In Japanese, ''Kansai-ben''. Accent commonly associated with the Kansai region of Japan. Since most anime is made in Tokyo (the accents sound different even if you can't understand them), this is usually very thick and exaggerated. It's also usually the first variation to pop up. The Kansai region generally consists of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Wakayama, and Nara, as well as the surrounding region. While the dialects generally get lumped together as Kansai-ben because of their general similarities, there are distinctions between them.

Osaka-ben (Osaka dialect) used to be the stereotypical villain accent until Osaka comedians performing with their accent became popular in the nineties. These days Osaka-ben is generally used to indicate a fun loving, impatient, loud, boisterous personality. (See also TheIdiotFromOsaka.) Osaka-ben speaking comedians are common in RealLife and in anime, and the BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine has its roots there. Recall, for instance, the scene in ''AzumangaDaioh'' where Tomo learns that the new transfer student is going to be from Osaka, and wonders if she'll have an incredible tsukkomi. The comedy routine consists of the Boke, who generally says stupid things, and the Tsukkomi, who corrects the Boke though physical devices, such as a rap on the head.

Even though it is also part of Kansai-ben, Kyoto-ben is generally a much softer dialect. The Kyoto dialect has its roots in the courtly dialect from the time when the capital of Japan was Kyoto instead of Edo (later Tokyo). Recently in anime, Kyoto-ben has been reserved as a primarily female dialect. (See: Shizuru in ''{{Mai-HiME}},'' Konoka in ''MahouSenseiNegima'', and Akesato in ''PeacemakerKurogane,'' amongst others.) This is possibly due to the fact that Kyoto-ben is softer, and thus sounds more feminine.

A few quick tips for catching a character speaking Kansai-ben:
* Look for the use of ''uchi'' as a personal pronoun among girls.
* Replacement of ''desu'' or ''da'' with ''ya'' (or, in Kyoto-ben, ''dosu'').
* The use of the ''-hen'' ending, instead of ''-nai'', as in ''wakarahen'' versus ''wakaranai'' (lit. "don't know").
* ''-han'' instead of ''-san'' as an [[{{Honorifics}} honorific]].
* Using the word "aho" instead of "baka".

For a good explanation of Kansai-ben versus standard Japanese, see the following page:
http://www.nihongoresources.com/language/dialects/kansaiben.html

Depending on the country, [[AccentAdaptation preserving these dialects through translations and dubs]] can be tricky. The usual British equivalent is Cockney, though a Northern accent might represent the geographic and societal differences better than a dialect of the capital (and for Osaka-ben specifically the Brummy accent might be more accurate, being that Birmingham is the second city ''and'' Brummies are considered less intelligent). In American adaptations, Kansai usually translates to either a Southern or Texan accent (comparisons between Osaka and Houston as large, business-oriented cities with rowdy reputations in the southern part of their respective countries are perhaps not without merit), or a nasally New York or Boston accent (closer in terms of the actual nasal ''sound'' of the accent, and New York's fast-paced reputation isn't far off from Osaka's).

On the other hand, in China, the Shenyang dialect (a large city in Northeastern China) seems to be a clear Chinese version of this accent, being stereotyped with the exact same traits of Kansai. Of course, the Shenyang dialect becomes both a source of laughter and scorn for many Chinese.

Ironically, Kansai is sometimes so strongly associated with a certain personality traits that characters with those traits are given the accent even when they are not actually from the Kansai region, and would have no legitimate reason to have learned the accent. This includes foreigners and especially Americans, who would more likely have learned 'formal' Japanese, but are considered to have the brash, outspoken Osakan personality. Similarly, the association between Kansai-ben and [[{{TheIdiotFromOsaka}} a specific character archetype]] is so strong, shows set in region (but where the setting is not immediately relevant to the plot) may go out of their way to ''avoid'' giving the characters this dialect, even if it would technically be appropriate. (See ''[[{{SuzumiyaHaruhi}} The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' for a show set in the heart of Kansai, but where everyone speaks Standard Japanese.)

