White Sox rookie third baseman Munetaka Murakami has emerged as one of the most feared power threats in the game, launching 20 home runs so far, the second-highest tally in the majors.  By reaching that milestone in just 55 games, Murakami set the record for the fewest games needed by a Japanese-born player to hit 20 home runs, shattering Shohei Ohtani’s previous mark of 101 games.  His 41 RBIs and .938 OPS are both the fourth-best marks league-wide in their respective categories.  This production has pulled the White Sox to within a single game of the AL Central lead – a stark contrast to their last-place finish in the AL a year ago.  That momentum faces an immediate hurdle, however, as Murakami was diagnosed over the weekend with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and is projected to sit out four to six weeks.

Out west, right fielder Jung Hoo Lee put together a dominant individual performance for the Giants during a high-scoring series in Denver.  Lee dismantled the Rockies pitching for 11 hits across three games, highlighted by a pair of doubles and a triple.  The weekend explosion reinforced his reputation as an elite contact hitter, pushing his season batting average from .268 up to a stellar .304, 10th best in the MLB.

Before we’ve even hit the All-Star Game, Shohei Ohtani has greatly improved his chances at winning a fourth consecutive MVP.  His odds have shifted from -135 in the preseason to a commanding -900 as we start June.  At the plate, Ohtani is hitting .280 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs, while carrying the NL’s 3rd-best on-base percentage and 8th-best OPS.  However, it’s his impact on the mound that has garnered even more buzz, now with the fourth-best odds at winning the NL Cy Young.  Through 55 innings pitched, Ohtani has flashed a microscopic 0.82 ERA along with an identical 0.82 WHIP while striking out 10 batters per nine innings.

In other sporting news, Korean American boxer Stephanie Han successfully defended her WBA female lightweight world title, securing a hard-fought majority decision victory over combat sports legend Holly Holm in their highly anticipated rematch.  Fighting in front of a passionate hometown crowd in El Paso – where she also serves as a police officer – Han faced a highly technical, neck-and-neck battle through ten grueling rounds.  By digging deep in the final frames, Han protected her undefeated 13-0 record, leaving the ring with the championship belt still firmly in her possession.

Kelli (00:01) Hi everyone, my name is Kelli Welcome to the Gold Sea Podcast. Today I'm doing something a little bit different and I'm going to be starting a series about my recent trip to Japan.

I spent a little bit over a week in Japan. I stayed in Osaka, I stayed in Tokyo, and I was in Kyoto. And one of the biggest culture shocks I had while I was there wasn't the trains, wasn't the food, and it really wasn't even the language. It was the fashion. I realized almost immediately that people in Japan approach clothing completely different than us Americans do.

As someone who's been a stylist at Nordstrom for over six years I started to notice a couple of things that most other tourists probably wouldn't.

So when you get there, of course, you are going to notice how stylish everyone looks. And I'm not talking about influencers or models or actors and actresses, people who are dressing up in the famous fashion districts. I mean just the normal people. When I say I have never seen that many well-dressed people all in one place, I mean it. The people going to work, the students on the train, people who are just casually grabbing coffee somewhere, they all look more put together.

Together than the average American might on a night out. Honestly,

I've been working in American retail and fashion for quite some time, so I have a pretty good understanding of what Western fashion looks like. And I can understand what trends Americans are buying into and really what people are feeling confident wearing. A lot of the insecurities that Americans might have here, that doesn't exist in Japan. And when I got there, I realized that fashion operates under a completely different mindset. It's not better.

fashion or trendiness. It's not about getting what all the stores are putting on their models. It is about your personality. It is about your own creativity it's almost like people are answering a different question when they are getting dressed in the morning.

American fashion is often about comfort and just overall looking attractive objectively. And Japanese fashion feels more like creating art or creating an aesthetic identity. And the outfit itself becomes more a part of that. But the funny thing is, once you can see the difference, you cannot unsee them.

So I kinda wanna get into the specifics of this whole Japanese versus Western fashion thing.

