My name in kanji

[minminRW]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

So it really seems we all agree: It's technically possible to have a kanji version of your name. It just may be counterproductive unless your name is Ken (shortened version of Kenneth) and you take a name like 健.

Am I missing something here? I mean, there is a Japanese citizen from the US whose first name in English is David, and his Japanese name contains 出人 (debito, legally). At one point his legal Japanese name was registered as 菅原有道出人 (すがわら　あるどうでびと) because he married a Sugawara and they wanted their kids to have a Japanese surname. So it's legally possible and practically possible (he goes by the first name 出人 in Japan).

We would tend to confuse two things despite defferent things.
Jacob wants to describe his name by kanji, but that is different thing from whether he wants to resister as a legal name.

I dont know whether Jay Kabira uses kanji 慈英 legally, but most Japanese look at 川平慈英 and read "Kabira Jei" because they already have memorized the reading of his name.

Anyway, I think 出人 is made with good sence, better than 出備度 or so despite inaccurate in reading because it is simple and using easy kanji, so cool.

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by minminRW

but most Japanese look at 川平慈英 and read "Kabira Jei" because they already have memorized the reading of his name.

Yeah, but don't you think that's because he's a celebrity?

I don't think any Japanese would be able to read 治恵護輔 at all. He will have to put the furigana to it, which the kanji lovers outside of Japan would hate to do anyway. That's a lot of writing just for the first name!

[KyleGoetz]

Like I said, we seem to agree that he can do it linguistically and orthographically, but also that it's stupid to do anyway. Kind of like how it's legal and physically possible to french a dog, but it's still pretty dumb.

[minminRW]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Like I said, we seem to agree that he can do it linguistically and orthographically, but also that it's stupid to do anyway. Kind of like how it's legal and physically possible to french a dog, but it's still pretty dumb.

Nagoyankee,
I dont think so, every spcial readings of Japanese human name can be read after second time and furigana is not so corny.

Kilegoetz,
Like I said, I dont agree that it is stupid.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by minminRW

Nagoyankee,
I dont think so, every spcial readings of Japanese human name can be read after second time and furigana is not so corny.

Kilegoetz,
Like I said, I dont agree that it is stupid.

Famous people's obscure names become part of the national vernacular when they become famous. At first many Japanese had a hard time with the obscure Okinawa names during the Okinawa singer boom that began in the early to mid 90s, but now names like 安室 奈美恵 are read easily. Why? Because she is one of the most famous and popular singers of the two decades. Furigana is common on business cards when names aren't obvious.

And regarding your last comment, it isn't stupid, it just isn't Japanese. Imagine if Ichiro Suzuki declared his name was now "Robert". How do you think Americans would react? Does it still sound not stupid?

[Sangetsu]

When I arrived in Japan I was given a hanko stamp with my name in kanji. My name is far from anything normally used in Japanese, but for some reason people seem to have little trouble reading it.

It is completely possible to get your western name written in Japanese, but more than likely no Japanese would know which pronunciation to use, unless you used kanji with only a single phonetic sound.

If you live in Japan long enough, and manage to get permanent residency, you can choose any Japanese name you like; you could call yourself "Miyamoto Musashi" if you wanted, and get it printed in your passport and on your license...

[KyleGoetz]

Well, minminRW, I think choosing a 4- or 5-kanji first name (there's still a last name to have!) is pretty life-destroying. I can't imaginine writing 70+ strokes on every school homework just for your full name.

[minminRW]

MMM,
Ichiro is called Ichiro, but Takashi Saito is called "Sammy".
I know many people who are called with western-styled name such as "Roger" or "Terry", I think that may be because of request by English speaker.

Sangetsu,
Using twisted kanji is good idea. Though it is difficult...

Kylegoetz,
I agree that 1-3 kanji name is natural and functional.
BTW, there is another way to make Kanji name. Some people make their name by transration of meaning.
My teacher Littlemore said to students "You can also call me Koike-san because more means pond in old English.".

[MMM]

Originally Posted by minminRW

MMM,
Ichiro is called Ichiro, but Takashi Saito is called "Sammy".
I know many people who are called with western-styled name such as "Roger" or "Terry", I think that may be because of request by English speaker.

The name Sammy was given to Takashi Saito by his teammates. That's different thatn if he said "my name is Samuel" or "my name is 'Collection-of-random-non-name-words-mashed-together'"

Originally Posted by minminRW

My teacher Littlemore said to students "You can also call me Koike-san because more means pond in old English.

That's fine, except if you were an actual member of the Koike family [Kazuo Koike is a famous manga writer and novelist] and might not appreciate people appropriating your name. It would be a little like if a Japanese person declared their last name was Kennedy or Baldwin.

[kirakira]

The only way to get a real name that you can use in Chinese characters is to pick it in Chinese, not in Japanese where Kanji has some kind of "special" status attached.

Jacob - 捷克布

There ya go. Sounds pretty close in Chinese, a bit off in Japanese (Onyomi) but at least you can use it without getting a backlash.