Kansai region

TheKansai region(関西地方,Kansai-chihō,[ka(ꜜ)ɰ̃saitɕiꜜhoː])or theKinki region(近畿地方,Kinki-chihō,IPA:[ki(ꜜ)ŋki̥tɕiꜜhoː])lies in the southern-central region ofJapan's main islandHonshū.The region includes theprefecturesofNara,Wakayama,Kyoto,Osaka,HyōgoandShiga, often alsoMie, sometimesFukui,TokushimaandTottori. Themetropolitan regionofOsaka,KobeandKyoto(Keihanshinregion) is the second-most populated in Japan after theGreater Tokyo Area.
The terms Kansai(関西), Kinki(近畿), andKinai(畿内)have their roots during theAsuka period. When theold provinces of Japanwere established, several provinces in the area around the then-capitalYamato Provincewere collectively named Kinai and Kinki, both roughly meaning "the neighbourhood of the capital".
Kansai (literallywest of the tollgate) in its original usage refers to the land west of the Osaka Tollgate (逢坂関), the border betweenYamashiro ProvinceandŌmi Province(present-dayKyotoandShigaprefectures).During theKamakura period, this border was redefined to includeŌmiandIgaProvinces.It is not until theEdo periodthat Kansai came to acquire its current form.(seeKamigata)
While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the use of the two terms is interchangeable. The term "Kinai", once synonymous with Kinki, now refers to theKyoto–Osaka–Kobe(Keihanshin) area at the center of the Kansai region. Like allregions of Japan, the Kansai region is not an administrative unit, but rather a cultural and historical one, which emerged much later during theHeian periodafter the expansion of Japan saw the development of theKantō regionto the east and the need to differentiate what was previously the center of Japan in Kansai emerged.
The name "Kinki" is pronounced similarly to the English word "kinky", which means "twisted" or "perverted". This has become a problem due tointernationalization, and some organizations have changed their name as a result.
In April 2016, Kinki University(近畿大学,Kinki Daigaku)changed its English name toKindai University.Keizai sangyō-kyoku(経済産業局,Kinki Bureau of Economy)uses "Kansai" in English notation, andKinki Unyukyoku(近畿運輸局,Kinki Transport Bureau)also uses "Kansai" in English notation since 2015.In addition, theKinki shōkō kaigi-sho rengō-kai(近畿商工会議所連合会,Kinki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association)changed its name to "Kansai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association" on July 22, 2015.In the fall of 2014,Kansai Keizai Rengōkai(公益社団法人関西経済連合会,Kansai Economic Federation)asked the government to unify the name of the local agency to "Kansai".On June 28, 2003, the English name of the major private railway companyKintetsu Railwaywas changed fromKinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd.to the official abbreviation Kintetsu Corporation. It was subsequently changed again toKintetsu Railway Co., Ltd.on April 1, 2015.
The Kansai region is a cultural center and the historical heart of Japan, with 11% of the nation's land area and 22,757,897 residents as of 2010.TheOsaka Plainwith the cities ofOsakaandKyotoforms the core of the region. From there the Kansai area stretches west along theSeto Inland SeatowardsKobeandHimeji, and east encompassingLake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. In the north, the region is bordered by theSea of Japan, to the south by theKii Peninsulaand thePacific Ocean, and to the east by theIbuki MountainsandIse Bay.Four ofJapan's national parkslie within its borders, in whole or in part. The area also contains six of the seven top prefectures in terms ofnational treasures.Other geographical features includeAmanohashidateinKyoto PrefectureandAwaji IslandinHyōgo.
The Kansai region is often compared with theKantō region, which lies to its east and consists primarily ofTokyoand the surrounding area. Whereas the Kantō region is symbolic of standardization throughout Japan, the Kansai region displays many more idiosyncrasies – the culture inKyoto, the mercantilism ofOsaka, the history ofNara, or the cosmopolitanism ofKobe– and represents the focus ofcounterculturein Japan. This East-West rivalry has deep historical roots, particularly from theEdo period. With a samurai population of less than 1% the culture of the merchant city of Osaka stood in sharp contrast to that ofEdo, the seat of power for theTokugawa shogunate.
Many characteristic traits of Kansai people descend from Osaka merchant culture. Catherine Maxwell, an editor for the newsletterOmusubi, writes: "Kansai residents are seen as being pragmatic, entrepreneurial, down-to-earth and possessing a strong sense of humor. Kantō people, on the other hand, are perceived as more sophisticated, reserved and formal, in keeping with Tokyo's history and modern status as the nation's capital and largest metropolis."
Kansai is known for its food, especially Osaka, as supported by the saying "Kyotoites are ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by overspending on food."(京の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ,Kyō no Kidaore, Ōsaka no Kuidaore). Popular Osakan dishes includetakoyaki,okonomiyaki,kitsune udonandkushikatsu. Kyoto is considered a mecca of traditionalJapanese cuisinelikekaiseki. Kansai has manywagyubrands such asKobe beefandTajima cattlefrom Hyōgo,Matsusaka beeffrom Mie andŌmi beeffrom Shiga.Sakeis another specialty of the region, the areas ofNada-GogōandFushimiproduce 45% of all sake in Japan.As opposed to food from Eastern Japan, food in the Kansai area tends to be sweeter, and foods such asnattōtend to be less popular.