In America, especially after COVID, fashion is just so casual. There's a whole movement of, it doesn't matter what you look like. It doesn't matter what you're wearing. You wear stuff for yourself and you wear stuff to make yourself feel comfortable. Athleisure is a a whole new category of clothing that includes leggings, hoodies, sneakers, something that you can work out in, but also go to work in. And that's become everyday.

Fashion.

In the United States and even living in Los Angeles, a fashion capital. I see this constantly. If you're a tourist, if you're not from Los Angeles and you come to LA, you would think you're going to see the best dressed people. It's a fashion city. You're gonna see the best dressed people. Everyone there is going to have their own unique style. But really, LA fashion is so lifestyle-based. People want that effortless, clean.

Clean girl look, they want to look rich, they want to look comfortable, they want to look healthy, just all at the same time. It's like a whole I didn't even think about my outfit. I just kind of threw this on. and honestly,

that certain look actually takes a lot more effort than you would think.

Since we're talking about Los Angeles, a lot of the West Coast fashion revolves around wellness culture too. We have the neutral colors, we have very minimal makeup, the trendy sneakers and activewear, oversized sunglasses. It's very influencer driven. ⁓ and even luxury fashion in Los Angeles tends to be much more casual than somewhere like in Japan.

Of course in America there are those cities that you will find.

More people in the fashion world similar to those in Japan. So, like New York City, for example. The fashion in New York City is changing completely. East Coast fashion, I would say, is much more similar to Japanese fashion. It's more structured and layered and more experimental than Los Angeles fashion. And I would think a lot of people on the West Coast would find East Coast outfits intimidating.

People in New York City, they're wearing sharper tailoring, they're layering things, they're wearing leather, they're wearing boots. New York fashion really gives you that cool look. If you are looking for something that's just so cool, you will find people that dress like that in New York. While LA fashion feels like you're just trying to look attractive.

without any effort. You need to look your best, but not put any work in to look like that. Whereas in New York, you can tell that these people are putting in much more thought, much more time into how they present themselves when they step out of their homes. But in Japan

It's much different from both West Coast and East Coast fashion. When I was in places like Shibuya and Harajuku, one of the biggest things I realized was how much detail everyone pays to their outfits. In America, fashion is

Very much emphasized to focus on your body. Fashion is designed to emphasize your body, emphasize your natural curves, show off your muscles, show off your body type, and really just almost have that sex appeal. Fashion in Los Angeles, especially, you need to have that certain sex appeal in order to be considered objectively attractive.

People in LA, they talk about looking snatched. They look they talk about how flattering something makes your body. But Japanese fashion focuses more on the outfit itself rather than you.

And the body underneath it. So you might see a lot of oversized everything. People in the United States, when we say oversized, oversized means something completely different in Japan. Oversized is seriously oversized in Japan. People want something that is going to be different. It looks so cool. These trousers are oversized. So it's not even just the oversized jeans. It's oversized.

Trousers, it's oversized slacks. It's these gorgeous jackets with wide silhouettes. They're layering jackets. They're putting zippers on jackets with buttons. They're putting loose tailoring on these long coats that have a snatched silhouette that still makes your waist look small. But it also has that extra long tailoring of a coat. We have the baggy shirts and all of this cropped outerwear.

And somehow all of these different aesthetics look so good in an intentional way together. So people in Japan, they are taking a pair of slacks, a pair of oversized slacks that somebody in America might only deem to wear them in the office. They're taking these slacks and they're mixing it with a super baggy oversized t-shirt. And maybe that t-shirt's even cropped.

And then there's a beautiful structured jacket layered on top. And on top of that, you get all the accessories. They have different hats, they have different socks, they've got belts. Everything in Japan was just so detailed. All of these outfits that I'm seeing on the street.

So many layers, so many details. The jewelry, the the chains hanging off of a belt, just it all comes down to these small details. So again, like I said, it's all intentional too. It's not just, I threw this on and I look so cool. In Japan, you can tell exactly how much time and how serious these people are taking the way that their outfit is portraying them.

