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HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Explore Tokyo through the lens of its former Edo identity, where the concept of 'iki' – a subtle, effortless elegance that values authenticity, refinement and unpretentious style – was born. The Edo period, lasting roughly from 1600 to 1868, was known as a time of peace and stability, urbanization, economic growth and the flourishing of arts and culture. In this episode of CNN's POV, follow International Correspondent Hanako Montgomery as she uncovers how 'Tokyoites' of today keep this urban code of understated cool alive through fashion, art and poetry.
Hanako begins by tracing how Edo's merchant class expressed their wealth through subtle elegance in their fashion. At the Ichikura Kimono School, a kimono expert introduces the subtleties of dressing, pointing out how seemingly modest garments might conceal secret patterns or details. She then visits Ryukobo – a historic Tokyo atelier specialising in kumihimo – the traditional Japanese art of silk braiding used for making the cords that secure the sashes, or obis, of kimonos. A subtle yet elegant detail to a traditional ensemble, today, the brand is reimagining this refined craft for modern lifestyles, offering a wide range of products that carry the spirit of traditional elegance.
The concept of 'iki' extends beyond physical appearance and lives on through creative expression. Haiku, the succinct 17-syllable poetic form embodying much of the 'iki' spirit gained popularity during the Edo period. Today, 26-year-old Kei Iwata keeps the tradition alive through his award-winning poetry. Iwata, who's passion for Haiku was first sparked by hip-hop battles, views haiku as a kind of music and has also collaborated with a wide range of musicians.
As an integral element of creative expression, 'iki' is deeply embedded in the artforms of the Edo period. Ukiyo-e are Japanese woodblock prints that depict everything from kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers to everyday scenes and landscapes. Noted art historian and curator of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, Shoko Haruki explains how the art reflects the urban imagination and coded elegance of 'iki'. Today, the tradition is being revitalised through contemporary motifs and characters. Internationally recognised American artist Alex Dodge collaborates with craftsmen at the Adachi Institute to merge Edo-period printmaking techniques with modern imagery, breathing new life into this classic art genre, while Japanese graffiti artist, ESOW, is redefining urban cool by taking his art, a unique blend of skate and graffiti culture, to the streets.
POV trailer: https://bit.ly/3KMJhR2
POV images: https://bit.ly/3KYC5kB
Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, 18th October at 12:30pm HKT
Sunday, 19th October at 12.30am and 6pm HKT
Monday, 20th October at 11am HKT
About CNN International
CNN's portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 379 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI's non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a Warner Bros. Discovery company.
HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Explore Tokyo through the lens of its former Edo identity, where the concept of 'iki' – a subtle, effortless elegance that values authenticity, refinement and unpretentious style – was born. The Edo period, lasting roughly from 1600 to 1868, was known as a time of peace and stability, urbanization, economic growth and the flourishing of arts and culture. In this episode of CNN's POV, follow International Correspondent Hanako Montgomery as she uncovers how 'Tokyoites' of today keep this urban code of understated cool alive through fashion, art and poetry.
Hanako begins by tracing how Edo's merchant class expressed their wealth through subtle elegance in their fashion. At the Ichikura Kimono School, a kimono expert introduces the subtleties of dressing, pointing out how seemingly modest garments might conceal secret patterns or details. She then visits Ryukobo – a historic Tokyo atelier specialising in kumihimo – the traditional Japanese art of silk braiding used for making the cords that secure the sashes, or obis, of kimonos. A subtle yet elegant detail to a traditional ensemble, today, the brand is reimagining this refined craft for modern lifestyles, offering a wide range of products that carry the spirit of traditional elegance.
The concept of 'iki' extends beyond physical appearance and lives on through creative expression. Haiku, the succinct 17-syllable poetic form embodying much of the 'iki' spirit gained popularity during the Edo period. Today, 26-year-old Kei Iwata keeps the tradition alive through his award-winning poetry. Iwata, who's passion for Haiku was first sparked by hip-hop battles, views haiku as a kind of music and has also collaborated with a wide range of musicians.
