Latest news with #DragonBalls
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside the big business of boy paper, a booming sub-industry of the K-pop machine
Seventeen's new album has been fueling a K-pop photo card trading frenzy. The variety of photo cards has spawned a booming market for trading and collecting. The cards' popularity come as K-pop companies' stock soars. "I have your man," I typed at 1 a.m., my hands trembling with excitement. "Do you have Joshua on hand to trade?" Joshua Hong's 13-member K-pop band, Seventeen, released a new album on May 26. That album comes with serious math for trading card aficionados. There are seven versions of the record, each containing one to four photo cards — that's 264 unique cards, or "boy paper," to collect, not counting rare releases. I wanted him badly enough to wheel and deal my way through a maelstrom of trading card listings. My late-night obsession is a small sliver of the sprawling business of K-pop photo card trading, a blood sport that's equal parts lottery and enterprise. The pieces of boy paper I'm attempting to secure are highly desirable collectibles in the fandom, said Kay Koo, an expert in marketing and K-pop from Korea University. Fans buy copies of the same album, hoping to find their favorite card. "They serve as tangible indicators of fan loyalty," Koo told BI. "Some fans even purchase over 100 copies of the same album to collect every photo card produced for that release, humorously calling this practice 'collecting Dragon Balls,' referencing the Japanese manga where collecting all seven Dragon Balls summons a dragon capable of granting any wish," Koo added. Jackie Ko, a proud Carat — the name Seventeen fans go by, à la Swifties — has amassed 3,300 cards since she started collecting in 2021. She buys albums, keeps most of the cards she pulls, then tries to trade duplicates. Ko, who's based in the US, also looks for fresh pieces from online sites like Mercari Japan, Neokyo, and PocaMarket — or from her local K-pop store's photo card trading nights. "The chase and journey of finding certain photo cards is thrilling in itself as well, and there comes a sense of achievement when said card is found, or when a certain collection is finally complete," she said. Ko estimates she's spent around $25,000 on photo cards and albums. Some of the more expensive cards she owns are rare cards of Seventeen's leader, — she's seen them being resold for around $400 a piece. Kia Pastoral, who became a Carat in October 2022, has a growing collection of 368 photo cards. She goes on X to look for new pieces and relies on her friends in the Philippines for more local trades. Pastoral estimates she's spent around $600 on cards. "I buy the albums not just for the photo cards, but also for the album itself and other inclusions," Pastoral said. "I definitely love the feeling of unboxing new albums and getting excited to see which member I pull." Ko described the adrenaline rush from buying albums as "addictive." "I don't think I would be buying this many albums if not for the photo cards," she said. I can relate to Ko and Pastoral's descriptions of the unboxing high. I bought five albums from a local K-pop store in Singapore for around $25 Singapore dollars, or $19.50, a piece. Staff at two K-pop album stores in Singapore said new shipments of the Seventeen album came in just this week, and fans have been snapping it up. Much like Pokémon card collectors, Carats like Ko and Pastoral keep their photo cards neatly protected in decorative card holders and a variety of A4 and A5 binders. Both fans have brought their photo cards on trips. Ko, for one, says she doesn't leave the house for an outing without a photo card on her. Fans and local stores can make money in the photo card resale market. Listings on an online Singaporean marketplace range from $5 to $25 per photo card. K-pop shops in Singapore also sell exclusive photo cards for $15 to $20 a piece. The photo card feeding frenzy is just one branch of the sprawling landscape of K-pop, with its seemingly infinite supply of boy and girl groups debuting every year. Seventeen has been around for 10 years, and their peers at parent company Hybe, BTS, are set to return this month in full force for the group's 12th anniversary. Though K-pop stocks dipped in 2024, Goldman Sachs analysts projected in a June 5 report that "Mega IPs" — bands like BTS, that perform in stadium-sized venues — would continue to buoy the companies this year. Concerts, albums, and merchandising are all part of the monetization mechanism for bands under Hybe. In 2023, Seventeen, per statistics compiled by Goldman, notched an all-time high of 4.5 million albums sold in week one of release that broke the Grammy-nominated BTS's record of 3.3 million copies. Photo cards aren't the only factor driving physical album