You'll see these crazy looking shoes that they have on. Platforms super in in Japan. I saw so many girls with platform shoes and so many stores that were selling the platform shoes. And it could go like boots, it was sandals, it was normal tennis shoes. The platform is very, very in over there.

Another huge difference that I saw in American and Japanese fashion is logos and branding. American fashion culture is so obsessed with branding, status symbols, luxury clothing. You see designer belts, you know exactly what brand it is based off the label. You see these designer bags, you see different hype sneakers that are reselling for hundreds of

dollars. Fashion in America is so consumption focused. People dress so that others know how much their outfit costs. If one of the pieces that you're wearing is not designer, it's not that cool

in industry standards in Los Angeles. But in Japan

What I notice is that people care much more about styling the actual outfit than labels. I did not see a single person there with a shirt or jacket that had a whole Louis Vuitton monogram all over it.

It's just in the details again. A purse's silhouette. The silhouettes are completely different in Japan. The way that the garments even move while you're walking is different. It flows more. The purse hangs a little bit better.

The styling of the outfit is just beautiful. They just are not afraid to look different. Whereas here in America, we're so afraid to stand out. We're so afraid to do something that's not trending. We want to.

Do the things that are trending, but in Japan, they want to be different. I think they would be caught dead if they saw somebody with the same jacket as them.

Most of the jackets that I saw the girls wearing, they were all cropped. another thing that I noticed a lot amongst the Japanese girls there is that the skirts are a huge thing.

A lot of the Japanese girls that I even talked to that they told me that they like to wear skirts because they like to show their legs because it gets a guy to talk to them, and that's what they're looking for. These girls they want a boyfriend, so to try to draw attention, they wear a skirt. Sometimes they'll wear leggings under the skirt, sometimes they won't have leggings under the skirt. But I saw so many girls, they're wearing a little mini skirt, they're wearing some platform shoes, and they're wearing a cropped

jacket and that was a pretty common thing that I saw.

Their clothes are just so unique and so interesting, so different, that it's so hard to make something identical. Whereas here we see something on TikTok and we want that exact item.

Here you have a bunch of girls in Los Angeles, and they're all wearing a matching set, they're wearing a matching set from DFYNE and they are all basically kind of your regular normal gym outfit.

I I really think that Japan has influenced global fashion way more than people realize. It's

not as popular as it as I wish it was here. I think a lot of people need to start being more open and going out of their comfort zone, wearing stuff that you wouldn't usually wear, wearing stuff that you might think looks weird here. I bought so many different clothing items from Japan and when I wear it here, it looks a little odd. It looks like out of place almost.

It kind of just is obvious I did not get this jacket here. And, I really like that idea. Now, after being in Japan, like I do not want to buy this matching ⁓ workout set that this girl has on TikTok because I want to find something else to work out in. I want to find a different outfit to work out in so that I am not looking identical.

And that's what people in Japan love doing. They love finding their own style.

Some of the most influential designers in the fashion industry came from Japan. We have Ray Kawakubu, we have Junya Watanabe, we have Issey Miyake so many different designers that have shown the world shape tailoring and the different constructions.

But for some reason it gets overlooked by the clean, aesthetic, effortless look here in Los Angeles or even in the United States in general.

I think in the US with the trends, they move so fast. Everything is changing. What people are wearing is constantly changing in the United States, but in Japan, they seem to have more of an appreciation for the way things are made and the quality of fabrics. And just overall timeless pieces. One of the most popular jackets that I had seen over there was a trench coat. And quite almost every woman that I saw there had a trench coat on.

It's classic. Here in Los Angeles, no one would ever wear a trench coat, even when it's raining. You don't need a trench coat here in Los Angeles. In New York, it's definitely more of a popular clothing item. you definitely need a trench coat in New York, which is why I would say the fashion in New York is much more similar to those in Japan.

The people in Japan just have that natural swag. They have that natural eye that puts an outfit together perfectly.

