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

Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】

Annual survey shows nearly a 70-percent increase in two years for number of Japanese women giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

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Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo

Yes, even in 2026 you can still get arrested if you don’t follow a law originally enacted to keep ex-samurai in line.

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Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】

This kodama is looking to see the world beyond its hometown trees with you.

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Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.

Japanese home-away-from-home hotel rooms reflect the new face of Japan travel.

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How lucky are the themed retro video game lucky bags from this shop in the Tokyo boonies?

Love, conquest, existence, and gatherings.

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Bamboo trees vandalized near Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine, foreign graffiti prevalent

Shinto shrine in Kyoto has become globally famous for its beauty, but inconsiderate visitors are ruining the view for everyone but themselves.

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Say hello to Japan’s new stationmaster cat!【Video】

Feline railway legacy continues with two kitties inaugurated as stationmasters in Wakayama Prefecture.

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Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations

They couldn’t make it in time for Christmas, but we’re glad these Studio Ghibli stars are here now.

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Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】

Nope, no horse girl is supposed to have those.

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We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】

Tokyo’s  record-breaking New Year’s Day fish market auction tuna arrives at one of Japan’s favorite casual sushi restaurant chains.

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10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026

A list of Japan’s three-day weekends plus two vacation periods to dodge if you want to miss the crowds and high prices.

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Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating

Ex-martial artist owner claims higher prices on non-Japanese menu are for safety reasons.

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Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show

Japan’s young adult foreign national population is soaring while its ethnically Japanese counterpart is shrinking.

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What makes a good boss in Japan? Workers sound off in survey

Technical expertise ranks far below other qualities Japanese workers want in a boss.

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Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】

Extra-luxurious travel mode returning to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka bullet train route for first time in over two decades.

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Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 500 million yen【Vid】

Casual sushi restaurant chain spends big on Toyosu Market’s first day of 2026.

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Four Shinto shrines to pray for love at in Japan to start the New Year

Whether you’re looking for a new love or to take an existing one to the next level, the gods are ready to help you at these four Shinto spots.

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Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects

Civic leaders see economic upsides and cultural difficulties in Japan’s accelerating internationalization.

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Should you dip your cake in sake? One Japanese brewer says no, but actually yes【 Taste test】

145-year-old Niigata brewery gives us some confusing but intriguing advice.

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Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town

Daichakai sets sail in Hakone.

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