AI overview
The Kansai region is an area in Japan that includes major cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe and serves as an important cultural and economic center. It matters because it has historically been a hub of Japanese commerce, tradition, and innovation, making it a significant part of Japan's identity and economy.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
The Kansai region (関西地方, Kansai Chihō; [kaꜜɰ̃.sai, kaɰ̃.sai tɕiꜜ.hoː] ), also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki Chihō; Japanese pronunciation: [kʲiꜜŋ.ki, kʲiŋ.ki̥ tɕiꜜ.hoː]), is a region of Japan that lies in the southern-central portion of Japan's main island, Honshū. The region consists of the prefectures of Hyōgo, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, and Wakayama. Additionally, the prefectures of Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori are sometimes associated with Kansai.
Kansai is the second-most populated region of Japan (after Kantō), and contains the metropolitan region of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto (Keihanshin region), which is the second-most populated metropolitan region in Japan (after the Greater Tokyo Area).