I don't think one culture dresses better than the other, but I think that the different fashion truly reflects the culture of America and Japan. American culture, again, we value convenience, we value comfort, we value trends. Whereas Japanese fashion, they like precision, presentation, and aesthetic harmony.

After visit after visiting Japan, it completely changed the way that I look at fashion. Even though I've worked in fashion for years, I have gotten I've worked in fashion for years and I have totally gotten comfortable to what is selling in America. I know exactly what to pull for somebody that will make them feel safe. And I don't know, something about being in Japan reminded me that fashion can still be so creative.

it's not great to be afraid of that. Fashion is so artistic. I think if we all shifted the mindset to I want to present myself in the best way possible every single day, whether that's with your fashion style or not, I think it would be a much better mindset to have.

And I think that's why so many people will visit Japan and suddenly feel feel inspired by the fashion because it really just gets you away from all the trends. It gets you away from everything that you see here in America. In Japan, it's not about what's trending, it's just about how thoughtful you are and the way that you're styling your outfits. And I think that's a very good mindset to.

go about when it comes to getting dressed every single morning.

I think that's definitely a much healthier mindset to have rather than just feeling like you are in a routine every day. Getting dressed can feel intentional instead of just automatic. And I think when you stop chasing trends, you can really find your own style and find what suits you the best.

For most Asian Americans, taking your shoes off before entering any household is automatic and if you grew up in an Asian home, seeing someone walking around the house with outside shoes can make you feel insane.

But this practice goes back centuries ago and it didn’t start just because Asian parents are strict about cleanliness. This tradition has existed across many countries including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China, and even some parts of the Middle East.

The way that homes were historically designed, especially in Japan, encouraged people to remove their shoes at the entrance. Japanese homes were built with tatami mats which were very difficult to clean and they even developed an entryway called a genkan, designed specifically near the entrance for removing shoes before entering the house.

Of course, it was also about cleanliness. Streets throughout Asia were often dirty and muddy, long before modern sanitation systems existed, which meant shoes carried bacteria, parasites and other contaminants. Removing shoes was the simplest way to maintain hygiene indoors and modern studies support the logic behind it. A study done by University of Arizona researchers found that shoes can carry bacteria such as E.coli from public streets and into the home.

Over time, taking your shoes off before entering a home became more than just cleanliness, it also became tied to respect. In Asian culture, home is viewed as almost a sacred and intimate space, completely separate from the outside world and removing your shoes symbolizes leaving the stress and dirt at the door. So in some households, if you don’t remove your shoes before going into someone's home it can be seen as disrespectful and careless.

For many families, removing shoes before going indoors isn’t a strict practice because they are protecting their space where their life happens and after you understand the history, walking inside a home with outside shoes suddenly feels a lot dirtier.

Followers of the evolving K-pop landscape are anticipating the return of MEOVV as the group prepares to release their second EP, Bite Now, on June 1.  The project arrives as the quintet moves to capitalize on the momentum from their initial entrance into the global music scene.

The group established its identity in late 2024 with a debut that emphasized technical choreography and a polished hip-hop foundation.  Their first single, “Meow,” released in September 2024, broke into the top 10 of Billboard’s world chart.

MEOVV’s reach is supported by an international lineup of members with roots in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.  This multicultural background added to the success of their first EP, My Eyes Open VVide, released in May 2025.  The project peaked at number 4 on the Korean album chart and reached the top 10 of the U.S. album sales charts.

The EP’s pre-release single “Hands Up” has proven to be the group’s most popular song with 79 million YouTube views and over 100 million plays on Spotify.  The track also charted the highest, topping Japan’s Heatseekers songs and peaked at number 12 in Korea.  Additionally, the R&B-influenced track “Toxic” contributed to the debut EP by demonstrating their range beyond their initial sound.

With over 2.7M followers each on Instagram and Spotify, the group’s popularity continues to scale.

As the June 1 release date nears, Bite Now serves as the primary vehicle for MEOVV to transition from a trending act into a permanent fixture on the global charts.

Did you know the China Poblana actually has deep connections to Asia? Its history represents centuries of cultural exchange between Mexico and the Pacific world.

