Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Japan wants you to say its leader's name
correctly: Abe Shinzo
In Japan, it’s the family name, not the given
name, that is called first. For example, the prime minister is Abe Shinzo, not
Shinzo Abe and the legendary baseball player is Suzuki Ichiro, not Ichiro
Suzuki. In fact, people usually call each other by their family name followed
by “san” unless they are close to each other or within the family circle. It is
the same custom as China and Korea. However, ever since Japan was introduced to
the Western world a century and a half ago at the beginning of the Meiji era,
Japanese names were written in reverse order in English. It was part of the
effort to be recognized by Westerners in a friendly and equal manner.
Three era names later, Reiwa era has just
started. Now the Japanese government is taking this opportunity to ask the
international media to call Japanese names in the Japanese way. Actually, foreigners
seem to know and respect Japanese practice and they usually, if not always, call
a Japanese by its family name and san. But when a Japanese name is written, it’s
still shown reversely.
As two world sports events are going to be
hosted in Japan, the Rugby World Cup this year and the Summer Olympics next
year, it may be a good time to say, “please write and call my name correctly.”
Enjoy reading and try to remember any
Japanese names in the correct order.
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