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Join us as we explore the lives and times of some of history's most prominent women of Asian and Asian American descent.

Vera Wang is a master of reinvention and the perfect subject for October's episode of Ladies & Legends.

INTRO:

“Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way,” 

This is a quote from renowned designer Vera Wang, who has built her empire on an empowered vision of what it means to be an alluring, elegant, graceful, and multi-dimensional woman, particularly on one’s wedding day.

While she’s known for breaking barriers in the design world and making wedding dresses an exciting part of a new bride’s becoming, she also has an extensive background in fashion. She served as an editor for Vogue for 17-years (in fact when she came onboard after college, she was the youngest editor ever, at the magazine). 

This multi-dimensional entrepreneur’s journey from young girl in New York, to household name status, and reinvention of herself in her 70’s as a social media goddess with nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, is one of love, passion, and above all, a deep belief in herself.

She’s also the master of pivoting when the writing is on the wall, even without a safety net, cementing her reputation for tenacity and resilience.

HOST:

"Hello welcome to Ladies and Legends, the podcast where we explore the personal journeys of legendary women and business leaders of Asian and Asian American descent. I’m your host Juyun, and today’s story is about household name to fashionistas everywhere - designer and fashion icon Vera Wang.

Whether you’re a fan of Kim K, Victoria Beckham, Alicia Keyes, Mariah Carey, Viola Davis, and even Michelle Obama, they all have 1 thing in common – Vera Wang’s designs.

She’s even traversed the world athletic stage outfitting renowned figure skaters at the Winter Olympic Games, like Nancy Kerrigan in 1992, and 1994, Michelle Kwan in 1998 and 2002, and Nathan Chen (2018 and 2022), among others.

And now, in her mid-70’s she’s still killing it on social media and in life and business with multiple fashion lines from the luxury, eponymous Vera Wang, to the more wallet friendly Simply Vera Vera Wang, to Black by Vera Wang, a line that carries jewelry as well as men’s wear. She’s also licensed her name to other ventures.

Fashion icon. Reluctant bride. Relentless entrepreneur. And above all—a woman who turned her ‘Plan B’ into a global empire.

Let’s get into it.

PART 1: Early Life & Identity 

Vera Ellen Wang was born on June 27, 1949, in New York City to Chinese immigrant parents. But this isn’t the typical rags-to-riches story we hear so much about. On the contrary, Vera had a privileged childhood. 

Her father who was an MIT graduate, owned a successful pharmaceutical company, while her mother who had a job as a translator for the UN, was a mom straight out of Gossip Girl, regularly shopping couture shows in Paris.

And in keeping with that stereotypical Gossip Girl life, and like Misa’s cotillion debut in last month’s Ladies & Legends interview, Vera too was presented as a debutante to high society at the International Debutante Ball at the Waldorf Astoria at the age of 19.

Through it all though, despite growing up on the Upper East Side and attending the elite Chapin School, and later Sarah Lawrence College where she studied Art History, Vera has always been more of a self-described “hippie,” style-wise.

She’s said of her mother in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, “my mother was extremely controlled, sort of flawless […] she was a Tiger Mother…but she really tried to encourage me to be who I was.”

When she was 8 years old, Vera began rising at dawn to take up figure skating under the tutelage of Peter Dunfield and Sonya Klopfer themselves both renowned competitive figure skaters. Her parents had hopes that their daughter would become a world famous athlete. They held onto this dream through her Sarah Lawence days and though she competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she failed to make the Olympics team, which lead to heartbreak. 

She says:

“I was trying to manage school and training for the Olympics and ended up not doing well at either. That was a big lesson in my life. My mother expected both.” (Harper’s Bazaar, 2011)

So here’s when the first pivot comes in Vera's story: after failing to make the U.S. Olympic figure skating team, she didn’t collapse. She recalibrated. That setback—one that could’ve defined her—became a launchpad for something entirely different.

It should be noted here that Vera had one brother, Kenneth or Ken Wang who graduated with a degree in Economics from MIT and is the founder/owner of the Pete Dye-designed Pound Ridge Golf Club in New York. While one might say Vera leaned into the democratization of high-end bridal couture, her brother has similarly leaned in to the democratization of golf as a sport through this endeavor, otherwise little can be found about him publicly.

