Kinki Japanese (Paperback)

~ (Author), Kaoru Horiuchi Slotsve (Author) "This first set of fifteen terms (ten words and five grammatical expressions), we believe, are the most critical for understanding the language around you..." (more)
Key Phrases: verb conjugation, grammatical expressions, sentence endings, Hanshin Tigers, Hanshin Railway, Central League (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (August 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804820171
• ISBN-13: 978-0804820172
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,353,060 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mysteriouse region, October 14, 2004

By	taka(Japanese (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

Though I was born and have lived in Tokyo more than 20 years,
Kansai region is the mysteriouse area for me even. As written by the book, the causes are the dialect and culture etc. What are said frequently in Japan is what Kansai dialect is the vulger dialect compared to Tokyo dialct(Hyoujun go}. I think so little bet. Off course in Kansai dialect many dialects exists, Oosaka dialect, Kyouto dialect, Koube dialect, Himeji dialect, and like Kyouto dialect the polite dialect exist too, but in general like Oosaka dialect the dialect is casual against the Tokyo dialect of the polite dialect.

For instance, when explain the meaning of [crazy] by Japanese, in Hyoujungo the meaning is Baka, and in Oosaka dialect is Aho.
To Tokyo people, Aho is a little heavy word because Aho imply the meaning of a little low intelligence. In casual scene Tokyo people say[ kimi ha baka janaino?] on the other hand, Oosaka say[omae wa aho ka?]. In Japan, the polite word is kimi rather than omae.

But the people that have such thinking exict in Kansai. They say that Kansai dialect is wonderful language, that is, they dare to talk such casual words, therefore they can comunicate with unfamiliar people friendly. I can agree such Kansai thinking.

And I am interested to Kansai culture. The best example is the professional baseball. Tokyo baseball team is Kyojin Giants, and Oosaka baseball team is Hanshin Tigers. Off course both teams is the fans is very hot. But the atomosphere is very different.

I watched the game of Boston Red Sox VS NY Yankees on TV,I think
the difference of the both fan's style is like the difference of Giants and Tigers.

Anyway, Hanshin region is very exciting and mysteriouse zone for Tokyo even.

Thank you for reading my poor writing.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute necessity for those who are Kansai bound, July 20, 2001

By	Steven Carroll (Sammamish, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are on your way to live in the Kansai area, you absolutely MUST buy this book. Kansai-ben is not hard, but it will completely throw you when you arrive if you are not prepared. Kansai-ben is also the language of comedy here so if you want to understand Japanese comedians, this book is also indispensible.

When you get there, show the book to all your new Japanese friends. You will instantly impress them with your effort to learn their local dialect, which i ASSURE you they take GREAT pride in.

Sure, walking around speaking Kansai-ben all the time will make you seem like a hen na gaijin if you overdo it, but you at least need to be understand what people are saying to you :)

This book is absolutely essential and the best of several Kansai-ben texts I have read. honma ya!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally entertaining!, July 13, 2000

By	Ken Nicolson (Osaka, Japan) - See all my reviews

Any English speaker thinking of moving to, or currently living in the Kansai, this book is essential to help you realise why, even though you might know standard Japanese, you can't understand half of what they're saying.

I've shown the book to many of my Kansai friends, and they vouch for both the authenticity of the language and the humour in the sample conversations.

Throwing a few "-rahen"s and "-yaro"s breaks the ice wonderfully - omoro ya nen!