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 362)
Cynics won’t be surprised, but unintended inside look at hostess bar shorthand still stings.
The often-overlooked Suidobashi neighborhood makes a great base for exploring Tokyo, and this high-class capsule hotel makes it even better.
The event is dedicated to Japan’s Internet video makers, but these in-person cosplayers were who really caught our attention.
Surprisingly large number also say they relax at home in the nude.
Drunken attempt at assistance is a prime example of the solution being far worse than the problem.
Getting turned down for a job hurts, but one company wants to do what it can to help job-hunters bounce back from a rejection.
Chichibugahama Beach looks like a Makoto Shinkai anime come to life, and is well worth a detour off the beaten travel path.
Read More
Troubling statistic is coupled with an additional one-in-four saying they’ve heard the word, but don’t know what it means.
Anime becomes reality with help from the creator of the original Gundam, and it even has a strange, hard-to-pronounce anime mecha-style name!
In our latest attempt to get rich and eat fast food, we test the limits of the Uniqlo/McDonald’s discount campaign.
Beautiful mother/son work of art meets a bittersweet end at the hands of the one enemy it can’t defeat.
Makers of the sailor bikini are back to prove one-piece swimwear can still be daringly sexy.
New father makes mental note of the economic upside of breastfeeding, passes those savings on to his beloved wife.
Some say the Pokémon GO craze is over, but the bond between true lovers is eternal (and in this case kind of weird).
Hardcore cosplayers make their own costumes, and for Reika Saiki, that includes building her body to get Chun-Li’s thighs.
After a dozen years waiting, fans have a chance to see the Kingdom Hearts/Evangelion singer live, plus a way to boost their odds of getting tickets.
MOST POPULAR
Now
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
What does a kanji with 12 “kuchi” radicals mean? A look at weird, forgotten Japanese characters
Manga artist raises question online about false perspective in Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Pepsi creates a new cola for Christmas fried chicken in Japan
Weekly
- Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
- 7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens- 7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
Monthly
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo- Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Manga artist raises question online about false perspective in Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Pepsi creates a new cola for Christmas fried chicken in Japan
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
-
