I live in Kansai, but the people from outside the region who offer to meet me have such a terrible sense of humor that I find myself getting just a little irritated.

I’m Fuu, a columnist. I’m originally from Tokyo, but I’ve spent more of my working life in Osaka, so I know exactly what you mean. The level of humor in Kansai is high. People are tough crowds when it comes to comedy, and their sense of humor is different from that of people in Kanto. This is just my guess, but perhaps your partner is making an effort because you approach them with such a bright, upbeat attitude. That said, being told that people from Kanto aren’t funny can be pretty depressing（笑） I used to work in sales, and whenever I visited clients and finished my sales pitch, they would keep saying things like, “So, where’s the punchline?” or “What, there’s no punchline?!” I have zero comedic talent, so I always had to get by with self-deprecating jokes. I know firsthand how tough Kansai people can be about comedy. For people from Kanto who weren’t raised watching Shinkigeki, things like quick comedic comebacks and playing the fool are practically impossible. Please think of them as a foreigner and watch over them with kindness and warmth.

This is Uehara from the staff. I have a close friend from Kansai too. We’ve known each other for a long time, but whenever the subject turns to comedy, we end up saying things like, “We really have completely different senses of humor, don’t we?” or “That’s not funny,” and before long, we’re arguing about one thing or another. Looking back, I’m wondering why we end up talking about comedy almost every time. It’s not just our sense of humor—people differ in all kinds of ways depending on where they’re from. Actually, everyone has different values, don’t they? > Their sense of humor is so lacking that I get just a little irritated. I don’t think that’s the questioner’s fault. I have to admit, I chuckled a little at the phrase “their sense of humor is so lacking.” Sorry. There are all kinds of humor, so it’s perfectly fine to be honest and say you don’t find something funny. But it might also be good to try meeting them halfway and accepting it a little… Though I know it’s easier said than done.

Maezawa from the CEO’s Office will answer as well. Thank you for your question. > The person I’ve been meeting after receiving an offer has absolutely no sense of humor. I’ve never really thought about whether someone has a good sense of humor. I think what generally matters is whether the conversation flows and whether you enjoy spending time together. That said, I remember seeing a TV segment where people suddenly made a joke to see whether the other person would play along. Almost everyone in Osaka responded with a retort, while nobody in Tokyo did. I think that was the result, anyway. It does seem difficult when the cultures are different. But people from Kansai manage to live normally when they move to the Kanto area, so perhaps you just get used to it. > Is it my fault when he tries too hard to make me laugh, even though I never asked him to? I’m not sure I understand the situation, but perhaps you’re giving off that kind of vibe. Or maybe your profile says something like, “I like people who can make me laugh”?

The same goes the other way, too! People from the Kanto region don’t find Yoshimoto Shinkigeki funny at all. I don’t think I could ever see eye to eye with people who laugh at it! So I guess we’re even. That said, I can still do papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan). Half of my papas (male supporters) are from Kansai. Marika.

I’m a columnist who writes about comedy. I’m originally from Kansai, have been transferred around the country for work, and currently live in the Kanto area, so I completely understand what you mean. The other day, something similar happened while I was eating parfait with my daughter. The parfait had several brown, fried mochi-like dumplings inside. A young couple sitting next to us kept saying, “Is this karaage-kun?” and “I wonder what flavor it is. Maybe plain?” I thought, “Ah, I see. They’re setting up a playful punchline,” so I started listening in. They were building it up quite carefully, so I was looking forward to the payoff. But after eating one, the boyfriend simply said, “It’s delicious!” and gave his honest opinion. I nearly fell out of my chair, but managed to hold it in. I was thinking, “You’re not going to do the punchline?” and, “Then what was all that karaage-kun setup for?” Ha! But when you look at Japan as a whole, it’s actually the Kansai way of thinking that’s unusual. Only people from Kansai grow up receiving an intensive education in the “formula of comedy” through manzai and comedy theater from an early age. It’s unfair to expect people from other regions to have the same instincts. So when I’m talking with friends from my hometown, I assume they’ll make jokes and play along with the setup. But with everyone else, I generally don’t rely on them at first. In other words, I set up the joke myself, make the joke myself, and deliver the punchline myself. Or I have to pick up on jokes that arise naturally and add the comeback myself. Even then, people often don’t recognize a setup as a setup, or interpret a comeback as simple abuse. When that happens, I just switch off my comedy mode around them. Sorry, but I’m from Kansai, and I’m strict not only with Kansai people who misunderstand comedy, but with comedy itself. So the questioner simply lacks the comedy skills to turn that man’s failed attempt at humor into something funny.

I’m Kazu, a male member. Some Kansai-born executives I meet through work will say, “That’s not funny,” even when I wasn’t trying to make a joke. I’m often appalled that they expect their business partners to provide Kansai-style humor, and I find myself thinking, “If you want laughs, go to NGK.” Maybe people have different senses of humor because everyday conversation varies by region. If he’s trying too hard to make you laugh, it’s probably because he hasn’t found a topic you can both get excited about. It’s not entirely one person’s fault—I think it’s something the two of you are responsible for.