What happens when an entire country can't agree on how to make the same dish? In this episode, I explore one of Japan's most delightful cultural rivalries: the Kanto versus Kansai divide that splits the country right down the middle.

From my years living near the dividing line around Hakone, I've discovered how the same dishes are prepared completely differently depending on whether you're in Tokyo or Osaka. It goes way beyond simple preference - it's pure chemistry, history, and regional culture all rolled into one.

You'll learn why Tokyo's miso soup uses smoked bonito flakes while Osaka relies on kelp, how tempura batter changes between regions, and the hilarious story behind why Osaka people sarcastically call certain udon "haikara" (fancy). Plus, I'll share the fascinating cultural reason why eel is filleted differently in each region - one tied to samurai honor, the other to merchant honesty.

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Credits

Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

About SpectreVision Radio

SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.

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