Japan has a matcha shortage despite record levels of production. Shops are selling out of the green tea powder as soon as they hit the shelves.

On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg's Mia Glass about the world’s obsession with matcha – and why producers can’t keep up with the rising demand.


Read more: The Global Matcha Boom Is Driving a Shortage in Japan

Further listening: Japan’s Small Businesses Have a Problem. They Don’t Know How to Raise Prices

Japan has a matcha shortage despite record levels of production. Shops are selling out of the green tea powder as soon as they hit the shelves.
On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg's Mia Glass about the world&rsquo;s obsession with matcha &ndash; and why producers can&rsquo;t keep up with the rising demand.
 Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/matcha-tiktok-craze-has-japan-facing-tea-shortage-raising-prices">The Global Matcha Boom Is Driving a Shortage in Japan </a>Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/japans-small-businesses-have-a-problem-they-dont/id1746141911?i=1000663721043">Japan&rsquo;s Small Businesses Have a Problem. They Don&rsquo;t Know How to Raise Prices</a>

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

Big Take Asia

Can’t Get Enough Of Matcha? Too Bad – Japan Is Running Low

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9f6f7a54-ecaa-4e68-aac0-b2a4013ca91b/transcript

Microdramas — mini soap operas designed to be watched on your phone — have become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Yang Yang and Bloomberg Businessweek’s Christopher Beam about how millions got hooked on the medium, the challenges studios face as they try to reach new audiences and how AI could transform it all.

Read more: China Has the World Hooked on Two-Minute Microdramas
China Brought 90-Second Microdramas to the US. Now Hollywood Wants In

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Victor Swezey; Reported by Yang Yang and Christopher Beam; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Sean Carter.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Microdramas &mdash; mini soap operas designed to be watched on your phone &mdash; have become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Yang Yang and Bloomberg Businessweek&rsquo;s Christopher Beam about how millions got hooked on the medium, the challenges studios face as they try to reach new audiences and how AI could transform it all.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-31/chinese-microdramas-go-global-as-ai-slashes-production-costs?srnd=phx-weekend_2">China Has the World Hooked on Two-Minute Microdramas </a><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-12/microdramas-take-hold-on-us-smartphones-after-rise-in-china">China Brought 90-Second Microdramas to the US. Now Hollywood Wants In</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Victor Swezey; Reported by Yang Yang and Christopher Beam; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Alex Sugiura and Sean Carter.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

How Two-Minute Microdramas Became a Billion-Dollar Industry

The launch of Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 model has taken the tech world — and Washington — by storm, raising urgent questions about how a Chinese startup can suddenly rival the world's most powerful AI systems.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Mark Anderson about the distillation method behind Moonshot’s breakthrough and what it means for the high-stakes AI race between the US and China.

Read more: Moonshot Plans IPO in Six Months After China AI Breakthrough

The launch of Moonshot AI&rsquo;s Kimi K3 model has taken the tech world &mdash; and Washington &mdash; by storm, raising urgent questions about how a Chinese startup can suddenly rival the world's most powerful AI systems.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Mark Anderson about the distillation method behind Moonshot&rsquo;s breakthrough and what it means for the high-stakes AI race between the US and China.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-19/china-s-moonshot-plans-ipo-in-six-months-after-ai-breakthrough">Moonshot Plans IPO in Six Months After China AI Breakthrough</a>

The Chinese AI Model Rattling Silicon Valley and Washington

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/42c44aa3-38fc-401d-9f1e-b4a3015162d0/transcript

Indonesia’s free lunch program is a massive operation, feeding tens of millions of people every day across a vast archipelago. 

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Rebecca Choong Wilkins talks with Bloomberg’s Rosalind Mathieson about the challenges facing President Prabowo’s flagship program and whether it can survive the strain.

Read more: Handing Out $15 Billion of Free Meals Strains Indonesia's Budget


Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Naomi Ng; Reported by Rosalind Mathieson, Eko Listiyorini; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Indonesia&rsquo;s free lunch program is a massive operation, feeding tens of millions of people every day across a vast archipelago.&nbsp; On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host Rebecca Choong Wilkins talks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Rosalind Mathieson about the challenges facing President Prabowo&rsquo;s flagship program and whether it can survive the strain.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-04-13/handing-out-15-billion-of-free-meals-strains-indonesia-s-budget?srnd=undefined">Handing Out $15 Billion of Free Meals Strains Indonesia's Budget </a>
Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Naomi Ng; Reported by Rosalind Mathieson, Eko Listiyorini; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Indonesia’s $15 Billion Free Lunch Experiment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c0aa6fe1-8ffa-49c9-bf79-b45601460fd1/transcript

Can’t Get Enough Of Matcha? Too Bad – Japan Is Running Low

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