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
High-speed Japanese festival cart crashes cause two deaths on same day, ignite debate over tradition
Osaka’s danjiri festivals have existed for centuries, but some are saying it’s time for a reevaluation of the unique custom.
![New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/41.jpg?w=640 "New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]")
![This shrine in Japan invites you to hit and kick its god of poverty statue for good luck [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/2_4b8a17.jpg?w=640 "This shrine in Japan invites you to hit and kick its god of poverty statue for good luck [Photos]")
![New Tokyo facility promises to make you feel reborn, time in the womb and all [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/0_bc4fda.jpg?w=640 "New Tokyo facility promises to make you feel reborn, time in the womb and all [Photos]")
![Japan’s newest anime figure crane game prize may also be the world’s weirdest hanger [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/50_58acb3.jpg?w=640 "Japan’s newest anime figure crane game prize may also be the world’s weirdest hanger [Photos]")
![7-Eleven Japan now has Milk Miso Curry Ramen, but is that too much for one cup? [Taste test]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/2_f8811f.jpg?w=640 "7-Eleven Japan now has Milk Miso Curry Ramen, but is that too much for one cup? [Taste test]")
A special kind of regional ramen makes its 7-Eleven instant noodle debut, with help from the makers of Sapporo Ichiban.
![New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/32_7ab9bf.jpg?w=640 "New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]")
Ghibli’s partnership with Japanese stationery brand Rollbahn expands to include three more theatrical anime.
![New Sonic the Hedgehog figure costs 1 million yen, is made of Arita ware Japanese porcelain [Vid]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/50_70dfd4.jpg?w=640 "New Sonic the Hedgehog figure costs 1 million yen, is made of Arita ware Japanese porcelain [Vid]")
![If anyone needs us, we’ll be in the cardboard Japanese snack house we just built [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/0_cee4c3.jpg?w=640 "If anyone needs us, we’ll be in the cardboard Japanese snack house we just built [Photos]")
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