Kansai ben

Have you been to the Kansai area? Also known as the Kinki region, it's located in the Southern-central region on the Honshu island of Japan. Both the Kansai and Kinki names are used interchangeably in modern times, even though their uses were different in the past.

If you are learning Japanese, you will find that the dialect used in Kansai is different from what you would normally hear in Tokyo or most parts of Japan. Like how the spoken English is different between the Scots and Londoners.


Most Japanese comedy, or Owarai, originated from the Kansai region.
Hence, the large number of comedy theaters in this area, notably in Osaka.


Another famous place in the Kansai region is Kyoto, where many traditional and beautiful temples can be found.

The dialect spoken in this region is known as the Kansai-ben, and people in cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe speak it. Even to Japanese from other parts of Japan, they can't make out some of these words, and have long been considered a sort of cryptic dialect! It is not surprising then, that foreigners trying to learn Japanese are baffled when in Kansai region or being surrounded by people speaking the Kansai dialect.

Take this example, of asking the price of an item :
How much is it? (English)
Kore oikura desuka? (Tokyo)
Kore nanbo ya? (Kansai-ben)

It is said that not only is the language slightly different in Kansai, but the culture as well. While it is almost a faux pas to ask for discount in Tokyo, or other parts of Japan, it is the opposite in Kansai. You can try to bargain for an item, but of course it depends on the store as well!