News On Japan

How Wide is the Kanto v. Kansai Cultural Divide?

TOKYO, Feb 10 (News On Japan) - The cultural tapestry of Japan is rich and diverse, with the Kanto and Kansai regions offering a fascinating study in contrasts, from convenience store rice balls to public bath customs. What are the differences?

Kumazaki Futo, a broadcaster, dives into one of the more delicious differences: the seaweed used in convenience store onigiri (rice balls). In Kanto, Seven-Eleven sells onigiri wrapped in "grilled nori" (seaweed), while in Kansai, the preference often leans towards "seasoned nori," depending on the filling.

Inoue Takahiro, another broadcaster, shares a personal preference for "seasoned nori," a sentiment echoed by many from the Kansai region, including obstetrician Song Mi Hyun. The seasoned nori's advantage? It adds flavor from the first bite, even if the filling is not immediately noticeable.

Seven-Eleven's public relations department notes that the preference for seasoned nori in Kansai led to a trial introduction of seasoned nori onigiri in the Kinki region in 2006, with a full-scale launch ten years later, in 2016.

Road Signs and Public Baths: Marking Regional Differences

Even road signs bear the mark of regional identity, with differences in the typeface of the "Stop" sign observed between Tokyo and Osaka. Automotive critic Kuniyoshi Mitsuhiko explains that variances in font styles across prefectures were due to a lack of national uniformity. Although the National Police Agency standardized the "Stop" sign font in 2014, Osaka retains some old signs, citing budget and time constraints.

Public baths, too, reflect regional distinctions. In Kanto, baths are typically installed against the wall, whereas, in Kansai, they occupy the center of the bathhouse. The size of the iconic "Kerorin" bucket also varies: it's slightly larger in Kanto than in Kansai. Hiromichi Miyamae, president of the Osaka Prefecture Public Bath Association, suggests these differences stem from bathing habits—Kanto residents traditionally wash before soaking, while Kansai residents may soak before washing.

These cultural nuances underscore the diversity of Japan's regions, with each area offering its own unique traditions and preferences.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

The first grand sumo tournament in London in 34 years opened on October 15th, transforming the iconic Royal Albert Hall into a little corner of Japan and drawing more than 5,400 spectators for a spectacular night of traditional wrestling.

The relocation of Arimasu Tobiru, a distinctive architectural landmark on Hijirizaka in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, was carried out between August and October after nearly two decades of construction.

A police officer approaches a parked car in a dark city parking lot — and what emerges from inside is shocking. How do professionals detect crimes that hide in the night? This investigation looks into the work of officers on the front line.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

A former pet shop owner convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting several female employees and sentenced to 30 years in prison appealed his case at the Fukuoka High Court on October 14th, again claiming that the acts were consensual.

The relocation of Arimasu Tobiru, a distinctive architectural landmark on Hijirizaka in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, was carried out between August and October after nearly two decades of construction.

A Brazilian man has been arrested and indicted for smuggling cocaine into Japan by swallowing the drugs and concealing them inside his body.

Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for a man accused of killing three family members and seriously injuring another with a crossbow in 2020 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.

A police officer approaches a parked car in a dark city parking lot — and what emerges from inside is shocking. How do professionals detect crimes that hide in the night? This investigation looks into the work of officers on the front line.

A woman who had been in critical condition after being struck by a small car near JR Nagoya Station was confirmed dead on October 15th, according to Aichi Prefectural Police. The 49-year-old victim was among three pedestrians hit at an intersection in Nakamura Ward when the vehicle veered out of its lane.

Police arrested two people, including bar manager Maoya Suzuki, on suspicion of violating Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law after allegedly forcing a female employee at a girls’ bar into prostitution while monitoring her movements through GPS.

A man wearing a ski mask attempted to rob a convenience store in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, in the early hours of October 14th, but fled the scene empty-handed after the clerk shouted loudly, according to local police.