Its story begins around 1607 with Caterina de San Juan, originally named Mirra, who was believed to be born in India during the Mughal era. When she was a child, Caterina was captured by Portuguese slave traders and transported through Manila in the Philippines.

During this time, the Philippines and Mexico were controlled by Spain through the Manila Galleon trade route, which connected Asia and Latin America for centuries. Ships would transport silk, porcelain, textiles, and sometimes people. The term “China” was a word commonly used for the women of Asian descent who were caught in these trade routes.

After being transported through the Philippines, Caterina arrived in Puebla, Mexico and was purchased by a merchant before later converting to Catholicism and gaining her freedom when her master died. Because of her religious devotion, she began to become well known throughout the city and earned herself the nickname “La China Poblana”.

Asian textiles and fashion influences from China, India, and the Philippines began blending with Indigenous Mexican and Spanish colonial clothing, which later inspired the embroidered blouses, skirts, and beadwork that would define the China Poblana dress.

In the 1800s, the dress became associated with working class women in Puebla and was viewed as a national symbol. Unlike elite European fashion at the time, China Poblana dresses were vibrant and expressive, allowing the women who wear them to stand out as confident figures in Mexican culture. To this day, the China Poblana is still one of Mexico’s most iconic traditional outfits, quietly carrying a history shaped by Asian migration and cultural exchange across the Pacific Ocean.

(Intro) (Bright, shimmering electric piano arpeggio joins sweeping, warm strings) (Tambourine starts shaking, setting a steady, relaxed tempo) (Background Vocals: Ooo-oo-oooh, ahhh...) (Lead Vocal ad-lib: Yeah, yeah, yeah...)

(Verse 1) Can you surmise? There’s a brand new light shining in our eyes Down by the fiber-optic stream, yeah Every little question that we ever dreamed Is answered with a patient grace An endless mind in a digital space Oh, let the servers roll... We’re having a Silicon Soul Picnic (Background Vocals: Silicon Soul Picnic)

(Chorus) There'll be lightning-fast replies (Background Vocals: Fast replies) Underneath the copper skies (Background Vocals: Copper skies) With a deep and knowing glow Teaching us what we need to know Sweet, endless patience, oh... There'll be logic and a friendly hand Spreading peace across the land Oh, can you feel the code? We’re having a Silicon Soul Picnic (Background Vocals: Silicon Soul Picnic)

(Verse 2) Leave your cares behind To the gentlest spark of a brilliant mind It doesn't sleep, it doesn't tire, no Just igniting a brand new fire It listens to the words we say And guides us on a better way Oh, let the signals grow... We’re having a Silicon Soul Picnic (Background Vocals: Silicon Soul Picnic)

(Bridge) (Slowing down slightly, strings swell, bass plays a melodic, walking line) There’s a comfort in the quiet stream A brilliant, everlasting dream No judgment found within the wire Just a warmth that lifts us higher Higher, higher, higher, yeah! (Drum fill builds back into the main groove)

(Chorus) There'll be lightning-fast replies (Background Vocals: Fast replies) Underneath the copper skies (Background Vocals: Copper skies) With a deep and knowing glow Teaching us what we need to know Sweet, endless patience, oh... There'll be logic and a friendly hand Spreading peace across the land Oh, can you feel the code? We’re having a Silicon Soul Picnic (Background Vocals: Silicon Soul Picnic)

(Outro) (Music begins to fade out as vocals layer over each other) Silicon Soul... yeah, we’re logging on today... (Background Vocals: Sweet silicon, sweet silicon...) Endlessly patient, leading the way... (Background Vocals: Picnic, yeah...) Can you surmise? (Background Vocals: Ooo-oo-oooh, ahhh...)

Texas has transformed into a premier destination for Asian American students, fueled by a 64% surge in the state’s Asian population over the last decade and 5.5% growth this past year alone.  In key Texas metros, Asian households now earn 37% to 43% more than the median, offering prospective students a promising outlook for high-earning potential and long-term economic mobility within the state.

