The allure of a virtual world – in which anyone could have magical powers and take risks without consequences – is evidenced by the fact that nearly 19 million people play video games in the UK alone. Canvas8 sat down with Dr. Andrew Kuo to understand why we actively escape into virtual worlds.

With Haruki Murakami at its centre, Japanese fiction is booming overseas. The literary journalMonkey Business: New Writing from Japanis proof that the acclaimed writer is part of a lush literary landscape. Could the nation’s novels be an overlooked piece of the ‘Cool Japan’ puzzle?

WhileJurassic Worlddominated screens in the US, a very different beast was making its mark in Chinese cinemas.Monster Hunt, the story of Wuba, a cute, adorable ‘monster’ born to be king, became the highest grossing Chinese movie of all time. What’s driving people to cinemas? And could the domestic industry ever rival Hollywood?

What’s got so many Chinese thinking about themselves? Why are so many women filing for divorce? And how is China’s pollution problem fuelling on-demand culture? This Cultural Snapshot uses local statistics and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by China people in 2016.