sales. "In the early years, fans used to buy more albums to collect additional photo cards. Nowadays, they often trade or sell them among themselves," said Stephanie Choi, an assistant professor in ethnomusicology at the University of Colorado-Boulder. "There are so many different reasons for album purchase, and photo cards are one of the many reasons," Choi added. Fans may want to mass-buy albums to clinch spots at exclusive events or just to help their idols chart better. Still, it's fair to say that Seventeen's fame isn't built on a house of cards. "While photo cards are crucial for immediate sales, digital strategies and continuous online engagement are indispensable for long-term fan base growth and sustainable commercial success," Koo, the marketing expert from Korea University, added. Hybe's stock is up 43% in the last year. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Inside the big business of boy paper, a booming sub-industry of the K-pop machine
Share Save Seventeen's new album has been fueling a K-pop photo card trading frenzy. The variety of photo cards has spawned a booming market for trading and collecting. The cards' popularity come as K-pop companies' stock soars. "I have your man," I typed at 1 a.m., my hands trembling with excitement. "Do you have Joshua on hand to trade?" Joshua Hong's K-pop band Seventeen released a new album on May 26. That album comes with serious math for trading card aficionados: There are seven versions of the record, each containing four photo cards — that's 336 unique cards, or "boy paper," to collect. I wanted him badly enough to wheel and deal my way through a maelstrom of trading card listings. My late-night obsession is a small sliver of the sprawling business of K-pop photo card trading, a blood sport that's equal parts lottery and enterprise. Supply and demand The pieces of boy paper I'm attempting to secure are highly desirable collectibles in the fandom, said Kay Koo, an expert in marketing and K-pop from Korea University. Fans buy copies of the same album, hoping to find their favorite card. "They serve as tangible indicators of fan loyalty," Koo told BI. "Some fans even purchase over 100 copies of the same album to collect every photo card produced for that release, humorously calling this practice 'collecting Dragon Balls,' referencing the Japanese manga where collecting all seven Dragon Balls summons a dragon capable of granting any wish," Koo added. Jackie Ko, a proud Carat — the name Seventeen fans go by, à la Swifties — has amassed 3,300 cards since she started collecting in 2021. She buys albums, keeps most of the cards she pulls, then tries to trade duplicates. Ko, who's based in the US, also looks for fresh pieces from online sites like Mercari Japan, Neokyo, and PocaMarket — or from her local K-pop store's photo card trading nights. "The chase and journey of finding certain photo cards is thrilling in itself as well, and there comes a sense of achievement when said card is found, or when a certain collection is finally complete," she said. Ko estimates she's spent around $25,000 on photo cards and albums. Some of the more expensive cards she owns are rare cards of Seventeen's leader, — she's seen them being resold for around $400 a piece. Kia Pastoral, who became a Carat in October 2022, has a growing collection of 368 photo cards. She goes on X to look for new pieces and relies on her friends in the Philippines for more local trades. Pastoral estimates she's spent around $600 on cards. "I buy the albums not just for the photo cards, but also for the album itself and other inclusions," Pastoral said. "I definitely love the feeling of unboxing new albums and getting excited to see which member I pull." Ko described the adrenaline rush from buying albums as "addictive." "I don't think I would be buying this many albums if not for the photo cards," she said. The high I can relate to Ko and Pastoral's descriptions of the unboxing high. I bought five albums from a local K-pop store in Singapore for around $25 Singapore dollars, or $19.50, a piece. Staff at two K-pop album stores in Singapore said new shipments of the Seventeen album came in just this week, and fans have been snapping it up. Much like Pokémon card collectors, Carats like Ko and Pastoral keep their photo cards neatly protected in decorative card holders and a variety of A4 and A5 binders. Both fans have brought their photo cards on trips. Ko, for one, says she doesn't leave the house for an outing without a photo card on her. Fans and local stores can make money in the photo card resale market. Listings on an online Singaporean marketplace range from $5 to $25 per photo card. K-pop shops in Singapore also sell exclusive photo cards for $15 to $20 a piece. Merchandising is king The photo card feeding frenzy is just one branch of the sprawling landscape