As an integral element of creative expression, 'iki' is deeply embedded in the artforms of the Edo period. Ukiyo-e are Japanese woodblock prints that depict everything from kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers to everyday scenes and landscapes. Noted art historian and curator of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, Shoko Haruki explains how the art reflects the urban imagination and coded elegance of 'iki'. Today, the tradition is being revitalised through contemporary motifs and characters. Internationally recognised American artist Alex Dodge collaborates with craftsmen at the Adachi Institute to merge Edo-period printmaking techniques with modern imagery, breathing new life into this classic art genre, while Japanese graffiti artist, ESOW, is redefining urban cool by taking his art, a unique blend of skate and graffiti culture, to the streets.
POV trailer: https://bit.ly/3KMJhR2
POV images: https://bit.ly/3KYC5kB
Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, 18th October at 12:30pm HKT
Sunday, 19th October at 12.30am and 6pm HKT
Monday, 20th October at 11am HKT
About CNN International
CNN's portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 379 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI's non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a Warner Bros. Discovery company.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
CNN's POV uncovers how the Edo period aesthetic ideal of 'iki' shapes modern Tokyo
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NEW YORK, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TrendForce's latest findings on the AI industry highlight that several major North American CSPs have recently raised their 2026 capital expenditure (CapEx) guidance in response to strong AI demand. As a result, TrendForce has revised its forecast for the combined CapEx of the world's top nine CSPs—Google, AWS, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, and Baidu—up to approximately US$830 billion in 2026, with the annual growth rate raised from 61% to 79%.
Taking a look at the four major U.S. CSPs, Microsoft has increased its CapEx outlook to $190 billion, implying approximately 130% YoY growth. Around roughly $25 billion is attributable to rising component costs. Similarly, Google has raised its guidance from $175–185 billion to $180–190 billion, with growth exceeding 100%. Meta has revised its CapEx range upward from $115–135 billion to $125–145 billion, representing approximately 85% YoY growth. Lastly, AWS is expected to exceed $230 billion in CapEx this year, with growth of over 50% driven by demand for AI cloud services.
TrendForce notes that the pace of CapEx expansion among North American CSPs exceeds the global average, underscoring that AI infrastructure has become a core long-term strategic priority. Investment is increasingly concentrated in the deployment of high-performance GPU clusters, in-house ASIC development, and next-generation data centers designed to support high-power-density computing.
The sharp rise in CapEx also signals sustained momentum in data center construction, led primarily by AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle. As of the end of 2025, these five North American CSPs had deployed 800–900 data centers globally, with AWS accounting for the lion's share.
Among Chinese CSPs, Alibaba and ByteDance are the main drivers of expansion—though their strategies diverge. Alibaba is focusing on localized nodes and sovereign cloud offerings through Alibaba Cloud to penetrate emerging markets. Since announcing expansion plans in 2025, the company has established new regions in Brazil, France, and the Netherlands, enlarging its global footprint to 29 regions and 94 availability zones.
In contrast, ByteDance is aggressively expanding overseas through TikTok, with operations established across eight countries, including the U.S., Brazil, and Ireland, and major investments in Europe, Thailand, and Malaysia. This makes it the most geographically aggressive Chinese CSP.
TrendForce further notes that sustained AI demand will continue to drive global data center growth, with total installed power capacity expected to reach approximately 155 GW in 2026 (~+29% YoY). AI servers are also projected to surpass general-purpose servers in total electricity consumption in 2026 due to significantly higher power consumption per unit.
Further jumps in power consumption are expected in 2027–2028 as platforms such as GB300/Rubin and ASIC-based AI servers enter mass production. This trend will, in turn, support growth in key components such as HVDC power systems and liquid cooling systems.
For more information on TrendForce's semiconductor reports and market data, please visit the Report Page, or Email (SR_MI@trendforce.com) the Sales Department.
For more on the latest technology industry news and trends, please visit News.
About TrendForce
TrendForce is a global leader in technology industry analysis and consulting services. With deep expertise spanning foundry, DRAM, HBM, NAND Flash, AI servers, robotics, near-eye displays, display panels, LEDs, MLCC, and green energy, it also offers in-depth research into key market drivers such as AI, automotive technologies, 5G/6G communications, LEO satellites, and the IoT.