See also: TohokuRegionalAccent.
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!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

* Kinnosuke from {{Itazura na Kiss}} has a very thick Kansai accent. He even uses the word "aho" instead of "baka".
* In the ''SailorMoon'' English dub, the appropriately-named Osaka Naru was given a thick New York (specifically Brooklyn) accent. Despite the otherwise {{Macekre}} reputation of the dub, this is probably a fairly reasonable equivalent.
* Likewise Kouhei, the shopkeeper with the five o'clock shadow in ''AbenobashiMahouShoutengai''. However, most of the other characters in the show (who ''all'' use Kansai-ben) are given coastal Texan accents.
* Tina Foster in ''AiYoriAoshi'' is an "American" who was raised in Hakata, Fukuoka, on Kyushu, southernmost of the main islands. She speaks in Hakata-ben, a dialect that varies even more from the Standard language than Kansai-ben. In English, as in some of the other examples here, she gets a cornpone southern accent.
* Keroberos from ''CardCaptorSakura''. It's explained that the magical book he protects was stored in Osaka for an extended length of time, and he picked up the accent.
* Ken-chan from ''YamiToBoushiToHonNoTabibito''
* Sumiyoshi from ''ExcelSaga'' solves the problem of what to dub the accent as, since all of his dialogue appears as [[SignLanguage written text floating in the air]] next to him. (Interestingly, at one point in the series, he's turned from his usual [[{{Gonk}} vaguely ugly self]] to a handsome version... and loses his "accent" in the process.) In the English translation of the manga his accent is translated as a Geordie accent; the European Spanish scanslation by Swamp renders his accent as Mexico City Spanish.
**In the manga, however, his dialect is not Kansai at all, but Okayama (which happens to be much closer to the series' setting of Fukuoka, as well). His accent in the manga could even be considered a bit of LampshadeHanging, commenting indirectly on the fact that everyone in Fukuoka is inexplicably speaking Standard Japanese, rather than Hakata-ben.
* In episode 18 of ''KeroroGunsou'', Kururu invents a machine to change one's accent to Kansai-ben in order to make them better at a BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine contest.
* Kaolla Suu of ''LoveHina'' speaks in ''Kansai-ben'' as part of a RunningGag about her [[UndisclosedNative uncertain origin]]. It was later revealed this was because she was taught (shaky) Japanese by Kitsune, who is a genuine native of the area (and a good example of one of the classic Kansai character types).
* The American dub version of Osaka from ''AzumangaDaioh'' speaks in what the distributor claims is a Houston accent. (Note: Actual Houston residents deny this claim.) The translated manga version of the series actually portrayed her with an unwieldy Brooklyn accent ("Fughedaboudit!") in the first volume before inexplicably switching to a Southern/Texan one.
** Osaka herself is a reversal of the personality stereotype, and initially goes through the standard 'Not all Osaka folk are like that' speeches. When it comes to loud boisterous behaviour, Osaka herself ranks with GentleGiant Sakaki, child genius Chiyo, and possibly bits of the architecture.
** The main problem with the dub is probably that ''native Houstonian'' Kyra Vincent-Davis is trying too hard to sound "Texan". Most Houstonians of [[{{Nerdorama}} this editor's]] acquaintance lack a noticeable twang when compared to the [[EverythingIsBigInTexas usual stereotype]], and someone at (Houston-based) ADVFilms decided they wanted to play to the cliché as far as the accent went, rather than leaving it natural.
** Though to [[{{Midna}} this native Texan troper]], Osaka's English voice didn't sound too much different from what he was generally used to hearing...
* Nanako Kuroi in ''{{Lucky Star}}'', and NOT from that region! In the English dub, they handle this better than Osaka's example by giving her a more realistic Southern accent.
* Mikan in ''GakuenAlice''.
* ''LovelyComplex'' takes place in Osaka, and the characters speak accordingly. This helps reinforce the two main characters being perceived as a [[BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine Manzai comedy duo]].
* Hazel from ''{{Saiyuki}}: Reload Gunlock '' is from "a land far west of India" (by his Old West themed appearance, implicitly America), but speaks in Kansai-ben. In this case, the "brash outsider" associations of the dialect contrast with the character's exaggeratedly gentle and friendly demeanor; the less confrontational he delivers "Sanzo-han", the more sarcastic it sounds.
* An episode of ''GhostInTheShell: Stand Alone Complex'' has a character (actually a brain in a box) faking a Kansai accent. The English dub has him doing an overblown Texan accent.
