What is kansai?

The Kansai region (関西地方 ,Kansai-chihō?) or the Kinki region (近畿地方 ,Kinki-chihō?) lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Mie are also included. While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the two can be considered the same.