Japanese students study very hard in high school, so they can pass the entrance exams to get into a reputable national or private university.This is the opposite of many American universities where the entrance is easy but graduation is difficult. Is school hard in Japan? Since there are no consequences for failure, not very. The […]

This has triggered high vigilance in the international community. Japan has coveted nuclear-powered submarines for a long time. How many nuclear subs does Japan have? Japan currently operates the world’s fourth-largest modern submarine fleet with 22 boats, behind China, the United States, and Russia (Iran and North Korea also have large submarine fleets, but operate […]

1942. When Showa Japan invaded the East Indies in 1942 rebellious groups began to compete for the goodwill of the new colonial masters. When did Japan take over Indonesia? March 1942The Japanese Empire occupied the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of the war in […]

Nguyen. Nguyễn is the most common Vietnamese surname / family name. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. What are some common Vietnamese surnames? These family names are: Phan, Vu/Vo, Dang, Bui, Do, Ho, Ngo, Kim, Duong, Ly. Ranked under 15 biggest families, more than 120 surnames share 10% of […]

The long-bladed katana swords, famously used by Japan’s samurai, are still produced today by licensed craftsmen using traditional techniques. Why are katanas banned in Japan? Samurai Myth No. Owning a katana is illegal for the ordinary Japanese citizen. Fact: Ordinary citizens in Japan have the right to own Japanese-made blades that are registered with the […]

The war was sparked by a disagreement between the neutral administration of King Sihanouk, the head of state, and the serving Prime Minister Lon Nol. Political tension and economic instability in the capital city Phnom Penh was piling pressure on rural communist communities. What was the main cause of the Khmer Rouge? Inspired by the […]

Currency. The currency of Maldives is the rufiyaa (Rf), which is divided into 100 larees.Most resort and travel expenses will be billed in dollars, and most visitors never even see rufiyaa, as resort bills are settled by credit card and you’ll never need to pay for things in cash. Should we carry cash in Maldives? […]

While the South Korean housing market is competitive, expats will not have too hard of a time finding a place to live. On the contrary, foreigners can easily find housing in Korea within their first month (or even their first week) of arrival. Is Korea a good place to live for foreigners? “Korea is a […]

Bhutan is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.Bhutan also faces increasing threats from climate hazards and extreme events such as flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods, windstorms, forest fires and landslides. How does climate change affect Bhutan? The most significant impact of climate change in Bhutan is the formation of supra-glacial lakes […]

42.2 years. The median age in Singapore is 42.2 years. How many people are over 70 in Singapore? Population of Singapore as of June 2021, by age group (in 1,000s) Age group in years Population in thousands 55 – 59 298.23 60 – 64 282.61 65 – 69 235.39 70 – 74 181.33 What age […]

Sankhadhar Sākhwāl. (also spelt Sankhadhar Sākhwāl) was a legendary Nepalese philanthropist who allegedly paid the debts of the Nepalese people in 879 CE. This event is commemorated as the beginning of the epoch of Nepal Sambat. Sankhadhar Sakhwa Resting place Kathmandu, modern-day Nepal Who is the founder of Nepal Sambat? Sankhadhar SakhwaThe Nepal Sambat movement […]

1963. The territory acquired its boundaries in 1898. After Japanese occupation during World War II, British crown colony status was granted (1946), and Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963. When did Sarawak and Sabah join Malaysia? The Federation of Malaysia was formed following the merger of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak […]

In the Joint Communiqué, the United States recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledging the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. When did the US recognize Taiwan as part of China? 1979The United States maintained Taiwan’s recognition […]