of K-pop, with its seemingly infinite supply of boy and girl groups debuting every year. Seventeen has been around for 10 years, and their peers at parent company Hybe, BTS, are set to return this month in full force for the group's 12th anniversary. Though K-pop stocks dipped in 2024, Goldman Sachs analysts projected in a June 5 report that "Mega IPs" — bands like BTS, that perform in stadium-sized venues — would continue to buoy the companies this year. Concerts, albums, and merchandising are all part of the monetization mechanism for bands under Hybe. In 2023, Seventeen, per statistics compiled by Goldman, notched an all-time high of 4.5 million albums sold in week one of release that broke the Grammy-nominated BTS's record of 3.3 million copies. Photo cards aren't the only factor driving physical album sales. "In the early years, fans used to buy more albums to collect additional photo cards. Nowadays, they often trade or sell them among themselves," said Stephanie Choi, an assistant professor in ethnomusicology at the University of Colorado-Boulder. "There are so many different reasons for album purchase, and photo cards are one of the many reasons," Choi added. Fans may want to mass-buy albums to clinch spots at exclusive events or just to help their idols chart better. Still, it's fair to say that Seventeen's fame isn't built on a house of cards. "While photo cards are crucial for immediate sales, digital strategies and continuous online engagement are indispensable for long-term fan base growth and sustainable commercial success," Koo, the marketing expert from Korea University, added. Hybe's stock is up 43% in the last year.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Too hot to handle? Indian origin doctor claims eating this Thai dish left her scarred for life; sues restaurant
Dr. Harjasleen Walia, an Indian origin neurologist from San Jose, has filed a lawsuit against Coup de Thai restaurant in Los Gatos, California, alleging that their spicy "Dragon Balls" dish caused her permanent internal injuries. She claims the dish, made with potent bird's eye chilies, led to chemical burns in her throat, vocal cords, and nostril, despite her request for a milder version. The restaurant denies wrongdoing, stating the dish cannot be made less spicy. A jury trial is scheduled for August, with Walia now representing herself. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Doctor Requested Less Spice Medical Complications Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Dish Contains Highly Spicy Bird's Eye Chili Restaurant Denies Responsibility An Indian origin neurologist from San Jose, California, has filed a lawsuit against a Thai restaurant, alleging a spicy appetizer caused her long-lasting internal injuries. Dr. Harjasleen Walia claims the "Dragon Balls" dish at Coup de Thai in Los Gatos left her with chemical burns and permanent damage after she ate the food in 2023. The incident has sparked a legal battle that is scheduled to go to trial in August News reported that according to court documents filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Dr. Walia informed the restaurant staff ahead of time that she could not tolerate spicy food and requested the dish be made mild. The restaurant allegedly agreed to accommodate the request. However, after taking one bite, Walia says she immediately experienced an intense burning sensation across her mouth, throat, tongue, and even her right lawsuit states she "felt her entire mouth, the roof of her mouth, her tongue, her throat and her nose burn like fire." Her "eyes and nose watered, and she began coughing." Despite drinking coconut water and regular water, the burning did not the incident, Dr. Walia alleges she lost her voice and was later diagnosed with internal chemical burns. The complaint describes damage to her vocal cords, esophagus, and nasal passages. The legal filing further claims, "[She] incurred permanent injuries and will forever be damaged."Additionally, she asked the staff for a dairy product — such as milk or yogurt — to counter the spice, but received no assistance. The suit states that 'no milk, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream or other dairy product was provided or offered to Ms. Walia to quell the obvious burning.'Coup de Thai's Dragon Balls are described on the menu as 'spicy chicken ball[s] fried with mint, shallot [and] green onion,' and also include cilantro, kaffir lime leaves, chili, and rice powder. The primary source of heat is Thai bird's eye chili, which measures between 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units — significantly hotter than jalapeños and lawsuit claims the use of such chilies made the dish 'unfit for human consumption' and that the restaurant 'failed to take precautions by consulting with health officials or emergency