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Abroad in Japan · Friday, September 4, 2026

Southern Japanese Regions More Approachable, says Broad

Chris Broad suggests that people in the southern regions of Japan, specifically Kyushu, Shikoku, and Osaka, are generally friendlier and more approachable than those in the north (Tohoku). He likens the difference to the UK, noting that while Tohoku people may be shy initially, southern residents tend to be more readily sociable.

The tape

3 quotes
I mean, look, everybody is generally friendly across the country. It's just some people need like more, need to warm up to you a bit more than others.
Chris Broad
But then you go to Kyushu and Shikoku and Osaka and like, people just talk to you, um, promptly, out of nowhere.
Chris Broad
I'd say yeah, people in the South are a bit friendlier. It's like the UK, but inverted, right?
Chris Broad
Heard on Abroad in Japan — “25 Things Nobody Tells You About Japan, published Friday, September 4, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.05