niche_japan2025

In Japanese media, Colombia often appears in stories about security or drug-related issues. As a result, Bogotá, its capital, is frequently seen through a narrow lens. Yet Bogotá is also a hub of art, sports, and academic life, and even its name has a unique representation in Chinese characters as “波哥大.” This combination of images shows how language and perception shape Japan’s understanding of the city.

In Japan, Atlanta is best known as the host of the 1996 Summer Olympics, where Japanese athletes achieved remarkable performances. Beyond the Olympics, Atlanta is seen as a city with rich history, strong business presence, and diverse cultural attractions, while its old kanji transcription “亜特蘭大” adds a fascinating linguistic layer to its image.

For Japanese people, Mesa is more than just a city name; it is a word that conjures the grandeur of the American Southwest and the excitement of baseball and basketball. The lack of Kanji makes it unique in Japanese writing, emphasizing its exotic sound and reinforcing the cultural images attached to it.

While Santiago is widely recognized as a major South American city, its written form in Kanji can be confusing. Some may come across the Chinese form “聖地亞哥”, but Japanese convention relies on Katakana. Beyond spelling, this article highlights the images and impressions Japanese people associate with Santiago—from its natural beauty to its passionate soccer culture.

Lima, Peru’s largest city, is both the gateway to South American tourism and a city with deep ties to the Japanese-Peruvian community. However, in Japanese it is written only in katakana as “リマ,” with no kanji representation. This article discusses the reasons behind its written form and how Japanese people perceive Lima.