The or the , lies in the southern-central region of

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

's main island

Honshū , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separa ...

. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and

Shiga is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Pr ...

, often also Mie, sometimes

Fukui is a Japanese name meaning "fortunate" or sometimes "one who is from the Fukui prefecture". It may refer to: Places * Fukui Domain, a part of the Japanese han system during the Edo period * Fukui Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in ...

, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropolitan region of Osaka,

Kobe Kobe ( , ; officially , ) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. With a population around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in Kansai region, whic ...

and Kyoto (

Keihanshin is a metropolitan region in the Kansai region of Japan encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka in Osaka Prefecture and Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture. The entire region has a population () of 19,302,746 o ...

region) is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area.

Name

The terms , , and have their roots during the Asuka period. When the old provinces of Japan were established, several provinces in the area around the then-capital Kyoto were collectively named Kinai and Kinki, both roughly meaning "the neighbourhood of the capital". Kansai (literally ''west of the tollgate'') in its original usage refers to the land west of the Osaka Tollgate (), the border between Yamashiro Province and Ōmi Province (present-day Kyoto and

prefectures).Entry for . Kōjien, fifth edition, 1998, During the

Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle betwee ...

, this border was redefined to include Ōmi and

Iga Iga may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Ambush at Iga Pass, a 1958 Japanese film * Iga no Kagemaru, Japanese manga series * Iga, a set of characters from the Japanese novel '' The Kouga Ninja Scrolls'' Biology * ''Iga'' (beetle), a gen ...

Provinces. It is not until the Edo period that Kansai came to acquire its current form.Entry for . Kōjien, fifth edition, 1998, (''see Kamigata'') 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 the

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe is a metropolitan region in the Kansai region of Japan encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka in Osaka Prefecture and Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture. The entire region has a population () of 19,302,746 ...

(Keihanshin) area at the center of the Kansai region. Like all regions of Japan, the Kansai region is not an administrative unit, but rather a cultural and historical one, which emerged much later during the Heian period after the expansion of Japan saw the development of the

Kantō region The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. In a common definition, the region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa. Slight ...

to the east and the need to differentiate what was previously the center of Japan in Kansai emerged.

Kinki name international perspective

The name "Kinki" is pronounced similarly to the English word "

kinky Kinky may refer to: * Kinky (band), an electronic rock act from Monterrey, Mexico ** ''Kinky'' (Kinky album), their self-titled album * ''Kinky'' (Hoodoo Gurus album) * "Kinky", by Kesha from the album ''High Road'' * Kink (sexuality), having u ...

", which means "twisted" or "

perverted Perversion is a form of human behavior which deviates from what is considered to be orthodox or normal. Although the term ''perversion'' can refer to a variety of forms of deviation, it is most often used to describe sexual behaviors that are co ...

". This has become a problem due to internationalization, and some organizations have changed their name as a result. In April 2016, changed its English name to

Kindai University is a private non-sectarian and coeducational university based in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan with campuses in five other locations: Nara, Nara; Ōsakasayama, Osaka; Uchita, Wakayama; Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima; and Iizuka, Fukuoka. The Englis ...

. uses "Kansai" in English notation, and also uses "Kansai" in English notation since 2015. In addition, the changed its name to "Kansai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association" on July 22, 2015. In the fall of 2014, 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 company Kintetsu Railway was changed from ''Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd.'' to the official abbreviation Kintetsu Corporation. It was subsequently changed again to ''Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd.'' on April 1, 2015.

Overview

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. The Osaka 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

and Himeji, Hyōgo, Himeji, and east encompassing Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. In the north, the region is bordered by the Sea of Japan, to the south by the Kii Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean, and to the east by the Ibuki Mountains and Ise Bay. Four of List of national parks of Japan, Japan's national parks lie within its borders, in whole or in part. The area also contains six of the seven top prefectures in terms of National Treasures of Japan, national treasures.Kansai Now: History
retrieved January 17, 2007 Other geographical features include Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture and Awaji Island in Hyōgo. The Kansai region is often compared with the

, which lies to its east and consists primarily of Tokyo and the surrounding area. Whereas the Kantō 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, Nara, Nara, or the cosmopolitanism of

– and represents the focus of counterculture in Japan. This East-West rivalry has deep historical roots, particularly from the Edo period. 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.Omusubi
– "Japan's Regional Diversity", retrieved January 22, 2007 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 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."Livingabroadin.com
– "Prime Living Locations in Japan", retrieved January 22, 2007 Kansai is known for its food, especially Osaka, as supported by the saying . Popular Osakan dishes include takoyaki, okonomiyaki, Udon, kitsune udon and kushikatsu. Kyoto is considered a mecca of traditional Japanese cuisine like kaiseki. Kansai has many wagyu brands such as Kobe beef and Tajima cattle from Hyōgo, Matsusaka beef from Mie and Ōmi beef from Shiga. Sake is another specialty of the region, the areas of Nada-Gogō and Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Fushimi produce 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 as nattō tend to be less popular. The Japanese dialects, dialects of the people from the Kansai region, commonly called ''Kansai dialect, Kansai-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. Two Nippon Professional Baseball teams, Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes, are based in Kansai. Koshien Stadium, the home stadium of the Hanshin Tigers, is also famous for the High school baseball in Japan, nationwide high school baseball tournaments. In football (soccer), association football, the Kansai Soccer League was founded in 1966 and currently has 16 teams in two divisions. Cerezo Osaka, Gamba Osaka, and Vissel Kobe belong to J. League Division 1 and Kyoto Sanga F.C. belongs to J. League Division 2, the top professional leagues in Japan.

