Speaking in the countryside will not be a problem, but
understanding the replies could take some practice. Toshi totte
iru (“elderly”; literally, “taking years”) people have a
tendency to communicate in the local dialects, but young people
are starting to reclaim these dialects as well. New Question
Indicator In rural areas, you may hear the question indicator ka
replaced by the more colloquial no: Nasubi wa iranai no. Don't
you need some eggplant? Get a group of people from different
parts of Japan in the same room and the conversation will
inevitably shift to dialects and their nuances. You may be
surprised at the variation in terms as the comparisons make the
rounds of regions. It is a great source of amusement and
regional pride for the people involved to try and explain the
history of their individual colloquialisms. This way of asking a
question is gentler and is more commonly used by women. No also
shows up as an audible pause (like “um” or “uh”) as people
struggle to communicate the unique deliciousne