Can you use a Japanese name if you’re not Japanese?

13 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Can you use a Japanese name if you’re not Japanese?**

   こんにちわ! I’m a British student who is moving to Japan to study very soon, and I was wondering..
   All of the Chinese exchange students at my UK University go by English names that are completely different to their original ones. And I realise I’m expected to have a Chinese equivalent of my name for travel to Chinese-speaking countries.

   My name contains a consecutive ‘R’ and ‘L’ and I fear it will be hard to pronounce for many Japanese. Is it acceptable to do this in Japan? Can go by a different name without it seeming silly?

   I always thought this was ‘cringe’ and ‘weeby’, before learning how universal it is among other Asian countries.

   Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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2. Keep your “real name.” It would seem silly.

3. >And I realise I’m expected to have a Chinese equivalent of my name for travel to Chinese-speaking countries.

   You are *not* expected to do so. The “Chinese people take an English name” thing is a colonial holdover because foreigners insist on mangling Chinese names.

   >Is it acceptable to do this in Japan?

   That depends.

   *Legally* acceptable? Yes. But you wouldn’t be allowed to have a kanji name.

   *Socially* acceptable? Hell no.

   >I always thought this was ‘cringe’ and ‘weeby’

   Trust your gut. It absolutely ***IS***.

   >before learning how universal it is among other Asian countries.

   Again: ***It. Is. NOT.***

4. I think only some Chinese and Southeast Asians who moved to a Western county want to have English/western names. People in the rest of the world keep their names when they are abroad. You don’t need to have a Japanese name. Just forgive and let us pronounce your name in Katakana Japanese.

5. No you’re not Japanese. It’s dumb.

6. Keep your real name. If they have trouble pronouncing it, let others call you by a nickname. Nicknames are very common and accepted in Japan.

7. If you’re worried that your real name is too hard to pronounce, pick an American nickname that’s easier. But don’t introduce yourself as “Hikaru” or “Hiro” or “Ryu”. Please. lol.

8. I think there have been issues with Koreans and Chinese “impersonating” as Japanese that some of the old timers have issues with.

9. I saw people shortening their name that sounds slightly better in the context of Japanese language. For example, Kate/Catherine is officially written like Yekaterina in Russian and is very often shortened to Katya in Russian-speaking countries. Of course Japanese people can pronounce カティヤー but it’s slightly awkward sounding, so they just shorten イェカテリナ to just リナ which happens to sound like a Japanese name. You might want to do something like that if you want, but no need to present yourself as Kentaro is your name is Jack etc. …

10. Don’t make a name up, but do decide what your actual name will be in katakana. Your zairyu card will have your actual name but some websites, forms etc ask for furigana or kana only so it’s worth deciding and being consistent.

11. Correct. It’s super fucking cringe and weepy.

12. Please don’t. Just use the katakana spelling and pronunciation for your name.

13. My Chinese teacher gave me a Chinese name and while I use it in class and situations where I’m talking in Chinese I wouldn’t use it outside of that since I have a given English name. Same goes for Japanese if your teacher gives you one then great but don’t just give yourself one