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> I was in Osaka this weekend and litter is everywhere While I generally agree, the funny part about this is that it’s not uncommon in Japan for people to refe

> I was in Osaka this weekend and litter is everywhere While I generally agree, the funny part about this is that it’s not uncommon in Japan for people to refer to people from Osaka as being “not Japanese.”

fiblye 7y ago
True. Japanese people outside of Osaka generally disown Osaka. They also completely disown their litter. It’s always foreigners, even if it’s natto boxes.
- tasogare 7y ago
  I have been on a beach in Shimane-ken, it was the dirtiest I ever seen. Lot of trash everywhere. Explanation from my Japanese companion: it is from Korea. Yeah sure, this bento box has been carried by the current...
kimjongtrill 7y ago
i see every country has its own florida
- claudeganon 7y ago
  Osaka holds a strange place in Japanese culture. It is considered distinctly “un-Japanese,” but still at the same time is famous for producing all kinds of creative types (comedians, musicians, artists). And its accent is generally considered charming, if “inappropriate” for formal discourse. As an American, I’ve always felt more comfortable there because it’s way less uptight and rule-bound than other parts of Japan.
  - selectodude 7y ago
    Osaka is so much fun. I felt the same way. I didn’t get the vibe that I was an alien compared to the rest of Japan.
  - CapricornNoble 7y ago
    Almost every time I've been approached by a friendly, curious, Japanese person, they've been from Osaka. Regardless of age or gender, they are definitely the most outgoing and gaijin-friendly people in Japan. While we're on the subject of Osaka stories, about 5 years ago in February I was walking with friends near the "Running Man" bridge in Shinsaibashi. Probably around 1am, and cold. A taxi pulls up close to the bridge....the driver pops the trunk, a passenger joins him at the rear of the vehicle....and they took a PASSED OUT Japanese dude outta the taxi's trunk and just laid him on the concrete. He didn't even have a shirt on. They reached in the trunk and threw a shoe at him. Then the taxi left. We're just standing there in awe thinking "No shirt, shoes off, probably drunk and lying on cold concrete in February? That dude is gonna die of hypothermia and whoever dropped him off doesn't seem to give 2 shits....man Osaka is wild." Not surprising as this is about 2 blocks from the parking lot where all the yakuza park their exotics[1]. Look at that building in Street View and even in daytime there's a yellow exotic parked there. [1] https://goo.gl/maps/dyPU7rzM5QbkLtTEA https://goo.gl/maps/dyPU7rzM5QbkLtTEA
  - Rapzid 7y ago
    I prefer Osaka to Tokyo(the central wards where I've been at least) personally. Still very Japanese IMHO, it certainly has its own vibe.. The craft beer and brewpub scene is great, and people generally seem more friendly and open to strangers and foreigners. Cycling culture seems stronger. An outsiders observation; people are much more likely to cross a crosswalk early or otherwise outside the proper time in Osaka! Hanami is also spectacular in Osaka and Kyoto.
scruple 7y ago
Osaka really is _different_ in a tangible sense. They seem to buck the conservative/traditional trends as a point of pride. That said, 2 of the most disgusting (public) bathrooms I've ever had the displeasure of stepping into were in Osaka. That's been a sticking point for me and it's come up in conversation nearly every time I have a conversation about Japan. I thought Osaka was fun, and it has a great culture, but you need to be prepared for it's reality if you are in Tokyo or Kyoto first.

fiblye 7y ago

True. Japanese people outside of Osaka generally disown Osaka. They also completely disown their litter. It’s always foreigners, even if it’s natto boxes.

tasogare 7y ago
I have been on a beach in Shimane-ken, it was the dirtiest I ever seen. Lot of trash everywhere. Explanation from my Japanese companion: it is from Korea. Yeah sure, this bento box has been carried by the current...

kimjongtrill 7y ago

i see every country has its own florida

claudeganon 7y ago
Osaka holds a strange place in Japanese culture. It is considered distinctly “un-Japanese,” but still at the same time is famous for producing all kinds of creative types (comedians, musicians, artists). And its accent is generally considered charming, if “inappropriate” for formal discourse. As an American, I’ve always felt more comfortable there because it’s way less uptight and rule-bound than other parts of Japan.
- selectodude 7y ago
  Osaka is so much fun. I felt the same way. I didn’t get the vibe that I was an alien compared to the rest of Japan.
- CapricornNoble 7y ago
  Almost every time I've been approached by a friendly, curious, Japanese person, they've been from Osaka. Regardless of age or gender, they are definitely the most outgoing and gaijin-friendly people in Japan. While we're on the subject of Osaka stories, about 5 years ago in February I was walking with friends near the "Running Man" bridge in Shinsaibashi. Probably around 1am, and cold. A taxi pulls up close to the bridge....the driver pops the trunk, a passenger joins him at the rear of the vehicle....and they took a PASSED OUT Japanese dude outta the taxi's trunk and just laid him on the concrete. He didn't even have a shirt on. They reached in the trunk and threw a shoe at him. Then the taxi left. We're just standing there in awe thinking "No shirt, shoes off, probably drunk and lying on cold concrete in February? That dude is gonna die of hypothermia and whoever dropped him off doesn't seem to give 2 shits....man Osaka is wild." Not surprising as this is about 2 blocks from the parking lot where all the yakuza park their exotics[1]. Look at that building in Street View and even in daytime there's a yellow exotic parked there. [1] https://goo.gl/maps/dyPU7rzM5QbkLtTEA https://goo.gl/maps/dyPU7rzM5QbkLtTEA
- Rapzid 7y ago
  I prefer Osaka to Tokyo(the central wards where I've been at least) personally. Still very Japanese IMHO, it certainly has its own vibe.. The craft beer and brewpub scene is great, and people generally seem more friendly and open to strangers and foreigners. Cycling culture seems stronger. An outsiders observation; people are much more likely to cross a crosswalk early or otherwise outside the proper time in Osaka! Hanami is also spectacular in Osaka and Kyoto.

scruple 7y ago

Osaka really is _different_ in a tangible sense. They seem to buck the conservative/traditional trends as a point of pride. That said, 2 of the most disgusting (public) bathrooms I've ever had the displeasure of stepping into were in Osaka. That's been a sticking point for me and it's come up in conversation nearly every time I have a conversation about Japan. I thought Osaka was fun, and it has a great culture, but you need to be prepared for it's reality if you are in Tokyo or Kyoto first.