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 512)
Yakisoba bread is pretty common at Japanese bakeries, but this is the first time we’ve ever heard of bread soba.
New frontier in otaku tech smashes crowdfunding goal, set to ship soon.
Here’s how much real-world money it’ll cost you to play in Sony’s virtual video game domain.
In Japan, the customer is always king, even if he’s a horny one.
Trades the tiara for a blazer, and also seems to have acquired a punishing overtime schedule and some passive-aggressive friends.
Hardcore fans brave the elements and the crowds by lining up hours before start of dojinshi comic event.
Experiment provides crucial information in the important field of panty shot research.
White Day is mainly about giving thank you presents to the people who gave you Valentine’s Day chocolate, but now it’s also about sharing snapshots of adorable felines.
See all that mouth-watering Japanese-style karaage fried chicken? It only cost us 100 yen, and we could have eaten twice as much without getting charged any more.
Offbeat learning aid has Japanese travelers cracking up even before the aliens makes their appearance.
”Hearts without morals shall be punished!” declares group, which is recruiting new members.
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Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
New Studio Ghibli stamp rally set to start in Japan, with exclusive merchandise for anime fans
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Weekly
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
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New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
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Giant wagashi cushions will turn your home sweet home into home sweet Japanese sweets home
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]- What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
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Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
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
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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
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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New Studio Ghibli stamp rally set to start in Japan, with exclusive merchandise for anime fans
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
KFC Japan releases its first thigh-meat fried chicken burger in 43 years, but was it worth the wait?
We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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Man in Japan says monkey threw his cat into a pond before attacking him
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
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American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Vietnamese-language driver’s license tests suspended in Japan following alleged cheating
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