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.
Posted by Casey Baseel (Page 199)
Kodomo no Omocha, Akazukin Chacha, and three other series saluted with special menu items and character merch.
Handwritten recipes promise a taste of what the Satos, Yamadas, and other families are eating.
New name references parent companies, but “Sunrise” will still get its moments in the spotlight.
Heaviest snows in nearly a decade completely stop all train service going into or out of Sapporo Station.
Remake Easy is like a speakeasy with sweets, and they don’t tell their address to anybody until they’re part of the inner circle.
MOST POPULAR
Today
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime stationery collection, with a Spirited Away River God memo stand
Pikachu plushie actually goes into space as part of Pokémon/European Space Agency collaboration
Famous Kyoto shrine has a message for foreign tourists who think it’s okay to dance at sacred sites
Final Fantasy VII’s Buster Sword gets real-world practicality as a giant towel [Photos]
Japanese sweet potato ice cream season! Häagen-Dazs and Muji take different paths to our hearts
Emperor of Japan poses for photo with Studio Ghibli’s No Face [Video]
Three amazing Japanese convenience store sweet potato desserts to eat right now (and 11 for later)
My night trapped in Nagoya’s flood: what do you do when Japan’s trains shut down?
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Weekly
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Bear spotted near most popular hiking trail on Tokyo’s most popular hiking mountain- Japanese sweet potato ice cream season! Häagen-Dazs and Muji take different paths to our hearts
Get more room in your luggage with new clothing compression machines at Haneda and Narita airports- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
OC Japan Fair returns to California packed with all kinds of Japanese culture- Studio Ghibli unveils new anime stationery collection, with a Spirited Away River God memo stand
Pokémon Adidas crossover sneaker line releases in Japan, gives your feet Pikachu hugs [Pics]
Tokyo’s Square Burger claims it’s a viral hit with foreign tourists who’ve given it near-perfect Google reviews
Everything old is new, and cool, again at this hotel in Japan’s hot spring town comeback king
Monthly
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors- New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japanese sweet potato ice cream season! Häagen-Dazs and Muji take different paths to our hearts
Emperor of Japan poses for photo with Studio Ghibli’s No Face [Video]
Three amazing Japanese convenience store sweet potato desserts to eat right now (and 11 for later)
My night trapped in Nagoya’s flood: what do you do when Japan’s trains shut down?
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japanese convenience store is very focused with its new bento…maybe TOO focused
Denny’s Mapputatsu? Parfait is hiding a big secret in plain sight that splits us down the middle
Car-floating sheets selling well to cope with increasing flood risk in Japan
Here’s why you’ll never want to hit a hole-in-one in Japan
Three Daiso ideas for a super-cheap but still cool (or cute) Halloween look
Only two Yoshinoya branches in all of Japan are on a train platform, and this is one of them
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new anime socks that pay tribute to characters from four different movies
JAL first class cakes can be bought for a bargain, but are they as bougie as they seem?
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