Talk
The Okayama dialect å²¡å±±å¼ is quite different from standard Japanese, with several vocabulary and sound-related distinctions. Sound changes include word-final -i of adjectives changing to a drawn-out -ee e.g., sugoi ("amazing" to sugee) and standard da copula becoming ja, with Okayama-specific vocabulary including deeree or bokkee standard Japanese: totemo, meaning "very" and oidensee standard Japanese: irasshaimase, "welcome". Though Okayama dialect is used by men and women, it is thought even by some locals to sound somewhat "rough", and even unladylike when used by younger women.
Spoken English ability is generally poor, but some residents may surprise you with their fluency. Locals understand standard Japanese, but depending on the dialectical "severity" of the speaker, you may not understand their response. Of course, any use of the local dialect on your part will likely result in both surprise and good-natured amusement. Despite the lack of English-speakers, Okayama residents tend to be extremely friendly and willing to offer help.
Understand
Among the attractions of Okayama, only KÅrakuen is widely known, and the rather ordinary station area doesn't seem to promise much to visitors. But one key unlocks the city's unique charm: MomotarÅ, the Peach Boy.
According to the Japanese fairytale, an old, childless couple found a peach floating down the river, and inside they found a baby boy. They duly adopted him and named him MomotarÅ æ¡å¤ªé, or quite literally "Peach Boy". As he grew, he began to feel greatly indebted to the couple that raised him, and when he was finally grown, he announced that he would be going on a journey to Onigashima Demon Island to fight the demons that had been causing trouble in the nearby villages. The old woman prepared kibi-dango see Eat for him to take on his journey and bid him farewell.
On his way to the island, he befriended a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant by giving them each a piece of the kibi-dango. With their help, he defeated the demons; MomotarÅ took the demons' treasures back home and gave them to the old couple to thank them for all the things they'd done for him throughout the years. The couple rejoiced that he was back safely, and they all lived happily ever after.
Residents claim that Okayama was the original setting of the fairytale, and that it was based on the legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko's battle against the ogre Ura, who is said to have lived in Kino-jo Demon's Castle in the area around Soja. Today, Okayama is a busy city of some 700,000 people, and its main street is named MomotarÅ-OdÅri in the Peach Boy's honor; you'll find statues from the tale along the way. Although the Culture Zone can easily fill a full day, try to set aside time for cycling the Kibi Plain — it's another fun way to explore the history of this intriguing area.