History

As a part of the Ritsuryō reforms of the seventh and eighth centuries, the Old provinces of Japan, provinces of Yamato Province, Yamato, Yamashiro Province, Yamashiro, Kawachi Province, Kawachi, Settsu Province, Settsu, and Izumi Province, Izumi, were established by the Gokishichidō. These provinces were collectively referred to as Kinai or Kinki. The Kansai region lays claim to the earliest beginnings of Japanese civilization. It was Nara, Nara, Nara, the most eastern point on the Silk Road, that became the site of Japan's first permanent capital.Kansai Economic Federation
: "Kansai Brief History", retrieved January 17, 2007 This Nara period, period (AD 710–784) saw the spread of Buddhism to Japan and the construction of Tōdai-ji in 745. The Kansai region also boasts the Shinto religion's holiest shrine at Ise Shrine (built in 690 AD) in Mie prefecture.Japan Reference
– "Ise Jingu Guide", retrieved January 17, 2007 The Heian period saw the capital moved to Heian-kyō (, present-day Kyoto), where it would remain for over a thousand years until the Meiji Restoration. During this golden age, the Kansai region would give birth to traditional Japanese culture. In 788, Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism established his monastery at Mount Hiei in Shiga prefecture. Japan's most famous tale, and some say the world's first novel, ''The Tale of Genji'' was penned by Murasaki Shikibu while performing as a lady-in-waiting in Heian-kyo. 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. 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 five World Heritage Site, World Heritage Listings include: Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area, Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities), Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, and Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.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

Economy

The economy of Kansai region is largely based on that of

(Greater Osaka) metropolitan area. Keihanshin metropolitan area contains the Hanshin Industrial Region and is centered mainly around chemical, metal, and other heavy industries. Keihanshin region also contains strong medical and electronics industries within its economy.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, and, Kansai region much like

has experienced a small population increase beginning around 2010.

Major cities

* Osaka: a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city, the capital of Osaka Prefecture *

: a designated city, the capital of Hyōgo Prefecture * Kyoto: a designated city, the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, formerly the Imperial capital of Japan * Sakai, Osaka, Sakai: a designated city * Tsu, Mie, Tsu: the capital of Mie Prefecture * Wakayama, Wakayama, Wakayama: a Core cities of Japan, core city, the capital of Wakayama Prefecture * Nara, Nara, Nara: a core city, the capital of Nara Prefecture * Otsu, Shiga, Otsu: a core city, the capital of Shiga Prefecture

Other major cities

* Himeji, Hyōgo: a Core cities of Japan, core city * Higashiōsaka, Osaka: a core city * Nishinomiya, Hyōgo: a core city * Amagasaki, Hyōgo: a core city * Toyonaka, Osaka: a core city * Takatsuki, Osaka: a core city * Hirakata, Osaka: a core city * Suita, Osaka: a special city * Yokkaichi, Mie: a special city * Akashi, Hyōgo: a core city * Ibaraki, Osaka: a special city * Yao, Osaka: a core city * Kakogawa, Hyōgo: a special city * Takarazuka, Hyōgo: a special city * Neyagawa, Osaka: a core city * Kishiwada, Osaka: a special city

Education

International schools

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 Kobe/European School, Deutsche Schule Kobe was 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 School provides curriculum in three languages: German, English, and Japanese. In 1913, Canadian Methodist Academy opened its doors to sixteen children. The school, renamed Canadian Academy in 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 on Rokkō Island, a man-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 the IB Diploma Programme, International 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 founded Marist Brothers International School in 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 the Western 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 renamed Kyoto International School in 1966. Today, the school serves students from two to fourteen years old. The school has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1992 and authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) since 2006. Kansai is also served by Osaka International School, Lycée français international de Kyoto as well as Chinese and Korean schools.

Gallery

File:NintokuTomb Aerial photograph 2007.jpg, Daisen Kofun, the largest burial mound in the worldConsulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
- "History", retrieved March 15, 2007 File:Horyu-ji42s3200.jpg, Hōryū-ji Golden Hall, the oldest wooden structure in the world File:TodaijiDaibutsu0224.jpg, Daibutsu at Tōdai-ji, the largest bronze statue in the world File:Tōdai-ji Kon-dō.jpg, Tōdai-ji Main Hall, until 1998 the largest wooden structure in the world File:Biwa Lake.jpg, Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan and one of the Ancient lake, oldest lakes in the world File:Okuni with cross dressed as a samurai.jpg, Izumo no Okuni, who founded Kabuki in Kyoto File:Kongo Gumi workers in early 20th century.jpg, Kongō Gumi, once the world's oldest continuously operating company, constructed several Japan's cultural assets. File:Amanohashidate view from Mt Moju02s3s4592.jpg, Amanohashidate, one of Three Views of Japan File:Sen no Rikyu JPN.jpg, Sen no Rikyū, a merchant from Sakai, perfected the courtesy of the Japanese tea ceremony, tea ceremony. File:Toji - Five-storied Pagoda.JPG, Japan's tallest temple pagoda in Tō-ji, Kyoto File:Nintendo Headquarters - panoramio.jpg, Nintendo became the world's most successful video game company. File:Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden April 2005.JPG, Osaka Castle File:Kiyomizudera-Niomon-2017-Luka-Peternel.jpg, Kyoto from Kiyomizudera

Notes

References

* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005)
''Japan encyclopedia.''
Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
OCLC 58053128