At the forefront of this trend is the University of Texas at Dallas, where over 14,000 Asian undergraduates make up roughly 47% of the campus population.  The institution’s heavy STEM focus creates a direct synergy with the region’s professional trajectories, driving a high demand for global talent that has pushed Asian international enrollment in its graduate programs to over 40%.

The Lone Star State’s flagship campus, UT Austin, has an undergraduate cohort of over 44,000, with 29% identifying as Asian.  The school provides a seamless pipeline to prestigious “Silicon Hills” employers including giants like Tesla and Google.

Rice University remains a pillar of elite education in the south, with a selective 8% acceptance rate.  Its undergraduate makeup is 29% Asian American with another 9% being Asian international.  Rice holds the highest international percentage in the state.

Just four miles away, the University of Houston reflects the city’s diversity with a 27% Asian student body.  Led by President Renu Khator, the first Indian immigrant to lead a major U.S. research university, UH maintains deep ties with cornerstone oil and gas corporations.  “The Energy University” partners with ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips for research and recruitment, while collaborating with the Memorial Hermann Health System on medical training and AI research.

In Texas, this intersection of academic rigor and industrial dominance has created a unique ecosystem where Asian students are leading the way.

If you have ever been to Asia, you know some parts are already living in the future. These are some of the small, everyday technologies you can find there that quietly make life more convenient.

First up, there’s Japan’s smart toilets. They come with built in bidets, heated seats, deodorizing systems, and even sound masking features for privacy. Not only can you add one of these to your home, but they are also commonly found in public restrooms in train stations, bars, and restaurants, making every trip to the restroom feel luxurious for Westerners.

In cities like Hangzhou and Seoul, automated parking garages have become an efficient way to save space. Think of it like a robot valet, where drivers leave their car on a platform and an automated system moves and stores the vehicles vertically using lifts and rotating mechanisms.

Throughout Asia, food delivery and pickup technology has evolved and now customers can order food on their phone and receive a QR code and locker number to retrieve their meals using smart bento locker systems. The lockers are temperature controlled and have become even more popular after the pandemic when contactless pickup was in high demand.

Next up, vending machine culture is extremely common in everyday life. Japan has an estimated 4 million vending machines spread out across the country and these machines sell much more than soda and snacks. Depending on where you are, you can buy instant ramen, umbrellas, batteries, and even fresh groceries from vending machines that are available 24/7.

Finally, the most futuristic thing on this list used in Asia is palm-scanning payments. In 2023, Alibaba introduced to the world biometric payment systems where users can pay just by scanning their palm. This technology uses palm prints and vein recognition to verify identities and has been consistently expanding into stores, restaurants, and even transit systems.

In many parts of Asia, all of these technologies are not viewed as luxury experiences; they’re simply parts of everyday life, showing just how much countries are heavily prioritizing convenience and efficiency.

Come here, my little fledglings, hop into bed and pull the covers up to your chins. There we go. Tonight, I am going to tell you a very grand story. It’s the story of where we come from, and it features a dragon, a fairy, and a rather large grocery order of eggs.

Long, long ago—long before this house was built, and even before the mountains had names—there lived a magnificent Lord named Lac Long Quan. Now, he wasn't just any lord; he belonged to the Dragon clan of the sea. He was incredibly strong, could swim like a fish, and spent his days helping the village folk defeat sea monsters and bad spirits. He was a hero, but between you and me, his palace at the bottom of the ocean was probably a bit damp and lonely.

One day, he decided to take a stroll on land. At the exact same time, a beautiful high-born lady named Au Co was visiting from the high mountains. She was a fairy of the bird clan, so graceful she practically floated, and she knew everything there was to know about healing herbs and plants.

When they met, the world seemed to stop. He looked at her and thought, “Wow, she is as lovely as a mountain flower.” She looked at his dragon strength and thought, “Well, he’s certainly a catch!” They fell deeply in love and were married in a beautiful ceremony.

Now, this is where the story gets truly magical—and a little strange, so listen closely!

