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 9)
![How to make curry in a rice cooker with zero prep work and no water[Recipe]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/rc-1.jpg?w=640 "How to make curry in a rice cooker with zero prep work and no water[Recipe]")
![Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/sy-3.jpg?w=640 "Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]")
Can Hokkaido’s annual outdoor art event charm a Tohoku girl who’s always been lukewarm on winter travel?
![Cute coffins now available at Tokyo’s coffin relaxation salon[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/cm-2.jpg?w=640 "Cute coffins now available at Tokyo’s coffin relaxation salon[Photos]")
Unique Takadanobaba meditation space gets a splash of cuteness to brighten up the deathly décor.
Gametech wants you to be able to keep one hand free for doing other things while you play.
![Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/nc-1.jpg?w=640 "Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]")
Prefectural government will pay for tickets to encourage international travelers to visit their corner of Japan.
![Is a snow day the perfect day to beat the crowds at a popular ramen restaurant? [Experiment]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/sr-2-1.jpg?w=640 "Is a snow day the perfect day to beat the crowds at a popular ramen restaurant? [Experiment]")
Restaurant known for numbingly spicy ramen and intimidatingly long lines lures us out in the Tokyo snow.
![Five amazing snow-view open-air Japanese hot springs in Hokkaido [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/yr-2.jpg?w=640 "Five amazing snow-view open-air Japanese hot springs in Hokkaido [Photos]")
MOST POPULAR
Now
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
War in Iran threatening Japan’s pudding production
Beds on a bus: Travel on Japan’s first-ever full-flat overnight sleeper bus from Tokyo
Busty Digimon anime figure not child-friendly enough for the West, now barred from sale overseas
Finnish design brand Iittala partners with Pokémon for a golden first collaborative tableware set
After eight years as a NEET, our reporter shares the one thing that helped him escape that life
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 1【Photos】
It’s like the samurai era never ended at this beautiful Japanese mountain town
Tokyo Police shows a clever way to conserve water in a disaster and impress children with magic
Weekly
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Monthly
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]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan- New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
After eight years as a NEET, our reporter shares the one thing that helped him escape that life
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 1【Photos】
It’s like the samurai era never ended at this beautiful Japanese mountain town
Tokyo Police shows a clever way to conserve water in a disaster and impress children with magic
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 2【Photos】
Plastic surgery clinic in Seoul makes art out of patients’ jaw bones
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell
Wear Japan’s most iconic landmark on your shoes with this Adidas collaboration【Photos】
Maximum matcha! Tokyo sweet shop sells the strongest green tea chocolates physically possible
Rakuten Travel reveals the top 5 best-rated, off-the-beaten-track Japanese ryokan inns
No train, no hotel – How to do an overnight bus trip to Kanazawa from Tokyo – Part 1【Photos】
Tokyo store makes you to pass a quiz in order to buy Pokémon cards as part of anti-scalper policy
-
