The Kansai region (関西地方 Kansai-chihō?) or the Kinki region (近畿地方 Kinki-chihō?) lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. or Honshu is the largest Island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. For subsequent types of praefectura, see Prefect. Prefecture (from the Latin Praefectura) indicates the office WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture in the Kinki region on Honshū Island, Japan WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region of the island of Honshū WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture located in the Kinki region on Honshū, the main island of WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshū Island Sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Mie are also included. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku Island. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kinki and Chūbu regions While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the two can be considered the same.
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Overview
The Kansai region is the cultural and historical heart of Japan with 11% of its land area and 24 million residents. [1] The Kinki Plain with the cities of Osaka and Kyoto forms the core of the region, from there the Kansai area stretches west along the Seto Inland Sea towards Himeji and Kobe and east encompassing Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. An inland sea is a shallow Sea that covers central areas of continents during high stands of Sea level that result in marine transgressions In modern days is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 formerly known as Ōmi Lake, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshū) northeast of In the north the region is bordered by the Sea of Japan, to the south by the Kii Peninsula and Pacific Ocean, and to the east by the Japanese Alps (for Kansai) or Ise Bay (for Kinki). The Sea of Japan is a Marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea, North Korea and Russia The is one of the largest Peninsulas on the island of Honshū in Japan. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The is a series of Mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. Ise Bay (伊勢湾 Ise-wan) is a bay located at the mouth of the Kiso river, between Mie and Aichi Prefectures in Japan [2] Four of Japan's national parks lie within its borders, in whole or in part. and in Japan are designated reserves of land declared by the Ministry of the Environment under its National Parks Law The area also contains six of the seven top prefectures in terms of national treasures. The idea of National Treasure, like National epics and National anthems is part of the language of Romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th [3] Other geographical features include Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture and Awaji Island in Hyōgo. Amanohashidate (天橋立 is one of Japan 's three scenic views. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region of the island of Honshū is an Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshū Island
The Kansai region is often compared with the Kantō region, which lies to its east and consists primarily of Tokyo and the surrounding area. The is a Geographical area of Honshū, the largest Island of Japan. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Whereas the Kanto region is symbolic of standardization throughout Japan, the Kansai region displays many more idiosyncrasies: the culture in Kyoto, the mercantilism of Osaka, the history of Nara or the cosmopolitanism of Kobe, and represents the focus of counterculture in Japan. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 Counterculture (also " counter-culture " is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a Cultural group, or This East-West rivalry has deep historical roots, particularly from the Edo period. The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 With a samurai population of less than 1% the culture of the merchant city of Osaka stood in sharp contrast to that of Edo, the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate. literally bay - Door, " Estuary " edo once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the, and the, was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the Shoguns of [4]
Many characteristic traits of Kansai people descend from Osaka merchant culture. Catherine Maxwell, an editor for the newsletter Omusubi, writes: "Kansai residents are seen as being pragmatic, entrepreneurial, down-to-earth and possessing a strong sense of humour. Kanto 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. "[4][5]
Popular regional dishes include takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kitsune udon. (literally fried or baked Octopus) is a popular Japanese Dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus Tempura scraps ( tenkasu is a Japanese dish consisting of a pan-fried batter cake and various ingredients is a type of thick Wheat -based Noodle popular in Japanese cuisine. Hyōgo Prefecture is well known for its Kobe beef and other dairy products. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshū Island refers to Beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle raised according to strict tradition in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan Sake is another specialty of the region, the areas of Nada and Fushimi produce 45% of all sake in Japan. Nada-ku (灘区 Nada-ku) is one of 9 wards of Kobe in Japan. It has an area of 31 is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. [6] As opposed to food from Eastern Japan, food in the Kansai area tends to be sweeter, and foods such as nattō tend to be less popular. is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented Soybeans popular especially for Breakfast. [4][5]
The dialects (弁, -ben) of the people of the Kansai region 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. The is a distinct group of related Japanese dialects found in the Kansai region of Japan Kansai-ben is especially strong in cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.
