LEMONADE🍋

Hi, how was your week?

Whether this week is tiring or not, it’s important to fill yourself up with a handful of joy and sweetness. Remember: when life gives you lemons, make the most adorable, sparkly lemonade imaginable! 

PS: Missed our last edition? Catch up here!

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WEEKLY FAVORITES 💌

In this series, AHN shares our top picks from the past week—whether it's music, a movie, or a random find. We hope they bring you a little joy and maybe even spark some new experiences!

Image source: Netflix | Applause Entertainment

🎞️ Crash Landing on You (2019)

Language: Korean 
Genre: Romance 

If you’re a K-drama follower, you will surely know the way this series used to have a chokehold on the pandemic binge-watchers. For those unfamiliar, let’s embark on a parachute to a new territory where you’ll indulge in romance, cuteness, and even the tragedy of forbidden love, too. If you’re tired of Romeo and Juliet, Yoon Se-ri and Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok may bring a new flavor to you.

🎶 恋するフォーチュンクッキー (Koisuru Fōchun Kukkī / Koi Suru Fortune Cookie)

Artist: AKB48
Year: 2013

What can make summer even more fun? A Japanese hopeful song made especially for hopeless romantics. At its heart, the song is a celebratory anthem for those of us who feel like we're not enough to be in love — but believe that something good is just waiting around the corner. Add this song to your beach playlist and make the most of this summer!

WORD OF THE WEEK 🗞️

MINIGAME: 2 TRUTHS AND 1 LIE 🎍

Welcome to this small minigame! The rules are simple. We share three Asian cultural facts—two true and one false. You will choose the lie. 

Continue reading to check the answer. 😁

Discover Land Snorkelling: Nature’s Answer to Mindfulness 🌳

Land snorkelling is a mindful, nature-based wellness trend that involves observing the world around you with focused attention—much like underwater snorkelling, but on land. Coined in the early 1990s by Montana artists Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman, it encourages people to slow down and appreciate small natural wonders, like dew on grass or ants moving through cracks.

Often compared to forest bathing or the Scandinavian concept of friluftsliv (open-air living), land snorkelling invites people—especially children and city dwellers—to reconnect with nature in simple, meaningful ways. While not a new concept, its playful name helps reframe ordinary outdoor moments as powerful opportunities for reflection, awe, and inner calm.

Read the full article here.

Designing Equality: Inside the Cartier Women’s Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 💪

The Cartier Women’s Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025, led by Cyrille Vigneron, is a dynamic space designed to ignite dialogue and action around gender equality through immersive exhibits and cultural experiences. Curated by architect Yuko Nagayama with sustainable materials, the pavilion embodies the theme “Together we live, together we shine, and together we design our future.”

Interactive storytelling features the journeys of Banana Yoshimoto, Emi Mahmoud, and Xiye Bastida, highlighting resilience, activism, and leadership. The Wa space hosts global forums that offer tangible strategies in education, tech, and philanthropy, encouraging all genders to shape a more inclusive world.

Read the full article here.

WEEKLY SNAPSHOTS 🧠

Chibi is a Japanese slang term meaning “short” or “small,” but in pop culture, it refers to a specific art style that exaggerates characters into miniature, super-deformed forms. With oversized heads, big sparkling eyes, and tiny bodies, chibi characters often appear irresistibly cute and childlike. This style is commonly used in manga, anime, and fan art to depict characters in humorous or lighthearted scenarios, regardless of how serious their original context may be. 

Beyond being a visual style, chibi has become a cultural shorthand for cuteness and playfulness. It's used in merchandise like keychains, stickers, and plush toys, often making even the most fearsome villains look cuddly. In fan communities, artists love drawing chibi versions of their favorite characters because the style allows for fun reinterpretation and parody.

MYSTERY SOLVED 🔍

✅ True — Aegyo is mostly used by girls to flirt with guys. While anyone can do aegyo, it’s often associated with cute, flirty behavior from girls toward guys—especially in K-pop and Korean dramas. But guys do it too, especially idols!

✅ True — There are specific hand gestures, facial expressions, and even scripted phrases used in aegyo. Think pouting lips, heart fingers, high-pitched voices, and classic lines like “Oppa, saranghae~” — all part of the aegyo toolkit!

❌ Lie — Aegyo is considered rude if done in front of elders. It might be seen as silly or cringey, but not rude. In fact, elders often find it adorable or amusing, especially when kids or younger relatives do it playfully.

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