Job Discussion Forums

Lady0424 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 39

Which do you prefer? Kansai or Kanto? (specifically Yokohama/Tokyo) Was offered a job in Kansai but after looking at the trains from Kansai to Kanto, they were quite expensive and the thought of being so far from Kanto didn't sound very appealing. Worked in Yokohama before...wasn't particularly fond of it while I was there (everything seemed superficial at the time but I was miserable at my job so that could've been why I didn't like the area) but looking back, it wasn't that bad. But I'm also really fond of Kansai people because I find them to be really warm, friendly, hilarious and entertaining.
Btw, do you think it'd be easier to learn Japanese in Kansai or Kanto?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I prefer Kansai but I work in Kanto since I have a good job.
I could work in Osaka but I would have to take a big pay cut, and I don`t want to do that.
My wife is from Osaka and she teaches at a couple universities.
There are more job opportunities in the Tokyo area, so that's why people move here.

I have to learn both Tokyo ben (at work) and Osaka ben (at home).

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

I spent my whole 5 years in Japan in the Kansai area and thought it was great. I took one 4 day trip to Kanto and at the end of it thought "Well, that was a pleasant enough 4 days. Now that I've got that out of my system I have absolutely no desire to ever return to Kanto again."

I suppose it just depends on where you are comfortable. If you lived in Yokohama and have good memories of the place, then why not go back? Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and the smaller cities in Kansai have a lot to offer too, but if you've got an attachment to a place then you might as well go back there!

Mark · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 500 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I think if you ask around, you'll basically get this response from most people:

Kansai
-people are great (outgoing, talkative)
-lots of local variety between cities
-local dialect can be tricky, but people will standardize their speech for you to some degree
-somewhat hard to find jobs
-lack of variety in terms of things to do, so some people get bored and find the cities have a bit of a small feel

Kanto
-people are reserved and unfriendly
-everything is the same, the whole Kanto is just urban sprawl
-rent is super expensive unless you're willing to spend an hour on the train to get anywhere
-daily speech is pretty similar to standard speech, good for learning
-lots and lots of things to do (concerts, bars, etc.), but everything costs
-it's the centre of japan for pretty much everything
-many employment opportunities besides teaching
-wide variety of foreigners
-many Japanese from other parts of Japan

Some people like one, some like the other. it's really tough to say, but I think the above is a fair comparison. The short version might be to say that Kansai is a better place to live, but Kanto provides more opportunities.

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

Kansai is better and more friendly in my opinion.

Rorschach · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 130 Location: Osaka

Never been to the Kanto region but I have no particular desire to do so, I'm not a fan of the sprawl that Tokyo and the surrounding area seems to represent. I've lived in the Kansai area for my entire tenure in Japan and while Osaka is a pit there are plenty of beautiful places nearby accessible by train in under an hour - i.e. Kobe, Kyoto, Minoh, Nara, Wakayama (1.5 hours anyway). If you can find a decent paying job I would recommend Kansai.

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

to be honest, the local dialect thing is a bit of a red herring. if you live in kansai, kansai dialect will seem natural and normal to you and tokyo dialect will seem odd. obviously, the reverse will apply in kanto.

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

A little more insight...

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20070310p2g00m0dm002000c.html

Neongene · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 51

I'm personally aiming for Kansai - there is more history in that neck of the woods.

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

[Kansai
-people are great (outgoing, talkative)

Absolute stereotypical nonsense, the kind of thing you see in a travel guide. Ofcourse some people are great, some people are miseryguts, some people are funny etc, same as everywhere.

Ragarding the dialects, most foreigners fall into the same mentality as the locals about this one. It's not such a big thing, ofcourse there are differences but it's not big enough an issue to play any role in deciding where to live Japan, where is better etc.

Mark · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 500 Location: Tokyo, Japan

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

There are big differences in behaviour between Kansai and Kanto but to say "people are great" in Kansai is utter rubbish.

Mark · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 500 Location: Tokyo, Japan

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

Maybe it's a bit harsh but that's how I think. I always think that people in Osaka are brainwashed by this perpetual lie that the people there are all so warm and friendly etc. Once a lie is fed down so many generations, the lie becomes the truth. In the case of Osaka, so many foreigners there just fall for these stereotypes and keep on this line of thought for years without looking around them for the truth.