Japanese Names and Biographical Issues

Introduction

• Focus on East Asian names, particularly Japanese, with comparisons to Chinese and Korean.
• In East Asian names, the family name precedes the given name.
• Middle names are uncommon in Japan.

Name Structures

• China:
  • Surnames usually one character.
  • Given names one or two characters.
• Korea:
  • Similar pattern to China.
• Japan:
  • Surnames: 1-3 characters (e.g., Hashi, Suzuki, Miata, Setoti).
  • Given names: 1-3 characters (e.g., Akira, Kyoko, Osamu).

Kanji and Kana

• Most names are written in Kanji.
• Some names, more often for girls, are written in Kana.
• Government regulates Kanji used in names (2,232 Jinmeiyo Kanji).

Common Surnames

• China: 3,000 surnames, with a few dominant ones (e.g., Dang, Long, Lee).
• Korea: 260 surnames, with major ones like Kim, Yi, Pak.
• Japan: Over 100,000 surnames (e.g., Tanaka, Yamamoto, Suzuki, Sato).

Trends in Names

• Historical trends in male and female names.
• Male names often end in 'emon' (Tokugawa period) and 'do' (modern times).
• Female names often end in 'ko', 'me', 'ka', or 'na'.

Reading Japanese Names

• Difficult due to varied readings and parents’ creativity.
• Names can have unconventional readings.
• Strategies for reading names involve dictionaries and online resources like Jim Breen’s website.

Biographical Issues

• Koseki: Japanese family registry system.
  • Records births, deaths, marriages, etc.
• Naming conventions historically included Uji and Kabane for aristocracy.
• Modern requirement for all individuals to have surnames since 1875.

Resources for Name Reading

• P.G. O'Neill's Japanese Names: A recommended resource for understanding name readings.
• Online and physical biographical dictionaries.

Cultural Notes

• In marriages, one must take the other's surname.
• Adoption of surnames influenced by Western practices.

Historical Naming Practices

• Early Japan had child names, current names, and true names for men.
• Modern practices have simplified but still carry historical legacies.

Biographical Dictionaries

• Contain detailed information about individuals.
• Resources include Nihonjin Meiji Ten and online databases.

Conclusion

• Understanding Japanese names involves both linguistic and cultural comprehension.
• A variety of resources are available for deeper understanding and research.