The Japanese government is cracking down on unconventional children’s names – here’s what it means
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Why Japan wants to clamp down on certain baby names
- Japan has introduced new regulations on the pronunciation of kanji used in children's names, limiting them to standard or widely accepted readings to prevent unconventional "kirakira" names.
- The move aims to reduce confusion in public institutions and streamline administrative processes by curbing the trend of quirky names inspired by pop culture.
- The new rules, enforced this week, require phonetic annotations in family registers (koseki) to ensure names are read as intended, with parents potentially needing to justify unusual readings.
- The decision follows concerns that unconventional names cause social and practical challenges for children, reflecting a broader societal shift toward individualism, according to a 2022 study by Yuji Ogihara.
- The trend of unique names increased between 1979 and 2018, replacing traditional names like Daisuke and Tomoko with more modern kanji names such as Ren and Yuzuki, indicating a cultural shift towards uniqueness and independence.