PART 2: Vogue Tenure and Pivot 2

Vera got a hit of another possibility that was open to her, through her college friendship with 60’s model and icon, Penelope Tree. They would drive back to campus together from the city, in Vera’s Porsche after Christmas vacation and Penelope would regale her friend with stories like being in London with renowned photographer David Bailey. It was in stark contrast to her own break spent ice skating in New Jersey.

“She wasn't going to Harvard-Yale football games and shit like that,” Vera told Harper’s Bazaar in a 2011 interview.

When she graduated, she made up her mind to obsessively rise up the ranks of the cutthroat fashion world and at just 23 years old, and straight out of college, she was hired as the youngest Vogue editor, ever.

“I will never forget, it was so incredible” legendary Vogue Fashion Editor and Vera Wang’s first boss, Polly Allen Mellen has said about her, “she was dressed in a white crepe de chine Yves Saint Laurent dress, with long red fingernails and very beautiful, very high-heeled pumps. And I said to her, 'Vera, we are going to be working in the fashion closet and, believe me, we'll be on our hands and knees. So I think you should go home and change,' (Harper’s Bazaar, 2011).

From the start, she was determined to succeed. Her former boss and friend also remembers her as “inspiring,” “caring,” and “never complaining,” “a pleasure,” to be around.

How focused was she? She recalled a time her father flew to Paris just to see her. And because she was in the middle of a photoshoot, at the Place de la Concorde, she had to turn down dinner with him.

So that obsessive quality served her well, for 17-years at Vogue. Ultimately though, she was passed over for the Editor-in-Chief position in favor of the also iconic Anna Wintour who was the same age as Vera at the time. She took it on the chin though and without complaining, left to join Ralph Lauren in another career pivot.

Perhaps it’s a good lesson for all us as we move upwards. It wouldn’t kill us to focus without being deterred, as long as we’re working towards a dream that serves us. But once the road becomes impossible, it may be a sign to pivot. Every path has hiccups that ultimately recede in rearview mirror of our life’s journey, but the question is always, how can we approach it all with grace and discipline like Vera, and know when it’s time to pivot?

Fun fact, she was originally set to work for Geoffrey Beene but the day before she was set to start, Ralph Lauren called, offering a salary 4 times what she would earn with Geoffrey Beene which was too good to pass up.

“So I went to Ralph Lauren through my connections to Vogue and became a design director for all of women’s (clothing) there. When I saw what it takes to build that kind of empire, if I had been sane, I probably would have stopped there.

But as fate would have it, after just two years at Ralph Lauren, she left to start her own design house.

PART 3: Pivot 3 - Starting Vera Wang

Vera once said: “I never thought I would be a designer.” But sometimes, entrepreneurship starts where frustration lives.

At age 40, Vera was planning her own wedding to investor and real estate developer Arthur P. Becker, and found herself completely underwhelmed by the bridal fashion choices available. 

So what did she do? She did what all great entrepreneurs do: she built what she couldn’t find.

Let’s take a quick step back to catch up on her personal life.

Vera met Arthur in 1977 at a tennis match in Forest Hills, Queens. He was working for her father as a stockbroker. And on their first date, he arrived at the restaurant only to find that her entire family was there – Vera was very close to her family. 

So when they were getting ready to wed in 1989, and she couldn’t find the right dress that suited her age, she was 39, and style, she decided to design her own for the hefty sum in those days, of $10,000.

In 1990, Vera opened a small bridal boutique in the Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue. Her first collection was funded in part by her father—who believed in her, and that her vision addressed a growing predicament for new brides, even if the industry didn’t yet. She took a huge risk, designing gowns that were modern, clean, and fashion-forward—defying the princess puff norms of the time. 

She has said:

“There have been a million days where I said to myself, ‘What was I thinking?’ or ‘Why did I do this?’ But there have been way more days where I felt extremely lucky to be doing something that I love so much and learning new lessons as not only (as a) designer but as an entrepreneur.”

As a side note, while it’s not uncommon to get married in one’s 30’s and 40’s today, back in 1990 the median age women got married was 23.9 years old. You can imagine how much one’s tastes evolve in the decade interim and how clever Vera and her father were to recognize a growing opportunity, with a better-educated and more affluent subset of the population.

