Shimonoseki (a nearby city with dialect influence)

Shimonoseki is a port city in western Japan, near the Kanmon Straits, known for its rich maritime history and fishing industry. It has a distinct regional dialect influenced by historical trade and contact across the straits, which gives it unique pronunciation and vocabulary compared to standard Japanese. The city is famous for its seafood, especially pufferfish (fugu), and landmarks like the Karato Fish Market and the Kanmon Strait Bridge. Shimonoseki also played a key role in Japan’s late 19th-century political transitions, blending cultural heritage with modern industry and commerce.