Sunday 22 March 2026

Good morning Bangkok. It's Sunday and we're at 31-34°C (88-93°F) with clear skies. The SET closed Friday at 1,432.99, up 15.54 on strong buying. Gold has dropped significantly to ฿70,250-70,450, down from ฿76,300 just three days ago. That's a ฿6,000 swing per baht weight in under a week. If you own gold, you're feeling that. If you've been waiting to buy, this might be your moment. Let's get into it.

A 26-year-old Japanese man named Kanasashi was brutally attacked by a group of 5-6 Bolt motorcycle riders in Pattaya early Saturday morning, in an assault captured on CCTV that has gone viral across Thai social media. The attack happened around 3:44 AM on Second Road near Walking Street. According to police, Kanasashi had just left Walking Street and was standing outside making a phone call when one of the riders approached him, reportedly to offer a ride. Within about 10 minutes, the situation escalated into a group attack. Video footage shows the victim being punched and kicked repeatedly by multiple assailants while he tried to shield his head and run. The attackers pursued him on foot and on motorcycles, even attempting to run him over with their bikes. The group allegedly taunted him, saying: "Do you think you are tough?" Kanasashi ran to a nearby hotel for help, where a security guard called police. He had a head wound, facial swelling, and bruising across his body. He was taken to Pattaya City Hospital but reportedly left without receiving full treatment. Tourist Police have launched an intensive investigation and vowed to track down the attackers.

Bottom line: This is now the fourth high-profile assault on a tourist in Pattaya in March alone: the Walking Street security guard beating (March 7), a separate Walking Street assault on a Middle Eastern couple (same week), a transgender suspect attacking tourists (March 15), and now this. The pattern is alarming, and it's destroying Pattaya's reputation at a time when Thailand can least afford it. Tourism is already down 14% from Europe. The tourism industry just asked the government for ฿14 billion in relief. And then this happens. Pattaya needs to get its house in order before Songkran. If you're heading to Pattaya's nightlife areas, stay in groups and use hotel transport where possible.

In genuinely good news, Japan has officially named Thailand as its strategic base for the "New Cool Japan" content strategy in ASEAN. NTT DOCOMO and TrueVisions signed a partnership this week to bring a massive library of Japanese live-action content to Thai audiences via TrueVisions NOW, launching March 25 with the "Lemino Japanese Collection." This includes over 125 titles at launch: J-Drama series, variety shows, cultural documentaries, all legally available and free to start. The Government of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs helped broker the deal, with the Japanese embassy in Bangkok present at the signing. The idea is to make Thailand the hub connecting Japanese entertainment to the rest of Southeast Asia.

Bottom line: If you're a Japan culture enthusiast (and in Bangkok, that's a LOT of people), this is significant. Thailand already has the largest Japanese expat community in Southeast Asia and some of the best Japanese food outside Japan. Now it's becoming the official gateway for Japanese entertainment content in the region. TrueVisions NOW is a streaming platform, so you'll need the app. The initial content is free, which makes this an easy win if you're looking for something new to watch. More than 76 Japanese content partners are involved, including studios from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

Haoma is a one-Michelin-star neo-Indian restaurant hidden in a colonial wooden house deep in Sukhumvit Soi 31. Chef Deepanker Khosla (DK) runs Thailand's first urban farm and zero-waste restaurant. They literally grow what they cook: herbs from an on-site garden, vegetables from their organic farm in Chiang Mai, fish from their aquaponics system, and even raise chickens, goats, and cows for the menu. The cuisine is "neo-Indian," meaning pre-colonial Indian recipes reimagined with modern techniques and Thai-sourced ingredients. The tasting menu (starting at ฿3,990++ for the 18-course meat and seafood experience) takes you on a journey through India, dish by dish, each with its own story told via postcards at your table. There's an outstanding vegetarian menu too. You start with a cocktail in a speakeasy-style bar, get a mini tour of the garden, then sit in a Nordic-style dining room surrounded by vertical gardens. Haoma also won the World's Best Sustainable Wine List in 2024 and holds a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. 4.7 on Restaurant Guru with 1,600+ reviews, and a 4.6 on google with over 500+ reviews.

TIP: Book for Saturday or Sunday if you want the lunch option (11:30 AM to 3 PM). Weekday dinners are 5:30 PM to 11 PM. Closed Mondays. This is a splurge, but it's the kind of meal you remember for years. If you've got visitors coming and want to blow their minds, this is where you take them.

Address: 231/3 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Tel: 092-891-8222. BTS Phrom Phong or Asok, then a short taxi. Reservations essential.

22 March 1895: The Lumiere brothers held their first private screening of a motion picture in Paris. 131 years later, Japan just picked Thailand as the place to beam its entertainment across Southeast Asia. Auguste and Louis would approve. They'd probably also be confused by TikTok, but that's a different newsletter.

See you tomorrow morning.

— Devon

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