The Grammys created a new category for Asian pop music, but BTS have decided to withdraw from the awards in 2027. The group says music should be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.

The Recording Academy — organisers of the Grammy Awards — said the creation of several new categories, including Asian pop, is meant to make the ceremony more inclusive.

So, is the new category a long-overdue recognition of Asia’s growing influence on global pop or does it risk putting Asian artists in a box?

In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC music correspondent Mark Savage and Asian pop commentator Andy Trieu about BTS’s relationship with the Grammys, which has for years been grappling with how to best reflect the rise of K-Pop. In the conversation, they try to answer the one question everyone seems to be asking: who gets to define what pop music is.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

This episode was recorded on 20 August 2026.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is tightening visa and residency rules for foreigners amid growing concerns about the pace of immigration in recent years.

But Japan’s overall population continues to shrink alongside neighbouring China and South Korea, raising a question: Why don’t these countries embrace larger-scale immigration as a way to offset the decline?

Takaichi’s changes to permanent residency rules, visa fees and compliance processes aim to enforce and tidy up an existing system that has already opened the door to foreign workers.

But until the last decade or so, immigration was largely a foreign concept in Japan, and the relatively rapid increase in foreign residents to more than 3% of the total population has prompted concerns and debate.

Population decline is also affecting neighbouring China, where authorities are encouraging couples to have more babies.

But China isn’t looking to bring in foreign workers, and less than 0.1 per cent of the resident population there is from abroad.

In this episode of the Asia Specific podcast, host Mariko Oi is joined by the BBC’s Japan correspondent Kurumi Mori and Shawn Yuan of the BBC’s Global China Unit to discuss attitudes towards immigration across North East Asia, and how people in Japan and China view the West’s experience of multiculturalism.

China has a growing “manosphere”. But it isn't a copy of the one in the West. So what's fuelling the anger among many young Chinese men?

There are no Andrew Tate-style influencers leading a movement. Instead, frustration is spread across online communities where some young men vent about dating and the cost of building a family.

The soaring cost of marriage and the long shadow of the one-child policy have turned up economic and demographic pressures on the country, reshaping relationships in China today.

On this episode, host Mariko Oi is joined by a senior journalist working on the Asia Specific podcast, Derek Cai. Also on the discussion are Dr. Ling Tang, who teaches cultural studies at the University of Melbourne, and Yihuan Zhang, a graduate researcher at the University of Macau.

Together, they examine why and how Beijing has targeted both feminist and misogynistic voices online, and what the government's efforts to control the conversation reveal about power, gender and social stability in China.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war.

So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released?

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from influential neighbour Thailand in August.

His visit prompted criticism from Burmese exiles in Thailand, some whom describe Min Aung Hlaing as a “criminal” responsible for a conflict that has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the past five years.

Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Myanmar’s government released the first photos of Aung San Suu Kyi in five years, prompting observers to question whether the 81-year-old will be released soon.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and exiled Burmese pro-democracy activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than US$100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering: was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback?

Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt are putting pressure on budget airlines across the region.

In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to aviation analysts Shukor Yusof and Brendan Sobie about whether the glory days of low-cost travel in Asia are really over. We also hear from travel blogger Jaclynn Seah, who has noticed airfare increases and changing travel costs across Asia.

They discuss how rising fuel costs are affecting Asian airlines, whether passengers will keep paying more, which carriers are most exposed, whether cheap fares can return, aircraft delivery delays and whether China’s Comac could eventually reshape the market.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? In this special bonus episode, Asia Specific podcast host Mariko Oi joins as guest of the BBC Business Daily podcast hosts Rahul Tandon and Will Bain to assess the intervention and what it will mean for Japan.

This is an additional bonus episode, you'll still receive the two regular Asia Specific podcast episodes each week.

It was recorded on Wednesday August 5th, 2026.

You can find more episodes from the BBC Business Daily podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p002vsxs

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

A record 12.7 million university students in China are about to enter the workforce, putting an already strained job market under unprecedented pressure.

China’s youth unemployment rate has been relatively high, hovering around 15%, but the growing challenge of AI has some analysts forecasting a youth jobless spike.

Artificial intelligence is starting to replace an entire layer of entry-level positions that have traditionally been the starting point for fresh graduates. China, one of the world's fastest adopters of AI, is feeling the impact.

So what can China's government and its young jobseekers do to navigate the labour market?

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by journalist Chen Yan from BBC Chinese Service and economics professor Shen Kailing from the Australian National University.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

The worldwide counterfeit and pirated goods industry is estimated to be worth almost half-a-trillion US dollars, and Vietnam is one of the most significant players in the illicit trade. But now the country’s government is seeking to change that. In May 2026, Vietnam was named by the US government as one of the worst offenders for Intellectual Property right violations. Combined with fresh threats of renewed tariffs from the Trump administration, Vietnam’s government has launched a crackdown, targeting local vendors selling counterfeit goods. Mariko Oi delves into the counterfeit crackdown in Vietnam with journalists Duc Ha from the BBC World Service and Lindsey Tramuta, a freelance journalist based in Paris. Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk