JAPAN has a polite request for the world: Stop saying our names wrong.

In Japanese, people are referred to by their family name first, followed by a given name, the same pattern as used by Chinese and Koreans.

For almost a century and a half, however, Japanese names have been written in English the opposite way round, with the given name first. This practice was adopted during the Meiji Era as a part of broader attempts at internationalization and has now become standard, though exceptions exist and many historical names are still written with the family name first.

As it enters the new Reiwa Era this month, the Japanese Government would like to settle the matter once and for all.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said the government hoped going forward that the Prime Minister’s name “would be written Abe Shinzo, just like Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.”

“I am planning to issue a request to the international media,” Kono said, adding he hoped Japanese English-language media would follow suit.

(SD-Agencies)