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 460)
Saying cheese is fine, but flashing the peace sign could be inviting not just social media attention, but identity theft too.
We’re used to eating Japanese rice cakes at New Year’s but this is our first time trying one on a hamburger.
After some seriously high-profile involvement, Nintendo characters aren’t part of newest promotional push for 2020 event.
That’s pretty hot.
Anime-style outfits have become so popular they’re inspiring their own fan art.
Recreation of anime’s Unit-01 sets very specific Guinness World Record.
Ordinarily, Japan has no problem working itself to the bone. That’s not the case at the start of the year, though, as the nation pauses to catch its breath and charge up for the months to come by visiting relatives, leisurely reading New Year’s cards, eating osechi, and buying lucky bags.
While we at RocketNews24 like to think of ourselves as proficient multitaskers, even we’re not capable of getting much work done as we use both hands to stuff our faces with food or carry as many shopping bags as possible, and so we’ll be slowing down a bit as we take advantage of one of the few times Japan relaxes its hard-line stance against anything remotely resembling laziness. We hope you all get to do the same, regardless of where in the world you are.
Thanks for reading, and we hope to have even more great stuff for you whenever you visit our site in 2017!
The butsudan, a traditional religious home furnishing, is the latest unlikely muse for Japan’s continuing anthropomorphization craze.
Uses bear meat sourced from Kyoto and Aomori, said to have more refined taste than foreign varieties.
Classically trained musicians will play selections from classic games including Fumito Ueda’s Ico at upcoming Tokyo-area performance.
We’re not sure if we should thank Santa or Pikachu, but when we woke up this morning, our homes were filled with presents!
Christmas might work a little differently in Japan, but it’s still an occasion for sharing time and joy with loved ones, so you might be hearing from us a little less frequently over the next few days. Rest assured, though, that you’re all in our thoughts and we’ll be back to full speed shortly covering all things weird and wonderful from Japan and Asia.
In the meantime, whether this holiday season has brought you an eye-opening calendar, some captivating reading material, a chance at romance, or even just some nice, practical coal, all of us here at RocketNews24 wish you and yours the very best.
When they’re done holding your keys, let your anime keychains start a second career decorating your home.
Even with three station attendants shoving passengers in to pack them like sardines, this guy remains cool as a cucumber.
Amazon lists release date for hit Makoto Shinkai movie.
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Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Police in Japan looking for who’s responsible for dumping 80 loaves of bread on side of road [Video]
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
Data suggests increased bear sightings have led to a decrease in mountain climbers across Japan
Nephew of Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki serves up Totoro Shaved Ice in Tokyo
Amid foreign sex tourist rise, Japanese government considering outlawing paying for prostitution
Pikachu and other Pokémon evolve into hydration types with Thermos drinkware collaboration [Pics]
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Winnie the Pooh cosplays as Yuzuru Hanyu for new plushie collaboration
Dragon Ball Z theme park, financed by Saudi Arabia, to be built in France
Weekly
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
Starbucks Japan releases two new seasonal drinks that blur the line between summer and autumn- We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama- 7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy- Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
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】
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Amid foreign sex tourist rise, Japanese government considering outlawing paying for prostitution
Pikachu and other Pokémon evolve into hydration types with Thermos drinkware collaboration [Pics]
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Winnie the Pooh cosplays as Yuzuru Hanyu for new plushie collaboration
Dragon Ball Z theme park, financed by Saudi Arabia, to be built in France
Nagoya’s famous Shinkansen platform noodle shop has other, better branches nearby
Turn octopus, spaghetti, and more of your favorite foods into crackers with Senbei Maker 2
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
KFC Japan unveils new Tsukimi collection that takes moon-viewing to extreme levels
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
Ohaw? Ruibe? Pocche? While traveling in Japan’s north, we try Ainu cuisine for the first time
Japan’s double-decker portable rice cooker/bento maker is better than ever with new version
Ministop brings bulked up Okinawan-style rice balls to mainland Japan for one week only
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
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