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 372)
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.
Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke monsters, and a building marked “Cat Bus” have fans more excited than ever about Ghibli Park.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Totoro and Calcifer become little light-up lanterns for Ghibli-style excursions or at-home decor
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Final Fantasy invites you to adventure in Fukushima with Fukushima Fantasy Chocobo fun[Video]
Japanese kindness restores our faith in humanity after a highway bus accident in Tokyo
This upcycled Kyoto train cafe is the ultimate kawaii spring experience
Fatal stabbing at Pokémon Center in Tokyo reignites concern over rising stalking cases in Japan
Starbucks Japan adds new Sencha Matcha Tea Frappuccino to its menu, but only at 28 locations
Weekly
- Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]- Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Studio Ghibli releases the My Neighbour Totoro tea caddy, with a magical self-closing lid
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino- Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season- 7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
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
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Final Fantasy invites you to adventure in Fukushima with Fukushima Fantasy Chocobo fun[Video]
Japanese kindness restores our faith in humanity after a highway bus accident in Tokyo
This upcycled Kyoto train cafe is the ultimate kawaii spring experience
Fatal stabbing at Pokémon Center in Tokyo reignites concern over rising stalking cases in Japan
Starbucks Japan adds new Sencha Matcha Tea Frappuccino to its menu, but only at 28 locations
Drinkable pixels: 7-Eleven Japan creates new convenience store juice with “pixels” inside
On your next trip, why not take a washing machine that fits in your pocket?
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Locust and wormwood soft serve ice cream now available in Japan!
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
How to power up the coolest cheap souvenir from Nintendo’s official shop with a trip to Daiso
Studio Ghibli announces new anime short in production, now recruiting staff to make it
-
