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99% Invisible · July 24, 2026 · 00:36:25

100 Objects #10: Nunchaku

The nunchaku became a pop culture phenomenon in the early 1970s thanks to Bruce Lee, but its adoption by Asian American youth marked something deeper: the birth of a radical new Asian American identity. This episode of 99% Invisible’s '100 Objects' explores how a martial arts weapon became a symbol of political and cultural awakening.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

Nunchaku as a Symbol of Asian American Identity
The nunchaku craze of the early 1970s, sparked by Bruce Lee, coincided with the emergence of a radical new Asian American identity and served as a cultural touchstone for that movement.
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