞ 5. The Master and Her…
![[TIFF 2024] “Self-Studies: On Sook-Yin Lee’s 𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝑡” by Nirris Nagendrarajah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/paying-for-it-sook-yin-lee.jpg?w=1024)
-
📁 RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁 RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Carlo Ledesma (director), Outside, 2024. 142 min. This review contains spoilers. Outside (2024), written and directed by Carlo Ledesma, is the newest entry in the ever-growing list of zombie…
![[REVIEW] “Imaging the Contemporary Filipino Zombie in Carlo Ledesma’s 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒” by Nick Garcia](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/carlo-ledesma-director-outside.webp?w=1024)
-
Chris Song’s note: Haixin 海辛 (1930–2011) was one of Hong Kong’s most prolific realist fiction writers. His deep curiosity about various professions and the lives of ordinary people in Hong Kong, combined with his broad taste in literature, allowed him…
![[TRANSLATION] “Spirits of Cicadas” by Haixin, translated by Chris Song](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/haixin-e6b5b7e8be9b_chris-song.png?w=1024)
-
OVERSEAS BRIDE ▞ Mother Tongue Overseas▞ Overseas Bride Of all the stories in Ways to Love in a Crowded City, “Overseas Bride” has received the most attention from both speakers and non-speakers of Cantonese. In particular, people seem to like to hear…
![[OVERSEAS BRIDE] “Mother Tongue Overseas” by Wong Yi](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wong-yi-writing-for-cha-an-asian-literary-journal.png?w=1024)
-
OVERSEAS BRIDE ▞ Mother Tongue Overseas▞ Overseas Bride Jennifer Feeley’s note: Written in 2020 and compiled into Wong Yi’s 2021 short story collection Ways to Love in a Crowded City, “Overseas Bride” delves into the emotional and cultural complexities of emigration, particularly…
![[OVERSEAS BRIDE] “Overseas Bride” by Wong Yi, translated by Jennifer Feeley](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wong-yi_jennifer-feeley_cha-an-asian-literary-journal.png?w=1024)
-
On my way to the prison, I heard a teaser on the radio about bananas. Something to the effect that bananas were in trouble. I didn’t hear the actual story, but I’ve been thinking of bananas ever since. For several…
![[EXCLUSIVE] “Memories of Bananas” by Daniel Hudon](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bananas2.jpg?w=837)
-
📁 RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁 RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Han Kang (author), Deborah Smith (translator), The White Book, Portobello Books, 2016. 128 pgs. As Han Kong wrote out her list of white things at the beginning of the…
![[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “A Meditation on Whiteness: Han Kang’s 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘” by Jennifer Eagleton](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/the-white-book-first-published-may-25-2016.jpg?w=977)
-
TIFF 2024 ▞ Introduction▞ 8. Band of Outsiders: On Neo Sora’s Happyend▞ 7. The Soul of an Artist: On Hong Sang-soo’s By The Stream▞ 6. The Two Maidens: On Trương Minh Quý’s Viet and Nam▞ 5. The Master and Her…
![[TIFF 2024] “The Inheritance: On 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐵𝑒 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙 and 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑠” by Nirris Nagendrarajah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/tiff2024-asian-cha.png?w=1024)
Cha 