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Casey Baseel
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Casey Baseel spent his formative years staring in frustration at un-subtitled Japanese TV programming shown on Southern California’s international channel. Taking matters into his own hands, he moved to Tokyo to study the language, then found work in Yokohama a decade ago teaching, translating, and marketing hotels he can’t afford to stay in. When not participating in the eternal cycle of exercising to burn the calories form his love of Japanese food, Casey scours used comic and game shops for forgotten classics, drags his wife around the country in a quest to visit all its castles, sings karaoke not nearly as well as he thinks he does, and counts the days until the summertime bars open on Enoshima Beach.
All Stories by Casey Baseel
JoJo character designer warns overseas fans about the hardships of working in Japanese animation.
A heartbreaking gesture of kindness for a woman in an industry that often doesn’t treat its performers like people.
Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and hairpins will have you looking great and leave your bank account sitting pretty too.
A sleeping bag that offers no privacy from a company that makes products for when you’re all alone.
Two of Japan’s top manga publishers team up for a special collection of 44 different series in one huge book.
After spending his first few years living in the U.S., he’s spent the rest of his life answering the same questions over and over.
The first-ever live-action Pokémon movie is getting a special salute from Tokyo’s permanent Poké-eatery.
Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to use new visa rules to add foreign staff to its 2011 earthquake/tsunami cleanup efforts.
Unabashed lifelong otaku’s final online words express admiration for another recently departed anime/manga legend.
This schoolgirl doesn’t meet the boy you’d think she would, and she’s not who you expect either.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Chiitan vs John Oliver: Talk show host responds to Japanese mascot’s challenge to battle 【Video】
New Studio Ghibli exhibition opens in Tokyo, features giant talking Yubaba from Spirited Away
Anime character designer flat-out tells foreigners they shouldn’t move to Japan to work in anime
Japan is getting a Disney Mickey Mouse Shinkansen bullet train this spring!
Japanese KitKats get fresh with new peach rum mint flavour this summer
We caved in to curiosity and bought a mystery box from a strange vending machine in Akihabara
Final Fantasy’s Yoshitaka Amano illustrates exclusive Japan-only Magic: The Gathering card
How to get an amazing Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi lunch for less than 15 bucks
Suntory’s cat-shaped bottle caps: the beverage accessories we want, and you can get one for free!
Matt Kuwata stuns the world with transformation from Japanese boy to living doll 【Photos】
Weekly
“We wasted so much time in English class” — Japanese Twitter user points out major teaching flaw- New Studio Ghibli exhibition opens in Tokyo, features giant talking Yubaba from Spirited Away
Japan’s amazing wisteria flowers are here to make us all forget about the cherry blossoms【Photos】
Handsome Japanese YouTuber surprises fans with photos of his “dorky” high school self
Japanese convenience stores want you to be honest and request to pay higher sales tax rate- We caved in to curiosity and bought a mystery box from a strange vending machine in Akihabara
Lone Wolf and Cub’s Kazuo Koike passes away, final tweet is a salute to his manga rival- Anime character designer flat-out tells foreigners they shouldn’t move to Japan to work in anime
Tenga adapts its masturbatory aid design into a full-size clear sleeping bag【Photos】
Looking for a unique afternoon tea in Tokyo? Have a picnic indoors at Fruit Picnic in Harajuku
Monthly
The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down
Chinese couple’s wedding crashed by groom’s ex-girlfriend, dressed in her own wedding dress【Vid】- “We wasted so much time in English class” — Japanese Twitter user points out major teaching flaw
This nonconformist Japanese schoolgirl is ready for any bullies who tease her about her backpack
All-new World of Thighs Photography exhibition opens in Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood this month
Disney is making an anime-style dating simulator where you meet handsome villain boys
Japanese net users speculate on a subtle design feature of the Toyota Prius…related to booze
Shiba Inu boss lazes around in flowers while winning Japanese workers’ hearts
Zelda fan’s Sheikah Slate turns charging his phone into a scene from Breath of the Wild【Video】
Japanese reporter laughed at for asking black hole photo team for more on Japan’s contributions
Yearly
Prominent boob-centric manga artist shocks fans by revealing she’s a beautiful buxom woman
Ariana Grande “fixes” her 7 Rings Japanese kanji tattoo, but it still says tiny charcoal grill- The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down
You have One Piece creator’s official permission to have sexy fantasies about his characters- Chinese couple’s wedding crashed by groom’s ex-girlfriend, dressed in her own wedding dress【Vid】
New Pokémon dress shirt line lets you dress like an adult in the company of all 151 Kanto species
Japanese Penis Festival 2019: Everything you need to know for this year’s Kanamara Matsuri
Japanese Twitter community shocked to learn that train timetables are made with Microsoft Excel
Sonic the Hedgehog creator gets one last blow to his pride on final visit to Sega office in Tokyo
Decorate your whole house like Sailor Moon’s Moon Castle with the new Isetan collaboration
RECOMMENDED STORIES
We caved in to curiosity and bought a mystery box from a strange vending machine in Akihabara
Final Fantasy’s Yoshitaka Amano illustrates exclusive Japan-only Magic: The Gathering card
How to get an amazing Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi lunch for less than 15 bucks
Suntory’s cat-shaped bottle caps: the beverage accessories we want, and you can get one for free!
Matt Kuwata stuns the world with transformation from Japanese boy to living doll 【Photos】
TeamLab Borderless: A visitor’s guide to Tokyo’s new jaw-dropping interactive light museum
Tenga adapts its masturbatory aid design into a full-size clear sleeping bag【Photos】
Chiitan the otter rejected as mascot character for Japan’s Susaki City due to reckless behavior
Brand-new line of Pokémon accessories is amazingly stylish and awesomely affordable【Photos】
Conan O’Brien visits Conan Town in Japan…but things don’t go entirely as planned
Japanese Twitter user claims to have achieved “Perfect” sound on iTunes, we investigate
Nine questions we have from Netflix’s Rilakkuma trailer, which reminds us he is NOT a bear【Video】
Japanese former adult video actress’ documentary promises to show her giving birth in live stream
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