Kansai-ben Speaking Vending Machine
Posted on 07. Jun, 2009 @ 2:05 am by harvey in Crazy Consumers, Language, Osaka
Here is a kooky video of a vending machine in Japan that speaks to its customers in Kansai-ben.
It says “maido!” (まいど！) When a customer inserts their money, which is the Kansai greeting used like “irasshai!” (いらっしゃい！Welcome!) when people enter your store. Once the user makes their selection it says, “Ookini!” which is Kansai-ben for “arigatou!” (ありがとう！)
In Osaka and other cities in the Kansai region store clerks will often call out “Maido!” as you enter (and sometimes when you leave) their place of business, especially if they have gotten to know you and recognize you as a good customer. They may also say “Maido ookini!”, of which “maido” is simply a shortened form. I noticed that it was usually the store clerks in the smaller more traditional shops that would use these phrases. For example, the master at Kuishinbo, he’s great! Go eat there. Now. On the other hand, if you walk into Adidas in Shinsaibashi (a central area of Osaka) the clerks will probably attempt to speak standard dialect.
This vending machine though, this is news to me!
For everyone else in Kansai, did you hear Maido and Okini a lot?
If you’re interested in more Kansai-ben phrases, check out our Kansai-ben iPhone Application. Japanese 101: Kansai Dialect. Maido, Ookini, and hundreds of other expressions are introduced in this app.
- Harvey
9 Responses to “Kansai-ben Speaking Vending Machine”
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harvey
Jun 7th, 2009
at 15:24
You know Triangle Park in Shinaibashi?
Basically you go out the OPA exit in the Subway, turn right heading towards the Mac Store, turn right AT the Mac store and head down the street to enter American-mura. Keep going straight you’ll pass McDonalds on the right pretty quick, you’ll pass that place with the movie theatre inside (big cat?), and you’ll get to Triangle Park. You’ll see a big elevated highway thing beyond Triangle Park. Kuishinbo is before you get to that elevated highway.
I believe there is a fairly popular takoyaki shop on the side of Triangle Park nearest to Kuishinbo. Also, on the road that Kuishinbo is on there is a shoe store. I think it’s literally 2 doors down from there.
If you get to Triangle Park, just ask someone in the park where Kuishinbo is, you can literally throw a rock at it from the park.
ganbare!
harvey
Jun 7th, 2009
at 15:27
Here it is too. Google 心斎橋 and くいしんぼう
http://gourmet.yahoo.co.jp/0002146981/
真秀
Jun 7th, 2009
at 20:28
Hey Harvey,
Cool website, I’ve enjoyed all your posts. Thanks for dropping by the pool of zen and leaving a comment. I’ll be looking into your Kansai Ben posts here for more Japanese to practice!
See ya round,
Matthew
harvey
Jun 8th, 2009
at 11:40
Kuishinbo moved?! No way. Really?! I must verify. Will get back to you on this once my men on the ground scope it out.
Taeko
Jun 9th, 2009
at 16:05
Wow….Kansai-ben speaking vending machine…O_O
Do you see these vending machines in only the Kansai area? I will be back in Kobe(my home town) in July, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. A friend of mine from high school will take me to the places in Osaka. I was born and raised in Kobe, but am not familiar with Osaka at all… never been to Nanba…. X_X;;
Deas
Jun 20th, 2009
at 08:49
Harvey – I have used the exact same kind of machine outside my base school for the last 3 years on Hakatajima! Ha ha. (Never win the jackpot extra drink, though. It’s a total sham.)
lee
Jun 26th, 2009
at 16:21
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Tornadoes28
Jun 27th, 2009
at 13:59
I’m surprised they have not had talking vending machines in Japan years ago.
Steve
Jun 30th, 2009
at 00:54
Some MUFJ ATMs greet you with “Ookini Maido!” which I thought was pretty funny for such a large corporation. This was in Osaka Nishinari-ku, I’m not sure if it’s widespread though.