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 5)
![Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/sc-2.jpg?w=640 "Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]")
![What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/ig-1.jpg?w=640 "What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]")
Both sides of the Pacific are getting new themed cafes with attached merch shops from the video game developer of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
![Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/hk-1-1.jpg?w=640 "Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]")
![Japanese convenience store brings rice balls back to 100 yen – Is this deal worth it?[Taste test]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/hl-9.jpg?w=640 "Japanese convenience store brings rice balls back to 100 yen – Is this deal worth it?[Taste test]")
As onigiri prices continue to rise everywhere else, Lawson Store 100 stays true to its name.
We pit the convenience store challenger against Tokyo’s favorite maker of Japan’s beloved octopus dumplings.
![Tokyo’s city hall changes dress code, workers now allowed to wear shorts[Videos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/ts-1.jpg?w=640 "Tokyo’s city hall changes dress code, workers now allowed to wear shorts[Videos]")
Final Fantasy XIV VR experience will give you the chance to prove you’re the kweh-kist Chocobo jockey around.
Anime will premier this summer and is the first made specifically for the Nagoya-area theme park.
Who’d have guessed there was a centuries-old snack shop too just a quick stroll away from one of downtown’s busiest rail hubs?
![Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/hn-2.jpg?w=640 "Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]")
![New Totoro carabiner pouches are ready to clip/tag along with you on all your adventures[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/tp-0.jpg?w=640 "New Totoro carabiner pouches are ready to clip/tag along with you on all your adventures[Photos]")
Two Totoros, and one other Studio Ghibli character, are cute, fuzzy, and useful in new accessory lineup.
![Studio Ghibli croquettes not to eat, but to keep your stuff in, going on sale in Japan[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/cp-0.jpg?w=640 "Studio Ghibli croquettes not to eat, but to keep your stuff in, going on sale in Japan[Photos]")
MOST POPULAR
Today
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Tokyo restaurant offers lunches for less than 1 U.S. cent…if you’re good enough at rock-paper-scissors
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood
What makes the Starbucks Japan chocolate terrine so popular?
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
KFC Japan’s “The American Burgers” include a pile of guilt
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Government says 5.7 trillion yen of Japanese media was pirated last year, thinks AI could help
Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Weekly
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists- Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country- Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Monthly
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura- Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines- Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Yearly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
RECOMMENDED STORIES
KFC Japan’s “The American Burgers” include a pile of guilt
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Government says 5.7 trillion yen of Japanese media was pirated last year, thinks AI could help
Same name tops lists of most popular dog and cat names in Japan, and there’s probably a reason why
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Japanese government to allow desecration of flags on kids’ meals
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
2021 Salaryman Poetry Battle showcases some dark but hilarious poems
Own a piece of anime history with U-Treasure’s Astro Boy gold miniature figure
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
-
