Surprising facts about Kanto versus Kansai
AdvertisementThe two biggest urban areas of Japan are Tokyo and Osaka, and the areas around them are respectively known as Kanto and Kansai. The two have many differences in habits that even the Japanese themselves find surprising, that being the subject of this recent survey from goo Ranking.
Demographics
Over the 21st and 22nd of September 2010 1,072 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 68.2% of the sample were female, 10.4% in their teens, 18.0% in their twenties, 29.8% in their thirties, 26.2% in their forties, 8.7% in their fifties, and 7.0% aged sixty or older. Note that the score in the results refers to the relative number of votes for each option, not a percentage of the total sample.
Here’s evidence from flickr of number 1 – left is Osaka, right is Tokyo.
I only knew four of them – the slices per loaf is completely new and quite surprising to me, for instance. I’m not sure why noodle broth was a surprise, as I thought that was pretty common knowledge. However, the first (and last, I hope) time tasting Kanto-style was surprising – there seemed to be about a week’s worth of salt in the pitch-black soup versus the clear and mild Kansai flavour.
Ranking result
Q: What differences between Kanto and Kansai were you surprised to learn about? (Sample size=1,072)
Rank Kanto Kansai Score 1 Which side to stand on the escalator Left Right 100 2 Udon noodle soup Thick Light 71.1 3 Abbreviation for McDonalds Mac MacDo 68.0 4 Slices per loaf 6 or 8 4, 5 or 6 63.1 5 Agar-agar jelly sauce Vinegar soy sauce Black honey 61.1 6 Takoyaki octopus balls Snack Meal 60.7 7 Ochugen (summer gift) giving 15th July 15th August 55.0 8 Use of “jibun” (self) Myself only Myself or partner 52.1 9 Mixed juice Vegetable and fruit Fruit only 51.0 10 Opening fish From the backbone From the stomach 50.8 11 Shopping Sticker price Haggle 50.6 12 Scallion preferences Leeks Spring onions 47.7 13 Mochi in stews, etc Square Circular 43.9 14 Oden ingredients Includes fish paste tube and fish cakes Doesn’t include 43.0 15 “Kuku” (multiplication table) intonation Received pronunciation With intonation 40.0 16 Name for Shiruko (sweet red bean soup) Shiruko Zenzai 39.3 17 Fried egg flavour Sweet Fish and seaweed broth 38.9 18 Name for Chinese steamed meat bun Nikuman Butaman 36.9 19 Sushi rice density Low High 26.5 20 Sakura mochi (cherry rice paste) Choumeiji Doumyouji 24.1
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Nice one.
I can’t stand that escalator going up to the big man. That whole walk between Hankyu and the Midosuji argggh.
The nikuman vs butaman surprised me. I’ve always used both. The best is #3. There are even communities on Mixi arguing that point… I’m a member of the Makudo not Maku community.
I hate when people from out of town stand on the left side of the escalator completely clueless when every other person is standing on the right side. Meanwhile a big line-up of irate people pool up behind them.
I would also expect Kansai people to stand on the right side when visiting Kanto as well to not block the escalator.
#12 is surprising. Leeks? Does that mean upon relocating, Spring Onions would be harder to get? (>_<)
This is an interesting survey. I had fun reading it and thinking about the characteristics of where I live, which leans more towards the Kansai side of things. But I’ve never heard someone use “makudo” or “butaman”. I can’t imagine having a thick or super salty Udon broth though! Ramen is another story, however.