service personnel regarding the risks associated with serving too much Thai chili in an appetizer like Dragon Balls.'Coup de Thai has denied the allegations. The restaurant maintains that the dish cannot be made less spicy since the chilies are already blended into the chicken mixture before cooking. In its October 2023 filing, the restaurant also stated that no other customers have reported similar reactions or required medical Dr. Walia amended her complaint, alleging a new employee mistakenly added extra peppers instead of reducing them as she had requested. In a May 2024 court filing, she also opted to represent herself in the case, moving forward without legal upcoming trial is expected to last five to seven days. The restaurant plans to subpoena Dr. Walia's medical records and request a medical examination. She is seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and unspecified damages. A mandatory settlement conference has been scheduled shortly before the trial begins in August.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Doctor claims Thai restaurant's spicy dish left her 'permanently' harmed: 'Will forever be damaged'
A California doctor is suing a Thai restaurant after she was served a dish that was so spicy it reportedly "permanently" harmed her, according to her claims. Dr. Harjasleen Walia, a board-certified neurologist in San Jose, is suing over Coup de Thai's Dragon Balls dish, which she ate in 2023, according to lawsuit documents obtained by the Mercury News. The lawsuit was filed in July 2023, but Walia made recent headlines after she elected to appear in court pro se this week. Walia has claimed that the Los Gatos restaurant's appetizer burned her vocal cords, esophagus and the inside of her right nostril. The Dragon Balls dish is made of "spicy chicken ball[s] fried with mint, shallot [and] green onion," according to Coup de Thai's website. The dish, which also features "cilantro, kaffir lime leaves, chili and rice powder," is served hot. The culprit in the meal is Thai chili, or bird's eye chili. Measuring between 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the peppers are spicier than cayenne and serrano peppers but fall below habanero peppers. The lawsuit states, as the Mercury News reported, that Walia asked her server to make the dish with less spice because "she does not tolerate spicy foods." The server agreed, according to the lawsuit — but then Walia took a bite of the dish. Walia "felt her entire mouth, the roof of her mouth, her tongue, her throat and her nose burn like fire," according to the suit – to the point that her "eyes and nose watered, and she began coughing." The doctor also said she lost her voice and was diagnosed with internal "chemical burns" from the chilis in the dish. "[Walia] drank an entire glass of coconut water and more water, but the burning did not subside." "[She] incurred permanent injuries and will forever be damaged," the lawsuit claims. Walia's suit also claims that she asked a waitress for a dairy product to help with the burns, but no help came. No "milk, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream or other dairy product was provided or offered to Ms. Walia to quell the obvious burning," the suit said. "[Walia] drank an entire glass of coconut water and more water, but the burning did not subside." The lawsuit claims the dish in question was "unfit for human consumption." The restaurant "failed to take precautions by consulting with health officials or emergency service personnel regarding the risks associated with serving too much Thai chili in an appetizer like Dragon Balls," the lawsuit claims. No one else required medical attention due to the food, the restaurant said. Coup de Thai has denied causing any harm. A representative told the Mercury News the dish couldn't be made less spicy because the chili is inside the balls — and that no one else required medical attention due to the restaurant's food. Fox News Digital reached out to Walia and Coup de Thai for additional comment. Spice is a popular addition to liven up a dish. In 2019, a chef said that he temporarily lost his hearing after eating a spicy meal.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Dragon Ball's Vegeta evolved from brutal villain to earth's toughest hero