History
The terms Kansai (関西), Kinki (近畿) and Kinai (畿内) have a very deep history, dating back almost as far as the nation of Japan itself. As a part of the Ritsuryō reforms of the 6th century, the Gokishichidō system established the provinces of Yamato, Yamashiro, Kawachi, Settsu and Izumi. is the historical Law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. Tōsandō (northeast through the Japanese Alps) Hokurikudō (northeast along the Sea of Japan coast Before the modern prefecture system was established the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni (国 countries) usually known in was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. was a province of Japan in Kinai, classified as a greater province was a province of Japan, which today comprises the eastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture and the northern part of Osaka Prefecture. The characters 泉州 are also used for the name of the Chinese city of Quanzhou. Kinai and Kinki, both roughly meaning "the neighbourhood of the capital", referred to these provinces. In common usage, Kinai now refers to the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto (Keihanshin) area, the center of the Kansai region. is a metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka in Osaka prefecture, Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, and Kyoto
Kansai (literally "west of the border") in its original usage refers to the land west of the Osaka Checkpoint (逢坂の関), the border between Yamashiro Province and Ōmi Province (present-day Kyoto and Shiga prefectures). was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. For other meanings of Omi see Omi (disambiguation. is an old province of Japan which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region of the island of Honshū [7] During the Kamakura period, this border was redefined to include Ōmi and Iga Provinces. The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 by the first Kamakura Shogun For other meanings of Omi see Omi (disambiguation. is an old province of Japan which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. [7] It is not until the Edo period that Kansai came to acquire its current form. The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 [8] (see Kamigata) Like all regions of Japan, the Kansai region is not an administrative unit, but rather a cultural and historical one. This article focuses on the Edo period urban culture of the Kamigata region in contrast to that of the Edo region for more general information on the region see Kansai The Regions of Japan are not official administrative units but have been traditionally used as the regional division of Japan in a number of contexts
The Kansai region lays claim to the earliest beginnings of Japanese civilization. It was Nara, the most eastern point on the Silk Road, that became the site of Japan's first permanent capital. is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the [9] This period (AD 710-784) saw the spread of Buddhism to Japan and the construction of Tōdai-ji in 745. The of the History of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. For the area code see Area code 710. For the Los Angeles-area freeway see Interstate 710. Events By Place Asia The Japanese capital moves away from Nara, ending the Nara period. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. The New 745 Bio Sunnyland Ill - 745 — “Turning your wildest dreams into nightmares The Kansai region also boasts the Shinto religion's holiest shrine at Ise Shrine (built in 690 AD) in Mie prefecture. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Ise Shrine ( Ise-jingū 伊勢神宮 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture Events By Place Asia Wu Zetian 's Zhou Dynasty begins in China (she was China's first and only female emperor ruling on her own WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kinki and Chūbu regions [10]
The Heian period saw the capital moved to Heian-kyō (平安京, present-day Kyoto), where it would remain for over a thousand years until the Meiji Restoration. The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure During this golden age, the Kansai region would give birth to traditional Japanese culture. In 819, Kūkai, the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism established his monastery at Mount Koya in Wakayama prefecture. The year 819 AD has the following notable benchmarks Events By Place Asia The Abbasid capital is moved back to Baghdad Kūkai (ja 空海 or also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (ja 弘法大師 774&ndash835 CE was a Japanese monk, Scholar Shingon Buddhism (眞言 真言 " true words " is a major school of Japanese Buddhism, and is the other branch of Vajrayana Buddhism This article is about the mountain in Japan For the historical Haida chief in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia see Koyah. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region Japan's most famous tale, and some say the world's first modern novel, The Tale of Genji was penned by Murasaki Shikibu while performing as a lady-in-waiting in Heian-kyo. is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century around the peak of the Heian Period Murasaki Shikibu ( 紫[[wikt 式|式]] 部; c 973&ndashc 1014 or 1025 or Lady Murasaki as she is sometimes known in English was a Japanese A lady-in-waiting (also called waiting maid) is a female personal assistant at a Noble court, attending to a queen, a Princess or other Noh and Kabuki, Japan's traditional dramatic forms both saw their birth and evolution in Kyoto, while Bunraku, Japanese puppet theater, is native to Osaka. or is a major form of classic Japanese musical Drama that has been performed since the 14th century is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers also known as Ningyō jōruri (ja 人形浄瑠璃 is a form of traditional Japanese Puppet theater founded in Osaka in 1684 is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū
