Author Takeshi Kaiko (1930-1989) never used a pen name in place of his unusual surname, but once recalled in an essay, “Ever since I was a child, my highly uncommon name has caused me nothing but constant aggravation.”
Proposed legislation to impose restrictions on how names written in kanji characters can and should be read concerns all Japanese whose names are registered with the authorities. This is an issue that must be built on broad public consensus.
Parents will not be able to give any reading they want to the kanji characters they use in naming children under legislation the government plans to enact in fiscal 2024.