The Sunday Times Culture – August 16, 2026

Summary

South Korea and Japan have become the last word in global cool, challenging Western cultural dominance through K-pop, anime and Death Note — whose London musical sold out — reports The Sunday Times Culture (16 August 2026) cover story. Mark Gatiss discusses his new detective drama Bookish, Rachel Cusk's latest novel is allegedly about Natalie Portman, and David Mitchell recalls writing to the BBC about Play School as a child.

—–

The 16 August Culture cover story by John Arlidge tracks how Asian popular culture overtook the West through music, film and comics — K-pop groups challenging the Grammys, Japanese manga influencing fashion, and Korean cinema winning international awards. Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen) is interviewed about Bookish, a post-war detective drama. Rachel Cusk's new novel gets reviewed for its alleged Portman inspiration. David Mitchell contributes a Cultural Firsts column about writing to the BBC as a child. The visual art section argues the woodcut is the most subversive art form.

—–

The book of the week covers a monumental history of the modern Middle East. Tove Jansson's wider work beyond the Moomins gets a fiction feature. Charlotte Ivers pits Jack Reacher against RJ Decker in a television comparison. Letitia Wright stars in an incendiary play reviewed in theatre. TV and radio listings complete the section. A strong cover-to-cover Culture issue with real thematic ambition.

—–

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.4 · The new tastemakers: how Korea and Japan became the last word in cool
John Arlidge reports on the Asian cultural takeover — K-pop's Grammy protests, Death Note the musical selling out in London, manga influencing Western fashion houses. The thesis: technology and Asian economic confidence have shifted the cultural centre of gravity east. For any media buyer: the next global franchise will originate in Seoul or Tokyo, not Hollywood.

▸ Interview

p.6 · Mark Gatiss: from League of Gentlemen to literary detective drama
Gatiss discusses Bookish, his post-war detective series, and his career from The League of Gentlemen to Sherlock. He describes the pleasure of creating a period detective with contemporary sensibilities.

▸ Critics

p.12 · Television: Jack Reacher vs RJ Decker
Charlotte Ivers compares two streaming detective series — which one does the formula better? Her verdict is practical for weekend viewing decisions.

p.17 · Cultural Firsts: David Mitchell on Play School
Mitchell recalls writing to the BBC about Play School as a child. The column is a personal, funny reflection on childhood media obsession.

▸ Books

p.20 · Rachel Cusk: new novel about Natalie Portman?
Cusk's latest fiction is reviewed for its alleged inspiration. The critic assesses whether the roman-a-clef approach serves the work.

p.22 · Book of the Week: monumental history of the modern Middle East
A sweeping single-volume history covering a century of regional transformation.

p.24 · Visual art: why the woodcut is subversive
The humble woodcut technique, from Durer to Warhol to William Kentridge, is argued as art's most radical medium.

p.26 · More to Tove Jansson than the Moomins
Fiction feature on the Finnish author's adult novels and short stories.

▸ Regulars

p.8 · Theatre: Letitia Wright in incendiary play
Review of Wright's stage performance in a politically charged drama.

p.29 · TV & Radio Listings

—–

Editor's Take

The cover story earns its real estate — the Asian cultural takeover is a genuine shift that most Western media still undercovers, and Arlidge packs the piece with specific examples (K-pop, Death Note, manga). The Mark Gatiss interview is a bonus for fans. David Mitchell's Cultural Firsts column is the issue's secret weapon — genuinely funny and personal. Weaknesses: the Rachel Cusk review is too coy about whether the book is actually about Portman. The woodcut art piece is interesting but feels like it belongs in a specialist magazine. Best for readers who want to understand where global pop culture is heading.

Strengths
• Cover story on Asian cultural takeover is timely and well-reported
• David Mitchell's Play School column is genuinely funny
• Mark Gatiss interview has real news value

Weaknesses
• Rachel Cusk review hedges on its central premise
• Woodcut art piece is niche for a general culture section
• Jack Reacher vs RJ Decker is a thin comparison

Verdict: Recommended — the cover story alone shifts how you see the cultural landscape.