Thedialectsof the people from the Kansai region, commonly calledKansai-ben, have their own variations of pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Kansai-ben is the group of dialects spoken in the Kansai area, but is often treated as a dialect in its own right.
Kansai is one of the most prosperous areas for baseball in Japan. TwoNippon Professional Baseballteams,Hanshin TigersandOrix Buffaloes, are based in Kansai.Koshien Stadium, the home stadium of the Hanshin Tigers, is also famous for thenationwide high school baseball tournaments. Inassociation football, theKansai Soccer Leaguewas founded in 1966 and currently has 16 teams in two divisions.Cerezo Osaka,Gamba Osaka, andVissel Kobebelong toJ. League Division 1andKyoto Sanga F.C.belongs toJ. League Division 2, the top professional leagues in Japan.
As a part of theRitsuryōreforms of the seventh and eighth centuries, theprovincesofYamato,Yamashiro,Kawachi,Settsu, andIzumi, were established by theGokishichidō. These provinces were collectively referred to as Kinai or Kinki.
The Kansai region lays claim to the earliest beginnings of Japanese civilization. It wasNara, the most eastern point on theSilk Road, that became the site of Japan's first permanent capital.Thisperiod(AD 710–784) saw the spread ofBuddhismto Japan and the construction ofTōdai-jiin 745. The Kansai region also boasts theShintoreligion's holiest shrine atIse Shrine(built in 690 AD) inMie prefecture.
TheHeian periodsaw the capital moved toHeian-kyō(平安京, present-dayKyoto), where it would remain for over a thousand years until theMeiji Restoration. During this golden age, the Kansai region would give birth to traditional Japanese culture. In 788,Saicho, the founder of theTendaisect of Buddhism established his monastery atMount HieiinShiga prefecture. Japan's most famous tale, and some say the world's first novel,The Tale of Genjiwas penned byMurasaki Shikibuwhile performing as alady-in-waitingin Heian-kyo.NohandKabuki, Japan's traditional dramatic forms both saw their birth and evolution in Kyoto, whileBunraku, Japanese puppet theater, is native toOsaka.
Kansai's unique position in Japanese history, plus the lack of damage from wars or natural disasters, has resulted in Kansai region having more UNESCO World Heritage Listings than any other region of Japan.The fiveWorld Heritage Listingsinclude:Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area,Himeji Castle,Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities),Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, andSacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
The economy of Kansai region is largely based on that ofKeihanshin(Greater Osaka) metropolitan area. Keihanshin metropolitan area contains theHanshin Industrial Regionand is centered mainly around chemical, metal, and other heavy industries. Keihanshin region also contains strong medical and electronics industries within its economy.
Per Japanese census data,Kansai region much likeKeihanshinhas experienced a small population increase beginning around 2010.
International schools have served expatriates in the Kansai region since 1909. Outside of Tokyo and Yokohama, Kansai has the largest number of international schools.
In 1909,Deutsche Schule Kobewas founded to serve German, Austrian and German-speaking Swiss expatriates, traders and missionaries living in the Kobe area.After a long history of teaching a German curriculum, the school changed to The Primary Years Programme (PYP) in 2002. Today,Deutsche Schule Kobe/European Schoolprovides curriculum in three languages: German, English, and Japanese.
In 1913, Canadian Methodist Academy opened its doors to sixteen children.The school, renamedCanadian Academyin 1917, served children of missionary parents from grade one through high school and offered boarding facilities for students from throughout Asia. Today, the day and boarding school offers a PreK to Grade 12 education on the campus onRokkō Island, a human-made island. The school, which is no longer affiliated with Canada or the church, is the largest school for expatriates in Kansai. The school is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)and the Council of International Schools.The school awards both theInternational Baccalaureate (IB)and U.S. high school diplomas.
The number of international schools burgeoned after World War II.
In 1946, St. Michael's International School was established by Anglican Bishop Michael Yashiro and Miss Leonora Lee, a British missionary.Today, the school offers a distinctive British-style primary education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The school has joint accreditation from the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Brother Charles Fojoucyk and Brother Stephen Weber foundedMarist Brothers International Schoolin 1951 after communist authorities pressured them to leave Tientsin, China.Today, the international Montessori - Grade 12 school enrolls approximately 300 students. The school is accredited by theWestern Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 1957, a missionary homeschooled her son, his best friend and another student in their home. The next year, the home turned into Kyoto Christian Day School and a full-time teacher was hired.The school was renamedKyoto International Schoolin 1966. Today, the school serves students from two to fourteen years old. The school has been accredited by theWestern Association of Schools and Colleges(WASC) since 1992 and authorized by theInternational Baccalaureate Organisation(IBO) since 2006.
Kansai is also served byOsaka International School,Lycée français international de Kyotoas well as Chinese and Korean schools.
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