Job Discussion Forums

[Mark]

Hi folks,

This is kind of a comment/question for folks who've lived in both Kansai and other areas of Japan. It seems like Kansai has a really special vibe compared to the rest of Japan. Does it seem that way to you?

It's pretty easy to spot Kansai students in my classes. I live in Tokyo, and they really stand out. But the thing is that students from other areas of Japan don't stand out nearly as much as the folks from Kansai. Whenever someone is acting very natural and friendly, I immediately assume they're from Kansai, and they usually are.

Also, I visited Osaka and Kyoto, and it was almost like going to another planet. People, with no provocation whatsoever, would actually talk to me. In Japanese! I've been in Tokyo almost a year, and three people have started a conversation with me: a homeless man who just wanted to repeatedly shout "Nihon number 1", an old man in my neighbourhood who I think may have been slightly senile, and a drunk guy at the bus station who wanted to tell me that Japanese baseball players are very good. I was in Osaka for 2 hours before somebody struck up a conversation with me.

In Tokyo, people (some people) will respond, of course, but rarely initiate anything. They also generally need to feel very comfortable before they'll start talking. Obviously, there are bars in Roppongi where people may start conversations, but that's a different story.

The thing that kept running through my head while I was in the pubs in Osaka was that these are real people. So, I'm seriously thinking of moving there in the relatively near future. Part of me wants to head north to Tohoku or Hokkaido, but I suspect that I would miss out on a fantstic time in Kansai if I didn't go there.

Any thoughts?

[Nismo]

Every locations' residents are more outgoing than Tokyo. As you travel throughout Japan you will notice that every town has a different feeling and its residents exhibit different overall personalities. If you are looking for friendly, large-city life than Kobe or Osaka are good bets.

[Speed]

If you live in Tokyo for awhile, it'll feel like a dead body lying in a ditch will more likely start up a conversation with you than a Tokyoite.

Japanese people feel the same way about Tokyo peoople as you do Marky Mark.

Granted Kansai people do have a rep for being relatively outgoing and as you put it "real".

I agree, the Kansai vibe is good. I'm glad you were touched by the vibe.

PS. I've lived out in the countryside in Japan for many years and I found the people to be 2.3 times friendlier than Osaka-jins. But as far as big cities go, the good vibrations are to be felt in Kansai.

Thank you.

[Brooks]

my wife is from Osaka so we have this conversation from time to time.

in Tokyo there are people from all over Japan. Generally it is the people from Osaka who speak Osaka ben in Tokyo. Everybody else will speak Tokyo ben.

My wife hates Tokyo so I think we will move next year to Kansai, or near the Kinki area.

I don`t agree that country people are always friendlier. Sometimes they are insular and narrow minded.

The trade off with Kansai is that you will make less money than in Tokyo.

[JimDunlop2]

Yes! Brooks is right! Any kinky area of Japan is fine by me. The kinkier the better! The city I live in needs some more spice!

Oh, wait! Different kind of kinki. Damn! Sorry.


/weird mood

[shuize]

I agree with the post above that Kansai residents will be more likely to start a conversation with you in Japanese.

In fact, after living in different areas of Japan before coming here, it was actually a bit strange -- in a nice way -- that instead of freezing up on me, people would immediately start speaking Japanese.

[lahermit]

I concur with everyone. I lived in Sapporo for 2 years and Kansai for 5 years. The people in Sapporo were very nice but I felt alot of them had bugs up their ass. People in Kansai will definitely speak to you in Japanese without batting an eyelash and won't get that flustered look on their face when you start the conversation. Just watch out if you date one of the natives and get into a fight. When my boyfriend got mad it was creepy, started rolling those rr's and sounded like a yakuza.

[PAULH]

From a local...

I have lived my whole time in Kansai and the last 13 years in Kyoto area. Never had a problem with locals speaking to me in Japanese and at my weekend job they don't even try and speak English. Ditto my students at my university outside class. A Japanese speaking gaijin is like second nature to them and puts them at ease immensely.

[Mark]

[Brooks]

one that struck me about where I work in Tokyo is the amount of gossip.
Some people must have such boring lives that gossiping about foreigners or the new guy is fun.
Also I thought that some people had the attitude of people in small town America: a degree of xenophobia, a desire to keep foreigners at a distance, and an insular mentality.
Some Americans can have this attitude as well. I remember it from my time in Iowa.
But it comes from people living in the capital!
A lot of people who come to Tokyo come to work and make money.
And many come from Tohoku. They may feel inferior to Tokyo people, so they want to blend in and speak Tokyo ben.
But Osaka people don`t have such hang-ups. They are proud of their region and they don`t care for Tokyo snobs who look down on everyody else.

I have thought that if Japan or Japanese companies wanted to do a PR campaign it should hire Kansai people to deal with foreigners.
Where I work, the Japanese go-between is from Wakayama.

[shuize]

There are snobs in other parts of Japan, too.

Kyoto-snobs, for example.

[Mike L.]

[Eric]

I agree with everyone but I feel I have to defend Tokyo a little. My fiance lives near Ikebukuro and her and her family are great. Very international and friendly. In fact her Dad plays slack key Hawaiian guitar and will talk to me in English and Japaneese and is studying Spanish to travel in Spain.

So there are counter examples, but having lived in Kansai (Mie Ken) I have to agree that the Japaneese seem much more friendly in Mie. The downside of Mie was it appeared that many people regarded me as an interesting dangerous animal that was fun to talk to and have for dinner to photograph but the relationships were always superficial. I like that in Tokyo and Chiba where I work I can be a little more annonomous and not stick out quite so much, so really I don:t mind being ignored by most.

Maybe after living in Tokyo for another year I will think differently.

[SEndrigo]

I agree that Kansai people seem to be warmer and more friendly. The question is, where can we find Kansai people in Tokyo?

I'm not able to move to Kansai so I'll just have to try to meet them here in the concrete jungle

Perhaps a classified advert? "Calling all Kansai people....."

[Mark]