Kinki, Japan Overview

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No visit to Japan is complete without a trip to the old political, economic and cultural heartland of Kinki, also known as Kansai.

Situated in the middle of the western dogleg of Japan, Kinki is home to the famous cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara.

Although each of these are geographically close their atmosphere and lifestyles are far apart.

kyoto-temple-small.JPGFor instance, Kyoto, the old Imperial capital, is full of ancient temples, an imperial heritage in the form of the amazing Emperor’s palace, the old Geisha town of Gion, and a cultural background said to include the most refined manners and language in all Japan.



180px-umeda_sky_building.jpgOsaka, on the other hand, just seven minutes away by bullet train, is widely decried as Japan’s uncouth relative. Down to earth, direct and in turns hilarious and offensive to Japanese sensibilities, Osakans spawn Japan’s comedians, maintian its economic engine, and feed you some of the best cooking around.

 

kobe.jpgKobe, scene of the worst earthquake in living memory, has rebuilt and revitalised to form one of the most delightful and peaceful cities you can wish to visit.

Historically the interface to the outside world due to its port, Kobe has a long history of foreign contact which has imbued its people with a very global outlook and attitude.

kobeforeign.jpgThis is expressed nowhere more clearly than in its old foreign sector where houses built in European style still stand for crowds to visit, adjacent to the charming herb gardens planted on the side of a mountain.

 

naratemple.jpg

Finally Nara, the home of the world’s biggest free standing wooden structure (and today’s is smaller than previous buildings!), shelters a massive statue of Buddha which looks out serenely onto a large park filled with hungry deer and brings a spiritual calm to an ancient city.





Jobs in Japan

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  • Redeveloping Umeda At the end of this month, Osaka will begin redeveloping the Umeda Kita Yard, north of JR Osaka Station, where about 2.5 million passengers of railways and subway lines pass through daily.
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  • Get Out the Samura Sword The relationship between America and Japan has been strained by the recent Toyota malfunctions. However, if the people of Japan have their way, the relationship will continue to stay strong as most Japanese are worried more about their relationship with America than the Toyota company itself. Japanese have their ears to the tracks listening for any [...]
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  • Shamisen and Piano Concert <a href="http://kansainews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/shamisen-icon.png"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-662" title="Japanese Shamisen" src="http://kansainews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/shamisen-icon.png" alt="Japanese Shamisen" width="256" height="256" /></a>The <strong>shamisen</strong>, also called <em>sangen</em><strong>, </strong>is a three-stringed banjo-like musical instrument played with a plectrum, a <em>bachi</em> in Japanese. The instrument makes a sound twangy sound similar to the banjo yet very distinct and very Japanese.
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  • Seeking Musicians The Phoenix Hall in the Kita Ward of Osaka is offering the hall to talented musicians free of charge on select dates in 2011 as a part of arts and cultural activities sponsored by Nissay Dowa General Insurance Company, which operates the venue.
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  • Special Christmas Dinner Rapport coffee house in the Kyoto Century Hotel in the Shimogyo Ward of Kyoto will serve a special Christmas dinner from December 19-25. The menu features: marinated salmonpasta in crab and shrimp tomato saucescallops and sea bream in a white wine saucefillet steak in a truffle and Madeira wine saucebreaddessertcoffee or tea The price for the dinner [...]
  • Wicked: The Broadway Musical The Broadway musical Wicked will be performed at Osaka Shiki Theater in the Kita Ward of Osaka until January 3, 2010; performance by Shiki Theater Company. The cost is between ¥3000-¥9000. For more information call (06) 4796-6700.
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