Here’s the truth: starting a business at 40, in a hyper-competitive and youth-obsessed industry like fashion, as an Asian American woman—was no cakewalk. And in the beginning it was her dad who was her biggest supporter while she struggled internally with questions like “am I too old to start this?”

And in the beginning, Vera faced skepticism. She wasn’t trained as a traditional designer. She wasn’t a household name. And her dresses were different. Understated, architectural, sleek. Critics didn’t get it—at first.

But she stayed the course. She stuck to her instincts. And slowly, brides paid attention. They could be, on their wedding day, who they wanted to be in life in Vera’s creations – elegant, classy, self-assured and quietly confident. Celebrities too. Her breakthrough came when Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey, and later, Victoria Beckham and Chelsea Clinton, all walked down the aisle in Vera’s designs.

And let’s be clear—this wasn’t a fluke. Vera’s edge was in her dual identity: East meets West. Art history meets business. Function meets flair. She brought subtlety into an industry obsessed with spectacle. And in doing so, she made space for modern women—especially Asian American women—to see themselves differently.

PART 4: Personal Life & Legacy

Back to 1989, Vera’s friends Ralph Lauren and Anna Wintour had always encouraged her to marry, though Vera herself had thought she would be a “fashion nun,” for the rest of her life. 

"Anna said, 'You have got to get a family going here. You've been single for three decades now.' So I married my husband, there are days I'm not happy I did it, but there are days I'm thrilled." 

But had it not been for the trials and pressures of “saying yes to a dress,” Vera’s fashion empire may never came come to fruition. So perhaps her famous friends were on to something there.

Vera’s husband Arthur officially joined the company in 2010, 21-years after they married, though he had unofficially advised Wang on growing her label from bridal collections to the couture, since its inception. 

But just two years later in 2012, they divorced. 

There were rumors of an affair on her part, but these were never substantiated. Vera herself has described their relationship as one of opposites, as can be inferred from her comment that they were like the “original” When Harry Met Sally,” couple. But they continue to maintain a harmonious professional relationship.

During their marriage Vera and Arthur had also adopted two daughters, Cecilia and Josephine, after a prolonged journey with fertility treatments.

For her parenting style, she’s tried not to emulate her mother too much, preferring instead to give her kids a little more freedom.

“I don’t live through my kids. But I do know what will happen in life, and I just want them well prepared.”

And today you can find her rocking an ageless beauty on Instagram and being devoted to her business, reviewing looks, designs and business plans on the daily. She’s said, of not slowing down:

"I'm kind of proud [of ageing]. Ageism has always existed. As you get older you have to find your own relevancy for how you're going to spend the rest of your life. It's a number. But I see people doing their very best work as they get older. Experience, knowledge and wisdom stands for a lot."

OUTRO:

Today, Vera Wang is more than a bridal designer—she’s a lifestyle brand. Fragrances, home goods, red carpet gowns, even figure skating costumes—yes, she returned to that world too. Full circle.

And here’s the entrepreneurial lesson: Vera didn’t stop at her first success. She scaled her vision. She diversified. She made luxury accessible without watering it down. And from her figure skating exit, to her Vogue exit, to her Ralph Lauren exit, she’s never been afraid of leaving a party when it was time to do so. And, just as importantly, despite the normal moments of uncertainty on the precipice of a big change, she’s always been able to get behind herself, to rally and put faith in what her talent, dedication and hard work could achieve.

In her 70s, she’s designing, posting outfits on Instagram, and serving “unbothered” looks that go viral. She’s proof that creativity doesn’t expire. Reinvention is ageless.

As the sole owner of her business, Forbes has reported that Wang's net worth is around US$500 million.

So what do we take away from Vera Wang’s journey? Maybe this: that setbacks can be springboards. That reinvention isn’t weakness—it’s power. And that our truest selves often emerge when we stop asking for permission.

"That wraps up today’s episode of Ladies and Legends. Whether you admire her persistence, dedication and drive, or are inspired by her unwavering faith in herself Vera Wang is a study in building and becoming.

Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode if you enjoyed it. I’m Juyun, and I’ll catch you next time on “Ladies and Legends."

Far East Movement became the first Asian American group to top the Billboard Hot 100 with the 2010 hit “Like a G6”.

