To the naked eye, these ads look like gibberish, but students cramming for entrance exams can see through the mystery.
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 56)
Our ace reporter hits the streets in his Kiryu Kazama cosplay to talk to the people who know Kabukicho best.
Often-overlooked town boasts the top-ranked sightseeing spot on Hokkaido Natural Beauty 100 list.
Uniformed cops being able to make combini runs is meant to be a win-win for police and the communities they serve.
It’s called the Warm Roll Cushion, but “warm” doesn’t do enough to describe how much it does to keep you from feeling any cold.
Tochigi-born model asks for fans’ support in new role.
Photo editing app is like having a production team adapt your life into anime, in more ways than one.
Please, Santa, we’ve been really good all year, so bring us some adorable Ghibli-themed sweets!
Even native Japanese readers had trouble spotting the problem in collaboration announcement.
Digital agency wants to link sports and concert ticket purchases to resident-only government-issued ID card.
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One of Japan’s oldest castles now lets travelers spend night on the grounds, drink in its keep
Japan has nearly 4 million abandoned homes, but where and why?
Pokémon Cafe serves up a green tea ceremony in Japan with Poltchageist and Sinistcha matcha menu
Should married couples in Japan be allowed to have different family names? Survey investigates
Foreign traveler caught trying to sneak into Japan by climbing down rope from cruise ship
Bad tourist manners at Mt Fuji Lawson photo spot prompts Japanese town to block view with screens
Japanese cosplayer creates amazing outfit: Sailor Moon’s transformation sequence!【Photos】
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Starbucks at Shibuya Scramble Crossing reopens, but is it really bigger and better than before?
Weekly
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society- Bad tourist manners at Mt Fuji Lawson photo spot prompts Japanese town to block view with screens
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Two things to do, and two things not to do, when leaving a traditional Japanese inn
Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
Studio Ghibli unveils new goods that tip the hat to The Cat Returns- FUK COFFEE?!? Japanese cafe has a perfectly innocent reason for its startling-looking name
Studio Ghibli unveils massive T-shirt collection featuring top anime movie characters
Japanese-style accommodation at the new Premium Dormy Inn hotel in Asakusa will blow your mind
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
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
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month- Bad tourist manners at Mt Fuji Lawson photo spot prompts Japanese town to block view with screens
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Yearly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
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- Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
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
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Foreign traveler caught trying to sneak into Japan by climbing down rope from cruise ship
Bad tourist manners at Mt Fuji Lawson photo spot prompts Japanese town to block view with screens
Japanese cosplayer creates amazing outfit: Sailor Moon’s transformation sequence!【Photos】
Bear attacks car in Japan, breaks windshield with its paw【Video】
Starbucks at Shibuya Scramble Crossing reopens, but is it really bigger and better than before?
Two things to do, and two things not to do, when leaving a traditional Japanese inn
Studio Ghibli unveils new goods that tip the hat to The Cat Returns
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?
Icon’s Mac & Cheese Burger contender for best burger in Tokyo【Taste test】
McDonald’s Japan’s new pancake pie is a taste sensation
All-you-can-drink deal for US$4 in Shinjuku is one of the best finds in Tokyo
History’s largest force of Samurai Colonel Sanders deploying to KFC Japan branches
The best cosplayers from Day 1 of Summer Comiket 2023【Photos】
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