Structure of Japanese Names
Current Japanese names follow the pattern: Family Name (姓, sei) + Given Name (名, mei)
For example, in “Tanaka Taro” (田中太郎):
- Tanaka (田中) is the family name
- Taro (太郎) is the given name
This is the opposite of Western naming conventions, where given names come first. In international contexts, some Japanese people reverse this order to match Western conventions. Many surnames are derived from the places where each family lived in the Middle Ages.
The Challenge of Kanji
Unlike alphabetic writing systems, Japanese names are written using kanji (漢字), Chinese-derived characters. Each kanji has:
- Multiple possible pronunciations
- One or multiple meanings
This creates significant challenges for descendants who have inherited names in romanized or phonetic form.
Multiple kanji for the same pronunciation
The same pronunciation can correspond to many different kanji characters. For example, the sound “Saito” (さいとう) can be written as:
- 齋藤
- 西藤
- 西東
Without knowing the specific kanji, we cannot definitively identify your ancestor in official records.
Long vowels vs. short vowels
Japanese distinguishes between long vowels (ō, ū, ē) and short vowels (o, u, e). In romanization, long vowels are often inconsistently represented:
- Satō vs. Sato
- Ōno vs. Ohno or Ono
- Katō vs. Kato
The difference in vowel length can indicate completely different kanji:
- Sato (佐戸) vs. Satō (佐藤)
- Ono (小野) vs. Ōno (大野)
- Katō (加藤) vs. Kato (加登)
If family records show only romanized versions, determining the correct kanji requires additional research.
Transcription Errors Across Generations
When Japanese descendants recorded their ancestors’ names phonetically in other languages, errors often occurred. For example:
- Seisaku (清作) transcribed as “Sasaku”
- Jirō (次郎) transcribed as “Ziro” or “Giro”
- Shin’ichi (真一) transcribed as “Shiniti” or “Chinichi”
Kanji have each meanings
Kanji are also ideograms, so each one has a meaning.
For example, 長 (chō, osa, naga) means long or leader.
What We Need From You
To accurately identify your ancestors in Japanese records, we need:
Optimal information:
- The kanji characters of the full name (if known)
- Romanization as recorded by the person himself
Minimum information:
- Romanized spelling
- Gender
Research Process for Name Identification
When working with romanized or uncertain name information, we:
- Generate possible kanji combinations based on pronunciation and context
- Cross-reference with telephone directory from the identified location
- mail surveys of potential descendants’ families and investigate gravestones, etc.
- Confirm the definitive kanji used in official registration
This process requires careful comparison of multiple documents.
Understanding Japanese names is essential for accurate genealogical research. Even small uncertainties in name transcription can make identification difficult or impossible. If you have any questions about your ancestor’s name or need help interpreting the available information, please contact us for consultation.