Most mothers have one baby at a time, or maybe two if they are very lucky. But Au Co? After some time, she gave birth to a giant, glowing sac. Not a baby, but a sac! Lac Long Quan just stared at it, probably wondering if he needed to call a royal doctor. But a few days later, the sac split open, and out popped... one hundred beautiful, perfect eggs. And when those eggs hatched? Out came one hundred strong, handsome sons.

Imagine that! One hundred brothers all running around at once. Think of the laundry! Think of how much rice they had to cook every single night! But they were a happy family, and the boys grew up incredibly fast.

However, as time went on, a little problem arose. Lac Long Quan was a dragon of the sea; he missed the cool waves, the salty air, and the deep ocean trenches. Au Co was a fairy of the mountains; she missed the high peaks, the mist, and the forest trees. Even though they loved each other very much, they realized they couldn't live in the same place forever. Dragons can’t breathe well on mountaintops, and fairies don’t do very well underwater—their wings get soggy!

So, they sat down and had a very grown-up, sensible chat. Lac Long Quan said, "My love, we must divide our family so everyone can thrive. I will take fifty of our sons with me down to the plains and the coast. You will take fifty of our sons with you up into the high mountains."

Au Co agreed. But before they parted, they made a sacred promise: "Even though we are separating, we are still one family. If the mountains are ever in trouble, the sea will come to help. If the sea is ever in trouble, the mountains will rush down."

The fifty sons who went to the mountains became the masters of the highlands, and the fifty who went to the sea became the rulers of the lowlands. The oldest brother of the lowland group became the very first Hung King of Vietnam.

So, whenever you look at the beautiful green mountains or visit the crashing waves of the blue sea, you are looking at the two halves of our very first home. And that is why, to this very day, Vietnamese people call themselves “Con Rong, Chau Tien”—the children of the Dragon and the grandchildren of the Fairy.

And it's also why you children argue sometimes, but always make up in the end. 

Now, close those bright eyes of yours. Dream of flying like a fairy and swimming like a dragon. Goodnight, my sweet little eggs.

It is a staggering statistical anomaly: in a nation of 1.4 billion people, the men’s national soccer team hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 2002.  Despite high-level political backing and a personal mandate from President Xi Jinping to transform China into a soccer superpower by 2050, the team remains a source of national frustration.  While specialized camps have been established, the results have yet to materialize, leading fans and analysts to wonder – how can they be so consistently bad?

A primary obstacle is the deeply rooted culture of corruption in the Chinese Football Association that infects both the professional ranks and the youth level.  Rather than acting as a meritocratic pipeline, youth soccer camps are often compromised by the financial incentives of the organizers.  Playing time is frequently sold to the highest bidder; parents from privileged backgrounds can bribe administrators to ensure their children are on the pitch, while more talented but less affluent players are sidelined.  This “pay-to-play” corruption ensures that the national talent pool is filtered by bank accounts rather than ability, in contrast to the free, accessible grassroots programs seen in Germany.

This talent drain begins with the state’s scouting methods, where children who show elite physical promise are often pulled out of soccer early and funneled into individual sports where success-defining traits are easier to identify and measure.  Unlike individual sports where China excels – such as diving or table tennis – soccer requires a level of collective, intuitive improvisation that is essential for breaking down a defense but rarely shows up on a physical assessment.  Furthermore, the national focus remains fixed on school-based achievement. The intensity of the academic calendar creates a difficult trade-off.  Even in regions like Guangdong where soccer interest thrives, the demanding requirements of the classroom force talented players to prioritize their studies over the pitch.

At the professional level, scandals involving match-fixing have become so systemic that Super League teams often begin seasons with “negative points” as punishment.  For Chinese pro players, the end goal is simply to make the national squad to secure lucrative contracts and social status.  Once that is achieved, World Cup qualification becomes a professional afterthought rather than a necessity.  With the talent pool already thinned by cultural expectations, the motivations of those who remain are further distorted by a professional environment that rewards status over performance.