About name naturalization
 

I have a brief question about name naturalization (this is probably a frequent question asked around citizenship threads, but after searching the forum I didn't find any threads specifically committed to this).

When naturalizing your name, does your new Japanese name have to be the exact meaning or pronouncement as your original name? I'm asking this because I think my name and surname are practically unpronounceable in either Japanese words meaning something - my full name literally means "Great-peace From-the-house-of-he-who-is-merry" (kinda weird, but true considering the traditional form of Serb surnames - with the "-ić" suffix), and trying to naturalize by sound pronouncement is impossible (I've tried to formulate a possible naturalized surname based on my own and it turned out absolutely ridiculous). Other than that, further simplifying the meaning of my name and surname using a dictionary of phrases and it turned out as "Tanoshige Heisei" (in surname-name order), but I don't know if the Japanese would be accepting a citizenship with a fully custom name and surname...

You do not get a new name when you are accepted as a Japanese citizen. Your name will be written in Katakana, and it is stated Given Name and then Last Name.

You can see samples here

Names written by Katakana

The meaning of your name doesn't matter.

I thought it was like that although I coulda sworn I saw it somewhere on a thread where this guy named Aldwinkle gets suggestions by other people to naturalize his surname by meaning... kinda strange.

Point being was, is it possible to choose your own given name? Since i dunno how the Japanese would try to pronounce "Vel-ee-meer" (Velimir) and "Veh-seh-lee-no-vich" (Veselinović)

...probably like "Berimiiru Beseriinobichi" but that makes it way too hard for me to imagine how it would sound while used frequently in everyday talk.

No, you don't get to choose your name.
Yours would probably be something like べりミール・ベセリノバビッチ. It will probably be more difficult for native English speakers than Japanese speakers, and most people with names like this find a nickname. Maybe ベリ.

Yeah, there is a nickname I use most often... Velja (Velya) (that's tricky to pronounce until you get the trick with lya, since the lya is supposed to be pronounced like the lla from the spanish word "callas" - if you saw the "porque no te callas" video you'll see what i mean)... but i doubt there is that kind of "lya" in japanese speech so I might consider something else. Some people call me by my initial letter so I think "Vii-san" and "Vii-kun" sound quite natural.

Japanese seem to often take the first two characters of someone's name and use it, so I would bet "veri" would be yours. "Vii" isn't as obvious, because the first character of your name would be ベ or ヴェ.

No, you DO have to choose a Japanese name.
It has to follow the same rules as other Japanese names, barring use of certain characters, etc. This rules out keeping the same name and simply writing it in katakana.

It does not have to carry the same pronunciation or meaning as your original name - but you WILL have to change both your first and last name if you receive citizenship. Most people do choose something either similar in pronunciation to their original name, or a Japanese name with similar meaning.

Are you serious? I thought that was only for sumo wrestlers. Sorry about the error, Matorisan.

nyororin,
i thought that requirement was removed? (no, i do not know hence the question mark).

the funny thing is that japanese ppl don't have to have a kanji name. which makes me wonder if you can change back to your original name after you have become japanese.

I was told that it still has to follow Japanese naming conventions. That doesn`t mean that you`ll have to make a kanji name, necessarily, it just has to fall within the limits of the same rules all other Japanese have to follow with their names. Length, use of certain characters, etc etc.
Makes complete sense to me, as you are joining the ranks so should not really be expecting special treatment.

I have to say I don`t really know about the family name - I don`t think I asked in detail as that isn`t an issue in my case. However, I imagine it is the same - if you couldn`t change your family name to it as a native Japanese citizen then you can`t keep it as a newly naturalized one.

sry nyororin, i completely misunderstood u.

well, if a japanese person can take a foreign last name, for instance at the time of marriage, i don't understand why a foreigner can't keep his name (with the exception of having to katakana-ise it). and i though (a big thought) the japanese naming conventions were basically only to prohibit indecent names.

I am getting married next month and the situation is this. You keep your name and use katakana. If you wish to take the Japanese family name as I do then you have to change your name by Deed Poll.
You will have to consult your embassy and pay money to do a name change. You can change your name to anything you want with a few exeptions but this must be done by dealing with your own embassy.