Backed by a team of top industry professionals, TrendForce has been at the forefront of global market research for over 25 years. More than 60% of its clients are among the world's top 500 companies.
TrendForce's global footprint includes Taipei, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley, New York, and Tokyo. With timely and strategic industry analysis, TrendForce delivers the critical information that empowers businesses to make smarter, faster decisions.
CONTACT: pengchen@trendforce.com
NEW YORK, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TrendForce's latest findings on the AI industry highlight that several major North American CSPs have recently raised their 2026 capital expenditure (CapEx) guidance in response to strong AI demand. As a result, TrendForce has revised its forecast for the combined CapEx of the world's top nine CSPs—Google, AWS, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, and Baidu—up to approximately US$830 billion in 2026, with the annual growth rate raised from 61% to 79%.
Taking a look at the four major U.S. CSPs, Microsoft has increased its CapEx outlook to $190 billion, implying approximately 130% YoY growth. Around roughly $25 billion is attributable to rising component costs. Similarly, Google has raised its guidance from $175–185 billion to $180–190 billion, with growth exceeding 100%. Meta has revised its CapEx range upward from $115–135 billion to $125–145 billion, representing approximately 85% YoY growth. Lastly, AWS is expected to exceed $230 billion in CapEx this year, with growth of over 50% driven by demand for AI cloud services.
TrendForce notes that the pace of CapEx expansion among North American CSPs exceeds the global average, underscoring that AI infrastructure has become a core long-term strategic priority. Investment is increasingly concentrated in the deployment of high-performance GPU clusters, in-house ASIC development, and next-generation data centers designed to support high-power-density computing.
The sharp rise in CapEx also signals sustained momentum in data center construction, led primarily by AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle. As of the end of 2025, these five North American CSPs had deployed 800–900 data centers globally, with AWS accounting for the lion's share.
Among Chinese CSPs, Alibaba and ByteDance are the main drivers of expansion—though their strategies diverge. Alibaba is focusing on localized nodes and sovereign cloud offerings through Alibaba Cloud to penetrate emerging markets. Since announcing expansion plans in 2025, the company has established new regions in Brazil, France, and the Netherlands, enlarging its global footprint to 29 regions and 94 availability zones.
In contrast, ByteDance is aggressively expanding overseas through TikTok, with operations established across eight countries, including the U.S., Brazil, and Ireland, and major investments in Europe, Thailand, and Malaysia. This makes it the most geographically aggressive Chinese CSP.
TrendForce further notes that sustained AI demand will continue to drive global data center growth, with total installed power capacity expected to reach approximately 155 GW in 2026 (~+29% YoY). AI servers are also projected to surpass general-purpose servers in total electricity consumption in 2026 due to significantly higher power consumption per unit.
Further jumps in power consumption are expected in 2027–2028 as platforms such as GB300/Rubin and ASIC-based AI servers enter mass production. This trend will, in turn, support growth in key components such as HVDC power systems and liquid cooling systems.
For more information on TrendForce's semiconductor reports and market data, please visit the Report Page, or Email (SR_MI@trendforce.com) the Sales Department.
For more on the latest technology industry news and trends, please visit News.
About TrendForce
TrendForce is a global leader in technology industry analysis and consulting services. With deep expertise spanning foundry, DRAM, HBM, NAND Flash, AI servers, robotics, near-eye displays, display panels, LEDs, MLCC, and green energy, it also offers in-depth research into key market drivers such as AI, automotive technologies, 5G/6G communications, LEO satellites, and the IoT.
Backed by a team of top industry professionals, TrendForce has been at the forefront of global market research for over 25 years. More than 60% of its clients are among the world's top 500 companies.
TrendForce's global footprint includes Taipei, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley, New York, and Tokyo. With timely and strategic industry analysis, TrendForce delivers the critical information that empowers businesses to make smarter, faster decisions.
CONTACT: pengchen@trendforce.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
North American AI Data Center Expansion Drives 2026 CapEx of Top Nine CSPs to US$830 Billion, Says TrendForce
