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Manga-style illustration for the Hokkaido-ben (北海道弁) article in Simple Gaijin's The Many Voices of Japan series, featuring snowy Sapporo scenery, two anime characters, a map of Hokkaido, and regional expressions including なまら, したっけ, しばれる, and めんこい.

Hokkaido-ben (北海道弁): How Japan's Northernmost Prefecture Speaks Japanese

What makes Japanese spoken in Hokkaido different from standard Japanese? Explore regional expressions, distinctive grammar, historical influences, and the linguistic diversity of Japan's northernmost prefecture.

Mike Viscusi

28 minutes ago11 min read

Manga-style illustration introducing The Many Voices of Japan, featuring characters representing different Japanese regions, regional expressions, landmarks, and a map highlighting Japan's linguistic diversity across all 47 prefectures.

The Many Voices of Japan: Exploring the Dialects of All 47 Prefectures

One country, many voices! Join Simple Gaijin on a linguistic journey through all 47 Japanese prefectures, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Discover regional dialects, local expressions, historical influences, and the fascinating ways Japanese changes from one community to another.

Mike Viscusi

43 minutes ago12 min read