The obvious answer would seem to be “No,” but our Japanese-language reporter has a unique alternate perspective.
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 395)
After you’ve checked out the art and food of the Sailor Moon art exhibit, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs!
Some of the biggest stars of anime and manga are going to be spending their summer at the Osaka theme park.
Duelists and anime fans drawn to the sight of 7,000-plus gleaming, mint-condition collectible cards from the hit franchise.
Passersby witness frightening scene as it happens.
This little guy is always prepared to literally rise and shine.
Don’t you even think of trying to take it away from him.
After going head-over-heels for the illustrated Ellen-sensei, fans are startled to see her being portrayed by an actual human being.
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Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
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Harajuku Station’s beautiful old wooden building is set to return, with a new complex around it
Should you add tartar sauce to Japanese curry rice? CoCo Ichi makes diners an unusual offer
Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
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Beautiful Ghibli sealing wax kits let you create accessories and elegant letter decorations【Pics】
Monthly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
- Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro- Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
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More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Yearly
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Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
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Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
Japan’s massive matcha parfait weighs 6 kilos, contains hidden surprises for anyone who eats it
Mt. Koya planning to instate visitor’s tax to cope with huge tourist numbers
Osaka governor suggests lowering voting age to 0 to curb population decline
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
Muji’s Sofa Made From Air review: Is Japan’s most sought-after portable couch worth the hype?
90 minutes of all-you-can-drink alcohol for 550 yen at revolving sushi restaurant Koma Sushi
Anime girl English teacher Ellen-sensei becomes VTuber/VVTUber and NFT
We tried Korea’s way-too-big King Tonkatsu Burger at Lotteria 【Taste Test】
Four moments when Japan’s single men are glad they’re not married
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