The Osaka spirit

[Tom Mes]

Could anyone shed some light on the portrayal of Osaka people in Japanese 
films? In general, I get the impression that they (the men in particular) 
are shown as somewhat stubborn-headed brawlers, not averse to a bit of 
verbal abuse, a good laugh, and with a good appetite for both food and 
liquor. However, this superficial abrasiveness (for lack of a better word) 
is usually offset by the fact that the outcome of conflicts, even violent 
ones, rarely involve permanent damage.

Osaka-set films that feature such portrayals include the KISHIWADA SHONEN 
GURENTAI series, Takashi Miike's KENKA NO HANAMICHI and Isao Takahata's 
JARINKO CHIE / CHIE THE BRAT.

I have read on a number of occasions that Osaka is "different", has its own 
vibe and its own spirit (and its own dialect), but in how far is this image 
of Osaka folk a common one in Japan and Japanese cinema? If anyone can name 
some other titles, I'd be very grateful.

Also, how does Osaka's manzai scene fit in with all this, or am I grasping 
in trying to create a link between the two?

Many thanks,
Tom

Midnight Eye
http://www.midnighteye.com

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