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 294)
Three young women fight off the winter cold with the warmth of friendship and delicious Gurakoro (yes, that’s something McDonald’s sells in Japan).
Panel says a reevaluation of how much housework and childcare Japanese men should do is necessary for reversing the country’s aging, shrinking population trend.
Kitty-sized furniture comes bundled with a huge supply of winter snacks for their human caretakers.
This Tokyo bakery hasn’t changed its curry bread recipe in nearly 100 years, and it doesn’t need to.
Like the samurai lord who visited 400 years ago, we get beckoned to this suburban temple by its feline charm.
Pokéfuta spread to the northernmost region of Japan with adorable appearances by Vulpix, Ninetails, and many more Pokémon!
What happens when an Iron Chef contestant opens his own ramen restaurant? He creates a new kind of cuisine: ramen kaiseki.
Japan’s biggest kabuki star becomes Kylo Ren, and here’s how you can watch the performance yourself.
The Nara Hotel offers royal-class hospitality, but right now you won’t have to pay a king’s ransom to experience it.
Once strictly for the suburbs, Sushiro lets fans in Tokyo’s otaku district enjoy tasty sushi and still have plenty of cash left over for anime merch.
In cooking or in advertising, breast meat always carries a premium.
One of Tokyo’s neighbors may become the first place in Japan to enact punishment for hate speech.
In a country where asking for, and even offering, help can be culturally difficult, these kindhearted badges aim to make a difference.
The man behind the Internet’s giant Starbucks mug meme drinks from a jumbo mug inside a jumbo mug.
A glut of GIFs chronicle our reporter’s journey as he makes himself look weird in an effort to also make himself look handsome.
MOST POPULAR
Today
Starbucks Japan has a problem with its sell-out breakfast that might annoy solo diners
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s adorable pudding chick becomes a transit card mascot
Pikachu cakes and other adorable Pokémon 30th anniversary food coming to Tokyo luxury hotel
Starbucks Japan releases a new limited-edition Frappuccino inspired by espresso affogato
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Japan’s cafe that won’t let you go home until you solve a puzzle is opening in Osaka’s canal district
Studio Ghibli still doesn’t allow its anime to be streamed online in Japan, and here’s why
Gigantic gacha machine appears in Tokyo department store for capsule toy celebration
Sushi Pizza surprises diners in one of the best food destinations in Japan
Weekly
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl- Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
The Japan Burger Championship 2026 in Yokohama next month is the ultimate battle of the beef
Mr. Sato takes a walk on Tokyo’s American-style street to get some American/Japanese ice cream
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood- Sushi Pizza surprises diners in one of the best food destinations in Japan
Monthly
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before- Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers- Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Yearly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
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Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Japan’s cafe that won’t let you go home until you solve a puzzle is opening in Osaka’s canal district
Studio Ghibli still doesn’t allow its anime to be streamed online in Japan, and here’s why
Gigantic gacha machine appears in Tokyo department store for capsule toy celebration
Sushi Pizza surprises diners in one of the best food destinations in Japan
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why
Mr. Sato takes a walk on Tokyo’s American-style street to get some American/Japanese ice cream
133-year-old Japanese company’s cookies go beyond matcha with dashi and shichimi flavors
The Japan Burger Championship 2026 in Yokohama next month is the ultimate battle of the beef
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Another side of Kyoto – The prefecture’s top 10 “road stations” for traveling foodies
Tokyo restaurant offers lunches for less than 1 U.S. cent…if you’re good enough at rock-paper-scissors
Tokyo’s insane Garlic Ramen is a meal, and an aroma, you’ll never forget[Taste test]
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