The 2010 multi-platinum hit “Like a G6” made Far East Movement the first Asian American group to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  Today the song has over 1.2 billion plays between Spotify and YouTube.   

It was the lead single on the electro hip-hop group’s major label debut album Free Wired.  The album also contained “Rocketeer,” featuring One Direction’s Ryan Tedder, which peaked at number 7 on the Hot 100 later that year.

Their 2012 follow-up album Dirty Bass included a collaboration with pop icon Justin Bieber “Live My Life.”  The song peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100 while joining album-mate “Turn Up The Love” as a huge international hit.  

The attention generated by Far East Movement’s popularity also drew a flood of racist comments on social media and from industry executives.   The resulting strain forced the group to take a brief hiatus from music.

In 2016 the group produced their fifth and final studio album to date, Identity.  This title reflected the project’s dedication to bridging Asian and Western music and featured collaborations with K-pop and Asian American stars including Yoon Mi-rae, Jay Park, and Urban Zakapa.  The album’s top single “Freal Luv” featured Tinashe, Marshmello, and EXO’s Chanyeol. 

Before the major label highs were albums Folk Music in 2006 and Animal in 2009.  Folk Music included the track “Round Round” used in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Animal featured Bruno Mars and Wiz Khalifa early in their careers.

Far East Movement began in 2003 in Los Angeles’s Koreatown with founding members Kev Nish, of Japanese and Chinese heritage, and Korean Americans Prohgress and J-Splif.  Filipino American DJ Virman joined the group in 2009. It’s been nearly a decade since their last album was released, but Far East Movement still has nearly 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, proving the enduring popularity of their deep discography.

Four students from Stanford University founded DoorDash, an app that would widely benefit communities around the world.

The frustration of being a broke college student in a dorm, craving a delicious meal, but the restaurant doesn’t deliver is what inspired Tony Xu, Andy Fang, Stanley Tang, and Evan Moore to co-found an app that changed the world, DoorDash.

It all began in 2012 at Stanford University when a group of friends noticed that it was a complete struggle to get food delivered from mom-and-pop restaurants. For a class project, the four students developed a service which was initially called PaloAltoDelivery.com, in order to help local businesses deliver food. The website consisted of just a list of local restaurants, a phone number, and the names of the four founders who were personally delivering food to customers.

Within hours of their launch, they received their first order — pad thai noodles. For Tony Xu, this was more than meaningful. He immigrated to the United States when he was five and helped his mother open her own Chinese restaurant, so his goal was to help small business owners succeed. From this point on, Tony and his friends knew that not only would this help their own cravings, but it would also benefit small restaurant owners who are trying to keep up.

In 2013, their company was rebranded to DoorDash, a site that would later find its way beyond college students in college towns to corporate workers in big cities. In 2020, DoorDash went public on the NYSE, making these friends billions.

Today, DoorDash has a reported net worth of $115 billion and it has been led by Tony Xu who took charge as CEO. Andy F ang became the company’s Chief Technology Officer and Head of Consumer Engineering. With his background in computer science, he was able to put together the entire technological backbone of DoorDash. Stanley Tang served as Chief Product Officer during the early phases of the company, heavily focusing on user experience. Finally, Evan Moore acted as the quiet co-founder early on, helping with operations and ideation, but eventually left in 2014.

DoorDash delivers millions of orders everyday, but underneath the surface, this platform is truly connecting communities by helping customers get what they need, allowing drivers to earn on their own time, and giving small restaurants the opportunity to be seen outside of their neighborhood.

“Mountain City” Chongqing is built on steep hills above the Yangtze River and is home to 32 million.

Welcome to Chongqing, China — a breathtaking city that is practically off the radar for international travelers, but home to 32 million citizens. Chongqing is built on steep hills and is surrounded by rivers, making it one of the most underrated cities in China. 

It’s known as “the mountain city” because it is stacked vertically with bridges on top of one another and highways that spiral around cliffs. Being so high up, some of the streets twist into the clouds and you could be on the 20th floor, but it’ll look like you’re still on ground level. Some buildings begin on the 1st floor and when you walk out, you’ll be exiting on the 9th. Every corner is stunning and the skyline glows at night with its reflection hitting the Yangtze River. 

