Kindai University (近畿大学)

Kindai University

There is a famous private university called 'Kinki Daigaku' (近畿大学 - literally "Kinki University") in Osaka, Japan.

'Kinki' (近畿) means the Kansai region (the area of western Japan), but its pronunciation sounds like "kinky," so the name "Kinki University" became a diplomatic problem.

Therefore, it had started considering to change the name to another one around 10 years ago, and it has changed to "Kindai University" since 2016.

'Kin' (近) and 'dai' (大) are short for 'Kinki' (近畿) and 'daigaku' (大学), respectively -- in fact, this university is known familiarly as 'Kindai' (近大).

Since both 'dai' and "university" means "university," the literal meaning of Kindai University is "Kinki University University," but it can't be helped.

近畿大学

日本には、大阪府に「近畿大学」という名前の私立大学があります。

「近畿」は関西地方を表す言葉ですが、"Kinki" という音が「性的に異常な/変態な」を意味する "kinky" と似た発音であるため、国際化において対外的な問題となりました。

そして10年前に名称の変更が検討され、2016年に「近畿大学」の英語名称が "Kindai University" となりました。

"Kindai" の "kin" と "dai" はそれぞれ「近畿」と「大学」の略で、実際に近畿大学は「近大」の略称で親しまれています。

"Dai" も "University" も「大学」を意味するので意味が重なってしまいますが、仕方のないことかもしれません。

• Kindai University
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• There is a famous private university called 'Kinki Daigaku' (近畿大学 - literally "Kinki University") in Osaka, Japan.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kinki' (近畿) means the Kansai region (the area of western Japan), but its pronunciation sounds like "kinky," so the name "Kinki University" became a diplomatic problem.
• 'Kinki' (近畿) refers to the Kansai region (the area of western Japan) in Japanese, but its pronunciation in English sounds like "kinky," so the name "Kinki University" became a diplomatic problem.

  hmm I wouldn't say that this is a diplomatic problem. It's more of a public relations problem for the university.

• Therefore, it had started considering to change the name to another one around 10 years ago, and it has changed to "Kindai University" since 2016.
• Therefore, it had started (who?) School authorities started to consider changing the name around 10 years ago, and it was changed to "Kindai University" in 2016.

• 'Kin' (近) and 'dai' (大) are short for 'Kinki' (近畿) and 'daigaku' (大学), respectively -- in fact, this university is known familiarly as 'Kindai' (近大).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Since both 'dai' and "university" means "university," the literal meaning of Kindai University is "Kinki University University," but it can't be helped.
• Since both 'dai' and "university" means "university," the literal meaning of Kindai University is "Kinki University University," but it can't be helped.

  "dai" is used as a short way to refer to universities in Japan. I understand your point but this just sounds weird.

What's wrong with being kinky? lol