Over the past decades, the Western world has witnessed the integration of Eastern culture into our society right before our eyes. The rich traditions, innovative ideas, and vibrant pop culture of the Eastern world have become increasingly influential in the West. Whether it’s food, fashion, music or wellness, Western countries are embracing Eastern culture like never before.
It’s hard to walk through any shopping centre without seeing cuisine from the Eastern world, whether it’s sushi bars, boba tea or ramen restaurants. Eastern cuisine has become a large part of the Western world through decades of hard work. Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants brought their culinary traditions and recipes to the West through migration, contributing to the diversity of Western food culture. The global food market has transformed immensely over the last half-century with the spread of European and Asian foods influencing each other’s culinary traditions. Specific cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese and Middle Eastern have become increasingly popular across the United Sates and other Western nations. In addition, consumers are becoming more aware of and interested in a wider range of cuisines, including those from the East. For example, even our own Castle Towers has restaurants such as Motto Motto, Kinn Niyom, Jim’s Malaysian and many more, showing the integration of Eastern cuisine in our own backyard.
Eastern fashion and beauty have been influencing Western culture for centuries. Starting in the Victorian Era, Eastern influence surged with silks from China, paisley patterns from India and Ottoman textiles becoming popular. These textiles and designs have since become increasingly common with silks and intricate patterns contributing to Western fashion’s fabric choices and design details. Additionally, Eastern styles such as kimonos and loose-fitting garments have influenced silhouette and style, particularly in the 1910s and 1960s. Eastern makeup and skincare have also seen a significant rise in popularity, with makeup styles such as Douyin, K-Beauty and Igari beginning to trend on social media. K-Beauty in particular has seen a huge rise in interest with shops and brands such as La Cosmetique, W Cosmetics, Innisfree, Rom&nd and many more popping up in shopping centers around the world, encouraging consumers in the Western world to explore the world of Eastern beauty.
Eastern media in the Western world is also seeing a significant rise. K-Dramas and anime have become increasingly popular, some even winning awards and gaining significant recognition for their work. In 2020, the Korean comedy-thriller Parasite won four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. Two years later, The King’s Affection made history as the first Korean drama to win an International Emmy Award for Best Telenovela, beating out nominees from different countries. Other dramas such as Crash Landing on You, Squid Game and The Glory have gained global appreciation and have received recognition through various awards. Several anime series have also won awards such as Solo Leveling, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Look Back and The Boy and the Heron, and Indian Films also received international appreciation such as Parched, Gattu and Miss Lovely, and so many others.
As for pop culture, Eastern music, particularly K-Pop, is becoming increasingly popular with groups receiving worldwide recognition for their work. Songs like PSY’s Gangnam Style and BTS’s Dynamite have become well recognised songs, each with a music video surpassing 1 billion views. Not only that but last year, JYP Entertainment’s boy group Stray Kids became the first Korean music group to attend the Met Gala in matching looks by Tommy Hilfiger. This year, various other K-Pop Stars such as SEVENTEEN’s S. Coups in Hugo Boss, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa in Louis Vuitton, Jennie in Chanel, and Rosé in Saint Laurent have appeared in major fashion events. In addition, K-Pop groups have become more commonly seen at Coachella, the first group ever to attend being YG Entertainment’s BLACKPINK in 2019. Later, KQ Entertainment’s ATEEZ became the first boy group to perform in 2023, performing alongside LE SSERAFIM and The Rose. The most recent Coachella performance was HYBE Entertainment’s ENHYPEN earlier this year, taking locals by surprise with their stunning vocals and impressive stages. Many current and emerging groups also explore different genres such as rock, hip-hop and country. This genre variety has helped expand their reach into the Western world.
More and more, people in the West are looking to the East for peace of mind with practices such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and feng shui becoming essential parts of modern wellness, helping people to manage stress and find a balance in their lives. Books on Taoism, Zen Buddhism and Hindu spirituality are widely read in the West, and mindfulness, originally Buddhist practice, is now taught throughout schools, offices and even therapy sessions.
Technology and education also play a big role in this cultural exchange. Western students are increasingly studying Asian languages and enrolling in cultural exchange programs. In addition, through tech giants like Samsung and Sony, and apps like TikTok, we see how deeply Eastern innovation has become an integral part of Western life.
The growing presence of Eastern culture in the West shows how global our world has become. It isn’t about replacing one culture with another, but rather about learning, sharing, and growing together. As Eastern and Western cultures continue to meet, we get the chance to experience the best of both worlds, and that’s something worth celebrating.