Beyond the futuristic neon skyscrapers, there’s energy that still feels soulful. There are hundreds of stops at Chongqing nightmarkets where you can find hotpot stalls, mahjong games taking place, and other traditional Chinese food vendors. 

Hongya Cave is one of the city’s most popular spots. The 11-story complex sits on a steep hill, creating an unreal sight, especially at night when the glowing red lanterns light up and you can see all the food stalls stacked vertically, just like the city. 

In Raffles City, a glass skybridge links clusters of towers — a perfect sighting for anyone into panoramic views or you could ride the Yangtze River Cable Car that glides above water and enjoy sightseeing in the clouds. 

For something really unique, check out Line 2 of the Chongqing Metro, public transportation that runs through residential buildings. It is a great example of how effortlessly the city combines architecture and everyday life. 

Chongqing lies in a beautiful balance of chaos and calm. It has both tradition and technology being a city that had to build itself upward. It’s full of mountains and rivers, but also electrifying buildings and architecture. 

So while most travelers are visiting Shanghai’s skyline or the Great Wall in Beijing, the magic of Chongqing offers a true glimpse of China and it’s a hidden gem just waiting to leave your jaw dropped.

With over 60 credits spanning Squid Game to The Man in the High Castle, Rich Ting has become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors.

Rich Ting is that rarity – a busy actor.  His credits include 63 roles since 2007 and over 30 since 2021.

Most recently he was cast as Sgt. Tyson Koyama in the 2025 Dick Wolf Prime Video police drama On Call, appearing in 5 of its 8 episodes.   As requested by the show creator, Ting chose his character’s name, Koyama, which is his mother’s surname.

The most acclaimed show in which Ting acted is Squid Game, played a masked officer in 11 episodes between seasons 2 and 3.  He had a supporting role in the 2013 blockbuster military film Lone Survivor which grossed over $154 million worldwide.

In 2023 Ting guest-starred on 8 episodes of season 2 of the crime drama series Tulsa King.

His 1st degree black belt in taekwondo proved useful for his role in HBO’s Warrior, which is based on an original concept by Bruce Lee.  Ting was featured in the first 7 episodes of the series in 2019.  In the same year he appeared in the final season of the Emmy-winning Amazon series The Man in the High Castle.

Ting has also done stunts for TV and films, including 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 2010’s Salt.

Prior to acting Ting studied at Yale where he was a quarterback on the football team and earned a bachelor’s in history while fulfilling pre-med requirements.  He went on to earn a dual J.D. and M.B.A. degree and worked at a law firm in downtown Los Angeles. The 45-year-old is a fourth-generation Asian American of Japanese and Chinese descent.  He was born in LA and raised in San Francisco.  In 2023 he was Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade.

Luna Yu’s Genecis Bioindustries is tackling two environmental problems at once by transforming food waste into high-functionality bioplastics.

Luna Yu’s Genecis Bioindustries takes on environmental challenges by converting organic waste into fully compostable bioplastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs, which offer the same functionality as plastic without the pollution.  Other bioplastics can degrade quickly, but unlike PHAs they can’t be injection-molded or blow-molded easily. 

Yu’s company also aims to cut carbon emissions by diverting food waste from landfills.

Founded by Yu in 2018, the Toronto-based company has focused on B2B sales, primarily to CPG companies like Novo Nordisk and Unilever.  But Genecis sees more opportunity in developing direct-to-consumer goods. 

Currently, they have two consumer brands.  Mad Tea, launched in October 2024, offers compostable Nespresso-compatible tea pods, and Mad Coffee launched in July 2025, has a machineless iced coffee product.  Yu also sees potential for products ranging from single-use cutlery to medical tools.

Genecis has raised $17 million in funding from investors, including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and Khosla Ventures, plus another $15 million in Canadian grant funding.

The company’s innovative approach earned Yu a spot in Forbes’ 30 Under 30.

The 31-year-old completed both her bachelor’s and master’s in environmental science from the University of Toronto in four years.  By then she had already founded, grown, and exited two profitable software startups.  Yu moved from China to Canada at age eight.  Her early exposure to severe pollution in her hometown outside Beijing inspired her to pursue environmental sustainability solutions.

