May 3rd, 2000
3. What An Amaging Osaka!
I am sure that you have heard about Osaka. For example, everybody looks comedian, people are so rude, noisy and nasty in general, people don't stay on line when they wait for train at the station, traffic is very dangerous and crazy and etc.
I have to say, "Yes, it's true". But people actually so nice and kind. They just feel lonliness actually unless they show their presence, I believe. I know there are many people disagree with me but I am sure more people agree with me.
Anyway, Osaka is wonderful place. It's my home town as well as my wife's. The reason why I can live here in Yokohama strongly is because I am from Osaka, I can say. Osaka gave me power and my personality so clearly.
In another aspect, let's talk about language. U.S. English is different from Queen's English, right? Osaka Japanese is totally different from Tokyo Japanese as well. To me U.S. English is similar to Osaka Japanese. It's very difficult to exlpain but for examples, there are so many strange phrases and/or expression exsist in both Osaka or U.S. "How is it going?", "What's new?", "Well, so and so, man", "Hey, big guy!" and so on. To me, I do feel these expression easily and smoothly because we have similar things in Osaka, i.e., "Maido!", "Moukari Makka?", "Bochi Bochi Dennaa", "Taisho! Ikimahyo!", and etc. U.S. English sounds like music. So does Osaka Japanese. It sounds more friendly than regular or Tokyo Japanese. Some times it does too much and could sounds offensive. But reality is just friendly. Please do not stay back from Osaka people.
From historical viewpoint, Osaka has grew up as sales/trading business city. On the street, people started greeting each other "Moukari Makka?", "Akimahen. Bochi Bochi Dennaa". I don't know when it started but this simple phrase mean "How is it(your business) going?", "Not so good. So and So, man". In Tokyo, people say similar things like "Saikin Dou?", "Maa Maa dane". This mean "How are you doing lately?", "Well, not bad". I hope you would be able to understand what I am trying to say.
I grew up in such a circumstance until 18 years old. Another special thing on me was Jr. High & Highschool which was combined small private school throughout 6 years continuously and my classmates were all boys no girls!! Therefore we did not have to be polite at all due to girls in the class. It was great and I learned a lot to be a current basics about Yoshi O. Mukai.
Anyway, I would like to think more about and continue to talk about Osaka later.