Tokyo vs Osaka: Understanding their differences through kitchen metaphors

Tokyo is a sponge.

People all over the world are drawn to this bustling metropolis because of how much it holds–like a sponge! From hipster thrift stores to elegant shopping complexes, from towering skyscrapers to retro shopping streets, from Michelin-starred to hole in the wall restaurants, formal suit-and-tie businesspeople to colorful cosplayers…you’ll find all sides of the spectrum here and so much in between. Simultaneously, the city is ever-evolving, always absorbing new information, ideas and innovations that come to life thanks to the melting pot of cultures. 

Osaka is a tawashi (scrubbing brush).

Traditionally made of hemp palm, a tawashi is a very tough tool used to scrub those crusty bits stubbornly stuck to dishes and pots. In a similar way, Osaka can seem a bit rough around the edges–at least at first glance. When people from Tokyo start working in Osaka-based companies, it’s pretty common for them to face challenges due to the local dialect and cultural differences. Just like a scrubbing brush isn’t an all-purpose tool, Osaka’s rough style may not appeal to everyone, but when a tough job needs to be done, you know you can count on it. Similarly, the city can sometimes feel like a tight-knit village, so it might take some time, but once you’re in, you’re in–bonds are deep and long-lasting. Osaka people also tend to be a little more resistant to change (like a non-malleable tawashi), for example, as they tend to hold onto their local dialect and identity (thus, rather comfortable with standing out) even when moving to another city. As someone from the Kansai region, I can certainly relate to that feeling.