As my wife to be is the only daughter and I wish to live in Japan I will be changing my family name to hers, I will retain my first name as it can be TX'd to good kanji but my original family name is hard enough for english speakers, Japanese have very little hope of getting their minds around it. It has V's H's O's and R's so is about 2 hours of explaining.

真亜久

Thanks for the info which I am truely surprised at. Although this completely does not make sense imho lol.
これぞ島国の国民性丸出しだな。

Sorry, but changing a name through marriage, and changing through naturalization are two completely different things. The same rules do not apply.
And, by the way, you cannot change your name to one with kanji unless your original name included them (Chinese, etc). Even if you do take the Japanese family name, it will be registered in katakana. You can register an official alias using the kanji, but you cannot have a kanji name unless you naturalize.

そう？特別扱いを望んでるのなら帰化しなきゃいいので は？　そっちの方が私にとって理解しがたいのですよ。 　

Nyororinさんは日本人じゃないとわかってるけど、
言ってることは島国ならではの考えだとおもいますね。 欧米では、外国人が帰化するときに名前をかえるという きまりがないのに、どうも納得できませんな。

強いて言えば洗脳か？

WIKIPEDIAで調べてみたけど、帰化するときに、必ずしも名 前を変える必要がないようですが、確かに薦められる行 為のようです…　恐るべし。

This is quite a refreshing bit of info to hear. I always imagined myself being called to by meaning... it would probably also be easier for me to name my kids, when I have them (and I plan on having at least one in the future).

Sorry, but you are correct. I will not be naturalized and will only take my wifes name while still remaining a British citizen. Japanese law is very strict on naturalization and even Japanese citizens are not allowed dual nationality.
My British passport will reflect the change in my name in the Roman alphabet although my name on official Japanese documents will be in Katakana with a Kanji family name

As far as I know, the naming is optional. I do not believe it is required for for citizenship, but many choose to do so to make life in Japan easier.

No, unfortunately your name will not be in kanji on Japanese documents, unless you choose to register the kanji version as an official alias... And even then, official documents do not allow the use of an alias so you will be required to use either the katakana version or alphabet version.

Unless you really are naturalized, the kanji version will always remain an alias.

I got told off by the wife to be. She says you are right and that I will have to use katakana unless I get naturalized.
Note to self ... (talk to wife to be first before posting on this type of subject) :o

Thanks for your advice.

No problem. It`s something that is easily mistaken.
In my 9th year of marriage here in Japan, and have an official alias using the kanji surname... But unfortunately it`s just an "alias".

That is so strange >_>

I can't even think of any good reason as to why you are not allowed to write your name in Kanji except to single you out as a foreigner.

It does make sense in it`s own way if you actually know the rules behind it.

Basically, as you are not a Japanese citizen, you do not change your name in Japan. You register a name change with your native country. If your native country does not use kanji, you obviously cannot register a name in kanji with them. Romaji is only an interpretation of a Japanese name, not the name itself.
So, when you present a name that has been registered in your own country, in the roman alphabet, it is not a Japanese name... No matter what you derived it from. Legally, they are obligated to interpret it into Japanese via katakana, just as someone living in an English speaking country is obligated to have their name written in the roman alphabet even if their name is originally written in a completely different character set.

But, just as you can use the original written form of your name as a signature regardless of the country you are living in - you can use the kanji form of your name as an alias/signature in Japan.

There are lots of names that exist in both Japanese and English - it would really be a mess if they were simply allowed to pop in any random kanji for them.

I am still not sure about business cards or in my case calling card. These are not official and also make it easy for Japanese to understand the name if you use kanji.
My instance of given name is Marc and I have selected with help the following kanji... 真亜久 which I now am using on my calling card.

I have had quite a few of these cards marvelled at and taken with much gusto. I think I know why but I am keeping quiet.

Business cards are not official, so I would see absolutely no problems arising with using kanji on them.
I disagree though that it would make it easier to understand your name... Maybe if you`re using a Japanese surname, yes. But a foreign first name in kanji is far more confusing than simply having it written out in katakana.