Whenever you think of anime rivals, there's one man popping up at the top of your list — Vegeta from Dragon Ball. What once was a ruthless, cold-blooded space invader is now Goku's most adorable companion and friend. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Of course, it's a big change—nothing short of complete. Fast forward a decade later and Arty is now one of the respected heroes of the series, a caring father, and a favorite not only in his home country but a fan favorite worldwide. So how did a power-obsessed violent space prince turn into a protector of Earth and a good guy? Vegeta's redemption is one of the greatest anime redemption tales ever—and it didn't take place overnight. Vegeta's villainous start: Goku's deadliest rival When he was not yet a hero, Vegeta was the primary antagonist of the Dragon Ball Z show. He and his partner Nappa came to Earth during the Saiyan Saga with the goal of using the Dragon Balls to become immortal. Unlike Goku, who grew up on Earth and became a benevolent person, Vegeta grew up in a war-torn world. Vegeta was a proud, merciless, and violent person who only cared about brute strength. Vegeta was merciless—he even slaughtered Nappa, his sole ally, for not being strong enough. After engaging in a desperate fight with Goku, Vegeta had to retreat, gravely wounded. Yet instead of dying, Goku asked his friends to spare his life. That shock of mercy in an unexpected situation sowed the first seed of transformation in Vegeta's soul. The turning point: Frieza's death and Vegeta's tears Vegeta remained as self-centered and cruel a character throughout the Namek Saga, where he betrayed friends and pursued the Dragon Balls for his own purposes. But things changed when he fought Frieza, the tyrant who wrecked the Saiyan race. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a rare emotional moment, Vegeta broke down in tears, revealing that he was used and manipulated by Frieza his whole life. As he lay dying, he begged Goku to defeat Frieza and avenge their race. It was the first time Vegeta showed vulnerability—and fans saw he was more than just a killer. This scene was a huge turning point and marked the beginning of Vegeta's path toward redemption. Bulma assisted to calm down Vegeta's fury Vegeta remained on Earth, following the Frieza Saga—not because he was kind-hearted, but to train and become stronger. Gradually, he bonded with Bulma, the principal human character and a talented scientist. Bulma did not fear Vegeta. She retorted, teased him, and eventually tamed his tough character. Their unexpected romance resulted in the birth of their son, Trunks, and this new family provided Vegeta with something to guard. Though he never actually said it, it was apparent—Vegeta loved Bulma and Trunks dearly. He began to train no longer for pride, but for their protection. His ambitions changed, as did his heart. Goku's forgiveness helped Vegeta become a true fighter Goku and Vegeta were constant rivals throughout the series. They consistently motivated one another to be greater. But Goku never considered Vegeta a villain. He was impressed by his power and always had faith in Vegeta's ability to transform. This constant competition pushed Vegeta to change. He learned there was a better way to grow than by destroying things. Goku's compassion and faith in him provided Vegeta an opportunity to redeem himself, again and again. And secretly, that connection transformed him more than he realized. From Saiyan Prince to earth's protector In Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta is no longer Goku's nemesis—he's one of the series' principal heroes. He battles on behalf of his family, his world, and even strangers. He trains more than ever before, even mastering new god-level abilities like Ultra Ego. But aside from power, what's admirable now is his character. Vegeta has protected Earth against gods, invaders, and monsters. He even put his life on the line during the Tournament of Power to protect his universe. One of his most dramatic moments is when he battles Beerus, the God of Destruction, after the god slaps Bulma. The old Vegeta would never have cared. But the new Vegeta? He was consumed by rage—not pride, but love. Why fans love Vegeta more than ever Vegeta's journey is not about fighting. It's about change, redemption, and being better than you were born to be. He began as an antagonist, became an anti-hero, and is now a household name as a figure of strength and transformation. Vegeta is now one of anime's greatest written character arcs today. He is the ideal adversary to Goku, not only in combat but in values as well. He illustrates that even the worst of individuals can have a purpose to improve. Where to watch Dragon Ball Want to see Vegeta evolve from villain to hero? You can catch Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and the latest additions on: Crunchyroll Hulu Netflix Funimation All streams provide English dubs and subtitles for US and UK viewers. Final thoughts: Vegeta's redemption is anime history Vegeta's redemption from cold-blooded killer to loving member of a family is one of the most emotive tales in anime. His transformation is testimony that redemption can happen, even to those who have the most sinister histories. Ultimately, Vegeta might have begun by wanting to conquer the planet Earth—but now he's one of its greatest protectors.
