to pronounce. This is especially true of male names, which may be made up of unusual combinations of four to eight syllables. Some common male given names are Nobuyuki, Mutsuo, Mizumoto, Katsuhiko, Takayoshi, and Hirokazu.
Female given names, on the other hand, have traditionally been easier to say and remember. Among the more common names are Mariko, Sachiko, Kimiko, Teruko, and Minako. In recent decades, parents have begun to give their daughters more distinctive names, without the common “ko” at the end, such as Kazue, Miya, Maya, and Fujie.
Diminutives are nonetheless common among family or close friends of both genders. They may be attached to the first syllable or two of first names only along with the word chan (chahn). Adding chan is the Japanese equivalent of changing Robert to Bobbie or Rebecca to Becky.
Here are some examples of common first names and their diminutives:
Kiyoshi—Ki-chan (kee-chahn)
Yasunori—Yasu-chan or Ya-chan (yah-chahn)
Tomoko—Tomo-chan (toe-moe-chahn)
Minoru—Mi-chan (me-chahn)
The word chan may be appended to first names by parents and other adults when speaking to children, and by children when speaking to their parents, grandparents, older brothers and sisters, and others who are close to them, including friends their own age. As a foreigner in Japan, you may address babies and young children using their first names and the word chan.
Diminutives for referring to people by their titles also make use of chan, as in the following examples.
Father—O-Tō-chan (Oh-toh-chahn)
Mother—O-Kā-chan (Oh-kaah-chahn)
Grandmother—O-Bā-chan (Oh-baah-chahn)
Grandfather—O-Jii-chan (Oh-jeee-chahn)
Titles have historically been important replacements for first names, even in marital relationships. In the past Japanese husbands called their wives o-mae (oh-my) or kimi (kee-me), both of which are forms of “you.” After they had children, they referred to their wives as o-kā-san (oh-kaahsahn), meaning “mother” or “mama.” In turn, wives did not use their husbands’ first names. Instead, they called them anata (ah-nah-tah), which in this case is similar to “dear.” After having children, wives called their husbands o-tō-san (oh-toe-sahn), which translates as “father” or “papa.”
These aspects of etiquette in Japan have changed over the past few decades. It is now common for younger husbands and wives to use first names in addressing each other. Once they have children, however, they are still likely to refer to each other as “mother” and “father,” just as Westerners do when talking to their children.
As in the United States and elsewhere, many unrelated people share family names in Japan. Among the most common of these names are Sato (Sah-toh), Suzuki (Suu-zookee), Takahashi (Tah-kah-hah-she), Tanaka (Tah-nah-kah), and Watanabe (Wah-tah-nah-bay).
Another characteristic of Japanese family names is their frequent incorporation of words such as yama (“mountain”), ta (“rice field”), shima (“island”), mura (“village”), hashi (“bridge”), naka (“between”), shita (“below”), and kawa (“river”).
Although the use of names in Japan is being gradually Americanized and more and more Japanese are beginning to use the first names of new and old foreign friends, last names are always used in formal situations and by people who don’t know each other well. In the world of business, it is still unusual for a middle-aged or older Japanese businessperson to call a Japanese colleague by his or her first name, as Westerners commonly do.
Foreign visitors should exercise caution in addressing older Japanese people by their first names unless specifically asked to do so, or the Japanese person has adopted a Western first name and uses it when introducing him- or herself to you. (Generally, Japanese people with foreign names have taken them specifically for use by their foreign friends and acquaintances.)
In business settings, it is always wise to use last names when other Japanese people are present, even if speaking to someone who has a Western first name. In a group situation referring to an individual businessperson with a foreign first name is likely to be interpreted as showing a degree of familiarity or intimacy that is not appropriate.
Among adults in the business world, the honorific san (sahn) is invariably attached to whatever name is used when referring to or addressing someone. It is added to names and titles to show respect, almost like the Japanese equivalent of Mr., Mrs., or Miss. It is used when talking to both men and women.
This honorific is also used in written business communications, unless you are writing to someone you know very well.
Visitors to Japan are advised to add san to the first names as well as the last names of older children and adult Japanese they address. It is now little more than a politeness, but nevertheless important.
7
Using Titles
A key factor in the vertically arranged Japanese society is the importance of titles, which were used to rank people within the hierarchy of their group and to designate the classification or category of their work or profession.
In feudalistic, samurai-dominated Japan it became the custom to refer to people by their titles instead of their names. This exalted the title instead of the individual and helped maintain the hierarchical relationship between the various classes and between the categories of activity within those classes.
Given the depersonalization of the individual in favor of the group, titles tended to take on an entity of their own and to take precedence over the individuals temporarily bearing them.
Even today, the use of titles—both personal and professional—remains one of Japan’s key social graces. Here are some of the most common everyday titles:
Bartender—Bā tenda (bah-tane-dah)
Buddhist monk—O-Bō-san (oh-boh-sahn)
Butcher—Nikuya-san (nee-kuu-yah-sahn), or “Mr. Meat Man”
Carpenter—Daiku-san (dike-sahn), or “Mr. Carpenter”
Cook—Kuuk san (cook sahn)
Customer, guest, or visitor—O-Kyaku-san (oh-kyacksahn), “Mr. Guest” or “Mr. Customer.” O-Kyaku-sama (oh-kyack-sah-mah) is an even more polite form of address. This title can be used when referring to both men and women.
Doctor—O-isha-san (oh-ee-shah-sahn), or “Mr. Doctor”
Driver (of a taxi or private car)—Untenshu-san (uun-ten-shoe-sahn), or “Mr. Driver”
Policeman—O-Mawari-san (oh-mah-wah-ree-sahn)
Postman—Yubinya san (Yuu-bean-yah-sahn)
School principal—KM chō sensei (kohh-chohh sen-say-e)
Senior (in school, work, and so on)—Senpai (sen-pie)
Shinto priest—Kannushi-san (kahn-nuu-she-sahn)
Train conductor—Shasho-san (shah-show-sahn)
Waiter—Weta
