西日本(にしにほん)

にしにほん
noun
western Japan
1. western Japan
The western half of Japan — typically Kinki, Chūgoku, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. The exact dividing line varies by context (weather, sports, business).
西日本(にしにほん)で大雨(おおあめ)が降(ふ)った。
Heavy rain fell in western Japan.
うどんは西日本(にしにほん)の方(ほう)が薄味(うすあじ)だ。
Udon broth is lighter in western Japan.
西日本(にしにほん)各地(かくち)で桜(さくら)が満開(まんかい)を迎(むか)えている。
Cherry blossoms are reaching full bloom across western Japan.

Compound of 西(にし) (west) + 日本(にほん). Roughly contrasts with 東日本(ひがしにほん) (eastern Japan); the exact dividing point varies — weather forecasts, electric utilities (50 Hz vs 60 Hz), and JR companies all draw the line slightly differently.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 西日本(にしにほん)各地(かくち): places across western Japan
  • 西日本(にしにほん)を中心(ちゅうしん)に: centered on western Japan (news phrasing)
  • 西日本(にしにほん)豪雨(ごうう): the 2018 'Western Japan Heavy Rain' disaster
  • 西日本(にしにほん)出身(しゅっしん): from western Japan

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Western and eastern Japan differ in many everyday details: food seasoning (lighter broth in the west), escalator etiquette (stand on the right in Osaka, on the left in Tokyo), and dialect. 西日本(にしにほん) is therefore a useful cultural shorthand, not just a geographic label.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 東日本(ひがしにほん): eastern Japan
  • 関西(かんさい): Kansai region — narrower; centered on Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe
  • 九州(きゅうしゅう): Kyushu — the southwestern main island, part of 西日本(にしにほん)
general
Added 2026.5.13 13:10
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