LOANWORD

Portland, Oregon, is known for its eco-friendly lifestyle and unique culture. Yet, in Japanese, the city is only written in katakana, with no fixed kanji representation. This article explains the reason behind this and presents how Japanese people envision Portland.

While New York once appeared as “紐育” and London as “倫敦,” Nashville never developed such kanji usage. Instead, it remains firmly katakana: “ナッシュビル.” To Japanese people, this lack of kanji does not reduce its significance. Instead, the city is imagined through its vibrant music scene, its intellectual presence as a university town, and its dynamic sports culture. In Japanese perception, Nashville emerges as a warm Southern city where music, learning, and athletic passion coexist.

When Japanese people think of New Delhi, they picture a city of heritage, politics, and energy. Interestingly, the city can also be expressed in Chinese characters as “新德里,” meaning “a new land of virtue.” This article takes a closer look at this unique notation and highlights how Japanese visitors perceive New Delhi, focusing on its culture, climate, sports, and food traditions.

Unlike Sydney, a tourist hub, or Melbourne, a cultural city, Canberra gives Japanese people a different impression. It is seen as a quiet and orderly capital where sports and academia coexist, which makes it distinctive.

While El Paso is widely known in the U.S. as a city of culture, sports, and history, Japanese people often see it through a narrower lens. The city’s name is sometimes phonetically written as "埃爾巴索," yet in Japan, it is more associated with border security, immigration, and cross-cultural exchange than its vibrant everyday life.

While most Japanese know Oklahoma City through its katakana name, its less familiar kanji form “俄克拉何馬” reflects a cultural bridge between East Asia and the United States. Today, Japanese perceptions of the city are shaped by its natural landscapes, the risks of tornadoes, and the global recognition of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For the Japanese, Vienna is more than just a European capital—it is a symbol of art, music, and elegance. Once written as “維納,” the city’s name carried with it an aura of grandeur and timeless tradition. From classical composers to modern sports events, Vienna embodies a city that the Japanese continue to view with fascination and reverence.

For Japanese travelers, Amsterdam represents a city of many layers: canals, museums, bicycles, and sports. Its Kanji name, “阿特堤”, reflects not only phonetics but also the essence of the city’s history. By looking at this rare representation, we can better understand why Japanese people imagine Amsterdam as a place of creativity, vitality, and openness.

In Japanese, the city of Bern is almost exclusively referred to in katakana as “ベルン,” while in Chinese it appears as “伯恩.” These variations highlight how language shapes perception. For Japanese people, Bern is not just a capital city—it is a symbol of timeless European heritage, a hub of international culture, and a center of sports enthusiasm.

Stockholm, often called the “City of Water,” is admired not only for its beauty but also for its role as a center of culture, sustainability, and sports. In Japan, while historical kanji transcriptions exist, katakana is now the standard. This linguistic shift mirrors how Japanese people perceive the city: modern, sophisticated, and future-oriented.