US EditionJapan cracks down on ‘sparkly’ names for babies like Pikachu or Nike
- 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.
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48 Articles
48 Articles
Karim Bennani tells of the Ferrari auction run by Michael Schumacher. Benjamin Muller evokes a law prohibiting sparkling names for children in Japan. And Maud Descamps talks about the "Corniotte", a culinary specialty. (Company topics).
A law that came into force on Monday 26 May now bans the names "kira kira", in other words "flashy" or "trends", for babies. While the initiative aims to simplify administration and limit harassment, some accuse the Japanese government of restraining individual freedoms.
·Paris, France
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The rise of unique names, such as “Naruto” or “Pikachu”, led this country to implement severe restrictions on records for future generations
·Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources48
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center21Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Center
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources are Center
70% Center
L 23%
C 70%
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