US EditionWhy Japan Is Cracking Down on Baby Names Like ‘Pikachu’ and ‘Kitty'
- Japan introduced new rules on Monday requiring parents to report the phonetic reading of their child's name to local authorities.
- These changes to the Family Register Act aim to limit unusual name pronunciations partly to reduce 'administrative headaches' and 'derision from classmates.'
- The law standardizes kanji readings, allows officials to reject names with socially harmful pronunciations, and reflects concerns based on past cases like the 1994 'Akuma' incident.
- Other countries, including Germany, Spain, and New Zealand—where 71 names were rejected among 60,000 newborns last year—also monitor or restrict baby names to prevent problematic choices.
- The revisions may curb the recent rise in unique names in Japan, which a 2022 study linked to growing individualism and desire for uniqueness in society.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Don’t do it: Japan takes aim at baby names like ‘Nike’ with new rules on kanji readings
Japan has begun enforcing a law aimed at curbing the rise of unconventional and sometimes bewildering baby names – a move officials say will streamline administrative systems but which also reflects a growing tension between individual expression and traditional norms when it comes to naming. Revisions t
Pikachu, Naiki, Kitty: Japan Introduces New Rules Against the Extravagant Names of Babies
The change aims to stop the use of names 'kirakira' (bright or shiny), which have proliferated among parents eager to give a creative touch to their childrenThe Japanese Agriculture Minister resigns after saying that he does not buy rice because they give it for free after doubling their price in one year Japanese parents will no longer be able to freely choose their children's names after the introduction this week of new rules on the pronuncia…
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