These Asian daughters have turned their inherited privilege into their own empires.

Some people are born into a luxury lifestyle and others know how to turn it into a legacy. These Asian women used their inherited privilege to earn their own sparkle.

First, we have Rebecca C. Ma, or better known as Becca Bloom.

She is the daughter of Chinese real estate investors, Simon Yiming Ma and Heidi Chou who also founded the software company Camelot Informations Systems. Growing up, Becca played tennis, did ballet training, and was even an Olympic mathematics genius. While studying at the USC Marshall School of Business, she worked part time at Microsoft putting together events.

After graduating with three degrees, Becca became a serial entrepreneur creating her own ventures across multiple industries. She began posting on social media platforms in early 2025 and has since then gained over 7 million total followers and was featured on TIME’s 100 Best Creators List.

Then there’s Jaime Xie.

She’s one of the stars of the Netflix series Bling Empire and also the eldest child of Silicon Valley businessman, Ken Xie who has an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion. As a child, Jaime participated in competitive horseback riding where she and her horse ranked #1 in the United States in 2014.

Even before appearing on Bling Empire, Jaime was making a name for herself as a fashion socialite with front-row fashion week appearances and extravagant editorial photoshoots. She has accumulated over 740 thousand followers on Instagram sharing her stunning fashion sense and luxurious everyday lifestyle.

Next is Yumi Nu.

Her grandfather is Rocky Aoki, founder of the famous Benihana restaurant chain and she is also the niece of world renowned DJ, Steve Aoki, and fashion model Devon Aoki. Yumi was practicing songwriting when she was just 12 years old and began modeling at age 14.

She is currently signed to Steve Aoki’s record label and back in 2022, she made history as the first plus-size model of Asian-American descent to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Across the globe in Singapore, we have Kim Lim.

Aside from being the daughter of billionaire, Peter Lim who has been ranked as number 32 on Singapore’s list of wealthiest individuals, Kim has amassed over 620 thousand Instagram followers who tune in to watch her fashionable, jet-set lifestyle.

She has used her following to her advantage as she’s founded many companies in the beauty space including Papilla Haircare, one of Asia’s most desired hair wellness clinics.

Finally, Susan Soonkyu Lee or Sunny from legendary K-pop girl group, Girls’ Generation.

She is the niece of SM Entertainment's founder, Lee Soo-man and was born in Orange County, California. After returning to South Korea, Sunny was influenced by her family to join SM Entertainment where she eventually became a member of Girl’s Generation who debuted in 2007.

Sunny’s talent and drive drove her to the top of K-pop entertainment. Beyond music, she was hosting TV shows and radio programs, proving that using connections will open doors, but staying at the top requires relentless effort and heart.

Explore three of Asia’s most chilling ghost stories—Okiku’s Well, The Painted Skin, and Ma Da.

Every culture has its own spooky tales and these three Asian ghost stories are frequently told throughout the night.

This first story takes place in ancient Japan at the Himeji Castle. A beautiful servant named Okiku held the responsibility of caring for her master’s most valuable dishes. Her master, Aoyama tried to make Okiku his lover, but she would reject him every time, which led him to hide one of the special dishes.

When she was asked about the plates, Okiku went into a frenzy trying to recount the plates and after she denied one last offer to be Aoyama’s lover, he ordered his servants to beat her and tie her up suspended above a well. Aoyama killed her with his sword and watched her body drop into the well.

Okiku became a vengeful spirit who rose from the well every night to torture her master. Her ghost counts the plates she didn’t lose and every time she reaches ten, her voice pierces the entire castle with an antagonizing shriek as she never was able to figure out where the tenth plate went.

This next tale comes from China’s ancient folklore and reminds us that beauty isn’t always a blessing. The story of The Painted Skin was first told over three hundred years ago. It starts off with a scholar named Wang who meets a young woman who claims to be fleeing her horrible master. Moved by pity, Wang welcomes her into his home and as time went by, their secret affair began.

The energy shifted when Wang’s wife discovered the unsettling affair, but she accepted the thought that she cannot force her husband to change the way he feels. Wang was warned by a priest that an evil spirit has taken root in his life, but the scholar did not choose to listen.