* Something of a bit character, Cho of the Juppongata from ''RurouniKenshin'' receives a hilarious "southern" accent in the English dub. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ne93Ve1Ck Take a listen.]]
* ''{{Mai-HiME}}'''s Shizuru (a Kyoto native) speaks with a soft "Southern belle" voice in the English dub, as befits her nature as her school's {{Ojou}}. Oddly, the Shizuru character from ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' uses the same speech pattern, despite the show not taking place on Earth.
*It's not too clear why Tentomon, from ''DigimonAdventure,'' uses this accent.
* Aspiring comedian Haruki Emishi in ''GetBackers''.
* Ichimaru Gin of ''{{Bleach}}'' subverts this by being the total ''opposite'' of the type expected to use Kansai-ben -- slimy, devious, and creepy. However, the English dub cancels that out by giving him not the expected Southern- or country-style accent, but a flamboyantly snakelike British one.
** In Bleach, Shinji and Hiyori of the Vizards also use Kansai-ben.
* John Brown, the Catholic priest from Australia in ''GhostHunt'' has this. However, he has a very meek and shy personality - he learnt Japanese in the Kansai region as he thought it was the "polite" version of Japanese.
* Hayate of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''.
* Aoi Nogami from ''ZettaiKarenChildren'', or just many of the characters played by her seiyuu, Ryoko Shiraishi, who is from Nara.
*''Nobody'' uses the dialect in ''{{The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya}}'', even though they ought to: the series is set in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishinomiya Nishinomiya]], home of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanshin_Tigers Hanshin Tigers]]. This phenomenon seems distinct from NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent, since the creator of the series was born and raised in Nishinomiya and wouldn't have to fake it. More likely, he sacrificed his native dialect in the text for the sake of broader appeal.
**Of course, Mikuru, Yuki, and Itsuki are excused from this by the fact that they're not ''actually'' from there, but at the very least, Kyon and Haruhi should be speaking full-on Kansai-ben.
*** This can also be excused by the fact that Kyon is an {{Unreliable Narrator}}; he could easily be rendering everyone's dialect (including his own) as Standard Japanese, just because.
*** Or, as said about, this may be to avoid having to fight the stereotype associated with the accent.
** Also, Tsuruya-san comes closest to having a Kansai accent. In the dub, it's rendered as a ValleyGirl's dialect.
* Toji in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' uses Kansai-ben, rendered in the manga as a heavy Brooklyn "wise guy" accent.
* The Tigers team in ''{{Zoids}} New Century'' all have thick Kansai accents. However, they appear to have been engineered as a deliberate ShoutOut to the Hanshin Tigers...
* Tasuki from ''{{Fushigi Yuugi}}''.
* Amano Jyaku from ''{{Urotsukidouji}}''. For some reason, though, his sister Megumi sounds nothing like him.
* Nicholas D. Wolfwood from ''{{Trigun}}'' uses Kansai-ben; in an audio drama listed in the second OST, the other main characters, who speak Tokyo dialect, even make fun of Wolfwood for this in his face.
*Case of an American using it for personality purposes - Eddy Tsukioka from AskDrRin!.
* Played straight with [[ClassRepresentative Iincho]] Tomoko Hoshina in ''{{To Heart}}'', as she grew up in Kobe. This was also used as a fairly minor plot point in the first Omake of ''{{To Heart}}: Remember My Memories''.
* The Black Tri-Stars, an AcePilot trio from the original ''MobileSuitGundam'', though their case is somewhat inexplicable as none of them are Japanese. In the American dub, they're all given Southern accents.
*Hattori Heiji and Toyama Kazuha from ''{{Detective Conan}}''
*Nanako (aka Casey) in the Japanese version of ''{{Pokemon}}''.
** Also Bill in Pokemon Special. Pearl has the personality from the region as well, but not the accent.
*In MagicKnightRayearth, the main characters meet someone on the medieval fantasy world of Cephiro who has such an accent. They even ask ''why'' she has it, but this is never answered.
** It's explained in the series' second part that Caldina (the girl in question), is not actually from Cephiro, but rather Chizeta, an ''Arabian''-style fantasy world. Only two other characters from that realm are given speaking roles within the series itself, and although they both appear to speak standard Japanese, one of them is faking it and lapses into Kansai-ben when agitated, so it may just be common there.
*Several characters in {{Transformers}}:
