Kuchikomi Jul. 05, 2010 - 04:54AM JST ( 57 )

TOKYO —

Like many foreign loan words, fast-food giant McDonald’s is often abbreviated by the Japanese in everyday conversation. But, asks J-Cast, is it “Maku” or “Makudo?”

Tokyo natives often call the restaurant “Maku,” while those from Osaka typically refer to it as “Makudo.” The debate over the “official” abbreviation unexpectedly became a national topic when Osaka-born Keisuke Honda, star player of Japan’s World Cup soccer team, was heard calling the chain “Makudo” on television.

Internet forums lit up following the comment, with some arguing that Honda, a nationwide superstar, single-handedly made the official name “Makudo.”

In a television interview prior to Japan’s game against Paraguay, Honda commented, “I’ve never been nervous in a match. I was more nervous when I had to order something at ‘Makudo’ while abroad.”

This comment apparently sparked the surprisingly intense debate. Osaka and Tokyo exert influence over wide swathes of Japan, contributing to slight differences in accent, dialects and even culture in their respective regions.

According to an Internet polling agency, 84.4% of those in east Japan polled call the restaurant chain “Maku.” In west Japan, on the other hand, 52.3% surveyed prefer “Makudo.” A total of 427 were polled.

The debate rages on for now. But as one Tokyoite, posting on an Internet forum, reasons, “No one asks for ‘Morning Makudo,’ or a ‘Big Makudo,’ right?”