Japan has introduced new rules restricting how names are spelled and pronounced. The new regulations, announced last week, aim to quell a growing practice of Japanese parents giving their babies unconventional names, known as “kira kira”, or glittery, in kanji, one of Japan’s major writing systems.
But why are such names a problem for Japanese authorities? And do the new rules spell disaster for parents who want to break the mould and name their children Nike, the shoe brand, or Pikachu, the little lagomorphic animated character with lightning powers, which is part of the Japanese media franchise Pokemon?
So that in 20 years you don’t get a sudden epidemic of disaffected young Gojiras and Katamaris decking their parents with a shovel?
Tell you what, I betcha my cousin Aniken(sic) Skywalker Goldteeth woulda really appreciated having something like that over here back in '04.
Way too many little girls growing up with the names Khaleesi and Daenerys
My parent named me He-Man but all I got was a wimpy green cat and no magic sword with which to hold aloft and shout the magic words
I don’t think the state should have much say in what someone names their kid beyond something abuse or unpronounceable (thinking of Elmo’s poor kid Xwhatever). I guess it’s a question of where you set the line. Also kind of funny for a place like Japan to do this; you’d think they’d put up with nearly anything to get their birth rate up.