**Wheeljack in ''{{Transformers Generation 1}}'' (adlibbed by the Osakan voice actor)
**Browning in ''{{Transformers Super God Masterforce}}''
**Diver, Thrust, and Dirge in ''{{Beast Wars II}}''
**Gusher (Slapper) in ''{{Transformers Robots In Disguise}}''
* Antonio/Spain from AxisPowersHetalia. Yes. You read that correctly. ''Spain''. Also, Berwald/Sweden sp'ks Touhoku-ben, Denmark speaks Ibaraki-ben, Belgium speaks Shiga-ben, and Feliks/Poland, like, totally speaks Nagoya-ben.
* Seita and Setsuko in ''GraveOfTheFireflies'' speak in the dialect, since they're from Kobe. This is solely for the accuracy of the setting, however, and definitely '''not''' PlayedForLaughs.
*Kawachi from ''YakitateJapan'' speaks with a Kansai accent, given his [[TheIdiotFromOsaka personality]].
* Natsumi from ''{{Sketchbook}}'' speaks Fukuoka-ben, with its typical drawn-out vowels. It's weird that she is the ''only'' one who speaks that way, considering the series takes place in the Fukuoka prefecture.
* Averted in ''GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass''. Awara's accept, perceived as the kansai dialect, is actually the Nagoya dialect.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* [[WordOfGod Her author]] has stated that Gamu of ''{{Kokoro}}'', who has a casual western accent, [[TranslationConvention actually]] uses a Kansai-ben, although her personal pronoun is "[[{{bokukko}} ore]]".
* "American ''Hijiki''", a short story by the author who wrote ''GraveOfTheFireflies'', is for the most part in Kansai-ben. The main character lives in Tokyo, but grew up in Osaka during the Occupation, and still has some serious mental scars that manifest themselves when an American couple come to visit.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In ''KamenRiderKiva'', Kengo Eritate has a notable Kansai accent, which goes with his rocker/general fun-loving personality. [[spoiler: After a crippling injury ruins his guitar playing and he feels betrayed by his friends and mentor, he takes on a {{Badass}} persona, and drops the Kansai accent in favor of his natural Tokyo accent. When he realizes he sucks at being a badass and no one likes him, he takes a HeelFaceTurn and returns to his Kansai accent. There was much rejoicing.]]
*Kintaros of ''KamenRiderDenO'' noticably spoke in with a Kansai accent likely to compliment his Samurai/Sumo Wrestler personality
* In {{GARO}} Gaiden, [[The Voiceless the usually mute Kodama]] speaks for the first time, and Kaoru thinks it's ''Kansai-ben''... [[spoiler:it's actually SurprisinglyGoodEnglish.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In the Japanese, Ultros from ''FinalFantasyVI'' has an Osaka accent, to indicate his comic relief status. It's also a gag based on the fact that octopus is a food typically associated with Osaka.
** Likewise Cait Sith from ''FinalFantasyVII''. On account of the game's [[BlindIdiotTranslation lousy translation]] this ended up as the rare case of [[OohMeAccentsSlipping Ooh Me]] {{Funetik Aksent}}s [[OohMeAccentsSlipping Slipping]], with Cait Sith randomly developing and losing his Southern drawl. More recent works have it translated as an obnoxious Scottish accent instead, what with the character's vague origins in Celtic mythology.
** Selphie of {{Final Fantasy VIII}} ''thinks'' in Kansai-ben, but speaks like the other characters.
*** Interestingly, her younger {{Kingdom Hearts}} incarnation ''speaks'' with an unmistakable Kansai accent.
* In the Japanese version of ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', Lotta Hart uses a Kansai accent. In the brilliantly Woolseyised English translation, she uses a deep-south American accent.
** In Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, another character had a Kansai accent, which was translated to a Brooklyn accent.
* Hideyoshi in ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' frequently fakes a Kansai accent.
* Pigma Dengar in StarFox has a Kansai dialect.
**Indeed. WordOfGod is that the name is reference to people with Kansai accents ending their sentences with "-dengar".
* SNK (or SNK Playmore, as it's now known) has its headquarters in Esaka, Ōsaka, and they appear to like sneaking in references to Ōsaka stuff (e.g. the Japan Team theme song in the [[TheKingOfFighters KOF series]] is titled "Esaka", and a few stages in the series are based on the area). While many SNK characters don’t speak Kansai-ben, including ones canonically from the area, Kensou and Robert, curiously enough, do. There’s also [[LastBlade Akari]], and certainly others. Tsugumi from ''FatalFury: Wild Ambition'' is pretty much a walking Ōsaka tribute, and although she doesn’t use Kansai-ben, Xiangfei’s move names are mostly references to Ōsaka locations.

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