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 4)

Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown

Mr. Sato heads to one of Japan’s biggest Chinatowns to see how things are following China’s travel advisory.

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Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever

What’s behind Japan’s continuing slide down the list?

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A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】

Studio Ghibli-themed bakery puts a tasty spin on Japan’s Christmas cake tradition.

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Burger King Japan’s newest all-you-can-eat burger deal is its smelliest yet

The Ninniku Garlic the One-Pounder is a burger so pungent they garlic-named it twice.

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Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported

Tripling the current tax still isn’t enough for some politicians who want travelers to pay even more when flying out of Japan.

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Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan

A rare case of food coming out of Kirby instead of going inside.

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Cup Noodle mystery meat instant rice returns to Japanese stores after a seven-year absence

There was no mystery as to whether fans wanted more mystery meat, and Nissin is finally giving it to them.

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Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?

We stop by to see how the city, its merchants, and its deer are doing.

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This one delicious Japanese dessert has at least six different names

Survey creates map of what different parts of Japan call one of its favorite traditional desserts.

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Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good

A reason to make sure to walk all the way to the end of the platform.

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Open wide! It’s time for a showdown between McDonald’s Japan’s and Komeda gratin croquette burgers

Gurakoro and Gurakuro came out on same day, filling fans’ hearts with joy and filling their stomachs with gratin croquettes.

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Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】

No city in Japan is more symbolic of overtourism these days than Kyoto, so is the travel downturn from China having a noticeable effect?

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Studio Ghibli holiday wreath adds a touch of Kiki cuteness and good fortune to your home【Photos】

A Ghibli take on a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration.

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Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage

You can eat Shin Godzilla’s Kamata-kun very close to Kamata.

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Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals

Japan’s gyudon king now has Gyunikutama Ramen available too for the winter.

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Final Fantasy Chocobo and Dragon Quest Slime street sweets on sale in Tokyo【Taste test】

We head to Shinjuku to encounter these Square Enix video game mascots turned tasty treats.

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Number of foreigners studying Japanese in Japan hits record high, but are there enough teachers?

Students studying Japanese as a second language in-country hits historic high, majority of teachers are unpaid volunteers.

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Pokémon and hot spring bathhouse collaborate to bring Pokémon to your bath and sauna sessions

Bathhouse just north of Tokyo provides rubber Psyduckies, Ditto sauna stones, and other sights and scents to soothe tired Trainers.

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Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo

Soon, you could have a pod that washes your body for you in your home bathroom.

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I had no idea you could win crane game prizes in Japan the way my friend won this Dragon Quest Slime

This black Slime plushie had become his white whale until something I’d never experienced before happened.

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