Why are Japanese names written with family-name last in English?

OK, this is what most Japanese think:
Why do we need to write our names in English (or romaji)?
Because we need to let English-speaking ppl read our names. Then, it goes without saying that the name order should be arranged accordingly.

Why do Chinese and Koreans refuse to write their given names first?
I guess their family-comes-first consciousness is stronger than that of the Japanese. Japanese really don't care which comes first as long as it is written in a foreign language.

Another reason may be the fact that Chinese and Korean family names are shorter (usually written in one Kanji character) than that of the Japanese (usually written in two or three characters). Phonetic-wise, it may be more natural for Chinese and Koreans to call their names in one breath as if they are inseparable -- this is just my guess.

On the other hand, Japanese names are longer and harder to pronounce without placing a "short break" between the two (at least on conscious level) which makes them less "rebellious" to write their names separately in reverse order than in the case of Chinese and Koreans.

Last but not least is the fact that the number of Japanese family names (a few thousands in commonly used only) are much more than those of Chinese (100-150) and Koreans (a few dozen). This vast diversity of Japanese family names discourages them from sticking to the position of their surnames which would not represent anything special any more.

To Chinese and Koreans, their family names may have more importance than that of the Japanese for the reasons mentioned above. On the contrary, "You can call me either Suzuki Ichiro or Ichiro Suzuki. It's up to you as long as you know my first name is Ichiro" -- is the Japanese attitude.

Not always true. I have seen when Hollywood gets the credits wrong and a last name will be swapped to the first name.


Anyways, they realize that's how it's done in the west, so they swap it to fit the norm :D

Kawasumi Ichie, Ichie Kawasumi, makes no difference.

In ancient times people in Japan were considered the property of the Emperor and their surname (myogi) reflected the role in the government they served. For example, "Otomo" surname means great attendant, servant. So it is customary to use Last name first when addressing someone.

i think because its just easier for english speaking people, or people who use that name system (first name family name) to understand what their names are.
some japanese and other asian names like korean and chinese, do not appear masculine or feminine to us and we cant distinguish what in particular is the family name or their first name.

my roomate though is chinese and my school puts her last name first Xi Lu but she, like you, westernized her name into Lucy.

i think alot of us westerners however understand that we are reversing their proper name order, we just do it so we are less confused initially.

oh right, about how japanese names are written english style- well, perhaps it is because it appears normal (even though we know we've changed it)
chinese names seem to be monosyllabic so we keep them as they are, they kind of flow as they are (my roomate's name can be said in one breath, it seems like one name, which would be awkward to change) but japanese names are longer sometimes, like ours, so the change is probably easier.