One night when Wang gets locked out of his courtyard and during his attempt to break in, he sees something shocking in the window. The young woman’s face was no longer there and instead was peeled away revealing a green monster with teeth that looked like blades. Beside her was a mask made of human skin. Wang returned to the priest for help and when he got nothing, the demon tore Wang’s heart from his chest, like he was being punished for his affair.

Finally, we have the story of Ma Da, a Vietnamese ghost tale about spirits of victims who were violently drowned. They’re found in lakes or rivers near fishing villages and these spirits are spiteful. Their only goal is to lure living people into the water in hopes of drowning them to take their place in the water. They use tactics to distract fishermen like showing their intestines, grabbing them with a cold force or posing as beautiful women floating on the surface. Those who live near these beds of water say they can still feel the presence of the Ma Da spirit.

Zauner’s personal story of identity and loss is woven throughout Japanese Breakfast’s captivating discography.

Japanese Breakfast is the misleading name of a Philadelphia-based indie pop band led by Korean American musician Michelle Zauner.

In 2022 the group earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album with Jubilee.  Its breakthrough album, which peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard 200 chart, was led by “Be Sweet” amassing over 88 million streams on Spotify –  the most of any song.

While Jubilee had more upbeat synthpop elements, their previous albums explored grief, earning a shoegaze classification.

The online video game Japanese BreakQuest 2017’s Soft Sounds from Another Planet included their track with the most viewed music video, “Boyish.”

Their debut studio album Psychopomp was released in 2016.  It features the bright single “Everybody Wants To Love You” which explores her relationship with another woman.

This year Japanese Breakfast released its fourth studio album For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women).  As with many others, the music video for the lead single, “Orlando In Love” was directed by Zauner.

Also in 2025 “My Baby (Got Nothing At All)” was included on the soundtrack of the A24 film Materialists.

Japanese Breakfast composed the soundtrack for the 2021 video game Sable, including the dream pop single “Glider.”

The band’s thorough discography has earned 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners and 557,000 Instagram followers. Beyond music Zauner wrote the memoir Crying in H Mart, a 2021 New York Times bestseller for 60 weeks.  It chronicles her Korean identity, her mother’s passing, and how that led to Japanese Breakfast’s first album.

In a performance for the ages, three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani became the first player ever to hit three home runs and strike out 10 batters in a single postseason game.

Three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani had the best individual MLB performance of all time in the NLCS close-out game.  His phenomenal two-way showing featured 3 home runs at the plate and a pitching line of 6 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts, while only allowing 2 hits.

This level of two-way dominance in a high-stakes playoff game is unprecedented.

His 3 home runs tie the most ever in a postseason game, a feat never achieved by a pitcher.  Babe Ruth has been Ohtani’s historical comparison since he arrived in the league, but while Ruth had elite hitting and pitching stats they rarely overlapped.  While pitching The Great Bambino maxed out at 2 home runs, though he allowed three earned runs. In Game 1 of the 1918 World Series he threw a complete-game shutout but went 0-for-4.  Possibly the closest comparison to Ohtani’s greatness is Rick Wise’s 1971 no-hitter accompanied by his 2 home runs, though in a regular-season game.

All three home runs were solo shots which makes you question the Brewers’ decision to pitch to Ohtani, instead of giving him the Barry Bonds’ treatment.  Starter Jose Quintana’s career stats versus Ohtani prior to game 4 were unfavorable already, with 4 walks and 2 home runs allowed in 10 plate appearances.

Conversely, the Brewers players mostly had not faced Ohtani’s pitching. Only Jake Bauers had hit a home run against Ohtani – that being four years ago.

Looking to the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays roster has more experience and success against Ohtani’s pitching.  Their lineup’s .311 average is primarily hoisted by the ALCS Game 7 clutch hero George Springer, who is 7-for-15 against Ohtani with 2 home runs.

While the Dodgers’ Game 1 and 2 starters are set, the Blue Jays are keeping their rotation plans close to the vest, adding intrigue to Ohtani’s outlook.  Ohtani has had moderate success against the Jays’ pitching staff, batting .247, well below his career .282, though he’s hit 6 HRs and 8 RBIs in 77 at-bats.  Ohtani’s sweeping NLCS heroics places the Dodgers BetMGM at -220 favorites to win the World Series for a second straight year.