Because of its unique position in Japanese history, the Kansai region hosts a number of well-known historical and cultural landmarks, including five of Japan's thirteen World Heritage Sites: Hōryū-ji, Himeji Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, Tōdai-ji, and Mount Koya. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺 or Learning Temple is a flatland-mountain Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture and comprising 83 Wooden Buildings It is occasionally is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Its full name is. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto Uji and Otsu Cities is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. This article is about the mountain in Japan For the historical Haida chief in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia see Koyah. [11]
.PNG/200px-World_Heritage_Sites_in_Kansai(2008).PNG)
Gallery
 Daisenryo Kofun, the largest burial mound in the world[12] |
 Hōryū-ji Golden Hall, the oldest wooden structure in the world |
 Tōdai-ji Main Hall, the largest wooden structure in the world |
|
 Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan and the 3rd oldest lake in the world |
 Izumo no Okuni, who founded Kabuki in Kyoto |
 Kongō Gumi, world's oldest continuously operating company, constructed several Japan's cultural assets |
 Amanohashidate, one of Three Views of Japan |
 Sen no Rikyū, a merchant from Osaka, perfected the courtesy of tea ceremony |
 Nintendo became the most successful in the world's video game industry |
 Osamu Tezuka, regarded as "The Father of Manga", grew up in Hyogo |
See also
References
- ^ Japan Reference: Kansai, retrieved January 17, 2007
- ^ Mie Prefecture homepage: About Mie (pdf)
- ^ Kansai Now: History, retrieved January 17, 2007
- ^ a b c Omusubi - "Japan's Regional Diversity", retrieved January 22, 2007
- ^ a b Livingabroadin.com - "Prime Living Locations in Japan", retrieved January 22, 2007
- ^ Kansai Window - "Japan's number one sake production", retrieved January 24, 2007
- ^ a b Entry for 「関西」. are megalithic Tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between early 3rd century and early 7th century. A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺 or Learning Temple Daibutsu ( or in traditional orthography) is a Japanese word meaning literally "Large Buddha " that refers to large statues of the Buddha or one of his various is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. formerly known as Ōmi Lake, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshū) northeast of (1572?-? was the main founder of Kabuki theater She was believed to be a Miko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo who began a new style of dance in the dry is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers is a Japanese construction company and was the world's oldest continuously ongoing independent Company, operating for over 1400 years until it was absorbed as a subsidary of Amanohashidate (天橋立 is one of Japan 's three scenic views. The is the canonical list of Japan's most famous sights somewhat akin to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, particularly the tradition of Wabi-cha. The Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu (茶の湯 lit "tea hot-water" or also chadō or sadō (ja A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea is a Buddhist Temple of the Shingon Sect in Kyoto, Japan. Its name means East Temple and it once had a partner Sai-ji is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. was a Japanese manga artist, Animator, producer and Medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshū Island Japan is an Island nation in East Asia comprising a large stratovolcanic Archipelago extending along the Pacific coast of Asia The Regions of Japan are not official administrative units but have been traditionally used as the regional division of Japan in a number of contexts is a metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka in Osaka prefecture, Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, and Kyoto Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Kōjien, fifth edition, 1998, [ISBN 4-00-080111-2]
- ^ Entry for 「上方」. The is a single-volume Japanese dictionary first published by Iwanami Shoten in 1955. Kōjien, fifth edition, 1998, [ISBN 4-00-080111-2]
- ^ Kansai Economic Federation - "Kansai Brief History", retrieved January 17, 2007
- ^ Japan Reference - "Ise Jingu Guide", retrieved January 17, 2007
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Japan, retrieved January 17, 2007 - Kiyomizu-dera, Todai-ji, and Mount Koya are part of collections of sites and chosen as representative
- ^ Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco - "History", retrieved March 15, 2007
External links
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