People from Osaka, often referred to as Osakans, deliver a raw flavor of Japanese behavior that is upbeat, unique, and out of the norm.
The Japanese are known for their quiet and reserved nature, typically keeping to themselves and doing their due diligence to keep the peace and harmony in society. Even in conversation, opinions that might “shake the boat” are often reserved for the sake of not offending anyone. Well, you may find things are a little different with the Osakan people!
Speaking their mind
Politeness is not valued in Osaka to the extent that it is in Tokyo, though the baseline standard for all Japanese people tends to be quite high. In any case, the Osakan people are certainly not afraid to speak their mind, and things like saving face or preserving the harmony are not so highly regarded as making oneself clear in their speech. They can get particularly excited around foreigners, like these elderly folk who hang around Osaka Castle to practice their English with visitors!
Outgoing personalities
Extroverts and social butterflies can breathe a sigh of relief when in Osaka, because outward self-expression is not so frowned upon as it is in most parts of Japan. In fact, I was recently at a gaming tournament in Osaka and was surprised to see how some of the competitors were yelling their heads off during their matches, and no one batted an eye! Even for me, someone who comes from a loose country like Australia, I was caught off guard at some of the raw personalities I saw at such an event.
Unique Osaka-ben dialect
Osaka-ben is a form of Kansai-dialect that is specific to the Osakan people, featuring unique greetings and phrases that are not typically used outside the prefecture. Maido is often used in place of the typical konnichiwa (hello), while ookini often replaces arigato (thank you). These Osaka-exclusive words are associated with a more slang and colloquial way of speaking, giving the region a casual vibe that is quite uncommon in a nation like Japan.
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