AsiaPOP!

Illustration of six yokai from Japanese folklore, each with distinctive features and designs on a white background.

Experience the culture of AsiaPOP!

AsiaPOP! is more than an event — it’s an experience. From pulsing K-pop concerts and gripping Korean horror films to colorful art exhibits and lively conversations with international filmmakers, AsiaPOP! brings the sights, sounds and stories of contemporary Asia to life on campus.

Hosted by the Habib Institute for Asian Studies, this multi-day celebration explores how Asian pop culture shapes — and is shaped by — the global stage. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the scene, AsiaPOP! offers an unforgettable journey through music, cinema, fashion, art and ideas.

Celebrating contemporary Asian culture

AsiaPOP! brings together scholars, students, artists and enthusiasts to delve into the world of Asian pop culture. Through interactive events and thought-provoking discussions, the event highlights the impact of Asian influence on global media and society.

With a special focus on the global influence of anime and manga, this event features exclusive screenings and engaging conversations between academic and industry professionals to create an immersive cultural experience. At AsiaPOP!, you’ll:  

  • Discover how artists, musicians and filmmakers are reimagining global culture through Asian perspectives.
  • Join conversations that challenge stereotypes, elevate underrepresented voices and explore the future of media.
  • Make meaningful connections with fellow fans, creators and scholars in an open, welcoming space.

Support AsiaPOP!

Support our events and programming we provide to the community.

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Event details

AsiaPOP! features a full schedule of events designed to entertain and inform. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan, there's something for everyone. All events are free and open to the public. 

Have questions? 
We'd love to hear from you!
Email: class-asia@uidaho.edu

AsiaPOP! Dark 2026

Immerse yourself in things haunting and fear-inducing at AsiaPOP! Dark, a multiday exploration of the more frightening aspects of Asian popular culture and their influence on Asia and the world. AsiaPOP! events run Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 11, and include speakers from industry and the academy, as well as cultural exhibits and activities, and screenings of films from India, Japan and Korea.

AsiaPOP! Dark is sponsored by the U of I Habib Institute for Asian Studies. Co-sponsors are the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, and the College of Art and Architecture.

Speakers
  • Paul Castro Jr. is an actor, writer, producer and director best known for bringing to life characters from anime and video games including Persona 4 Revival, The Summer Hikaru Died, Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail.  
  • Gloria (I-Ling) Chien is an associate professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University, currently working on a book manuscript on Buddhist film and an edited volume on Māra.
  • Zack Davisson is an award-winning writer, translator and lecturer, and the author of The Ultimate Guide To Japanese Yokai, Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats Of Japan and Yurei: The Japanese Ghost.  
  • Dong Hoon Kim is a professor of cinema studies at the University of Oregon and the author of Eclipsed Cinema: The Film Culture of Colonial Korea and the co-editor of The Bloomsbury Handbook of North Korean Cinema.
  • Jung Min (MJ) is a South Korean artist and educator, currently teaching at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, whose work draws from Korean horror aesthetics and explores the tension between individual desire and societal expectations. 
Schedule

All events are free and open to the public!

  • Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 11
    • Echoes in Black exhibit by artist Jung Min, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, ISUB Reflections Gallery
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25
    • Tumbbad (India) film screening, 7 p.m., Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre
  • Wednesday, Aug. 26
    • Echoes in Black opening reception and artist talk, 4-6 p.m., ISUB Reflections Gallery, Refreshments served, artist talk begins about 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 1
    • Ring (Japan) film screening, 7 p.m., Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre
  • Thursday, Sept. 3
    • Asian Studies Library open house, 2-4 p.m., Administration 204  
  • Tuesday, Sept. 8
    • Zombie for Sale (Korea) film screening, 7 p.m., Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre
  • Wednesday Sept.  9
    • Gloria (I-Ling) Chien, “Exorcising Hopping Zombies, Ghosts, and Fox Demons in Chinese Cinema,” 12:30 p.m., ISUB Clearwater-Whitewater Room
    • Zack Davisson, “A Brief History of Yokai,” 2:30 p.m., ISUB Clearwater-Whitewater Room
  • Thursday, Sept. 10
    • Dong Hoon Kim, “The Uncanny Case of Pulgasari (1985): North Korea's Only Monster Film,” 2 p.m., ISUB Clearwater-Whitewater Room
    • Paul Castro Jr., “Tackling Dark Themes in Video Games and Anime through Performance,” 4 p.m., Vandal Ballroom, Pitman Center, A meet-and-greet will follow the talk
A cartoon-like tiger-striped feline with large yellow eyes, prominent tusks, and a small bird perched on its tail.

Meet our people

  • Jeff Kyong-McClain

    Associate Professor of History, Director of the Habib Institute for Asian Studies

  • Jami Redmon

    Program Specialist

  • Azusa Tojo

    Instructor of Japanese 

  • Kaitlyn Ugoretz

    Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Mengying Zhai

    Instructor of Chinese