On Japanese name orders

[TrickWithAKnife]

I still get a decent number of people who introduce themselves using their full name, but in the Western order. These people tend to say their names at lightning speed, because even though they know we are familiar with that order, they forget that saying their full name at high speed and with no audible space sounds like a machinegun.

Japanese people who have a bit more experience talking to English speakers tend to slow it down or just use their given names.

As for my own name, I abbreviated it on a whim during my first day of university when we were doing introductions, and from that day onwards my name was CJ. That was long before coming to Japan.

[Coren]

As for my own name, I abbreviated it on a whim during my first day of university when we were doing introductions, and from that day onwards my name was CJ. That was long before coming to Japan.

Haha, that's kind of cute. A friend of mine had to do that too, with a teacher who couldn't pronounce his name.

But anyway, I suppose so it's okay to use either order as long as it's made clear in the story what order is being used?

[Funnyguts]

There's always the option to let the player decide based on their own preference, although the more characters you have the more awkward this gets.

[Coren]

There's always the option to let the player decide based on their own preference, although the more characters you have the more awkward this gets.

You mean "Do you want character names to be in so-and-so order"? Hmm for me, I only have one Japanese character, but also one Chinese character. So I just don't really feel right having the Chinese one have their name in traditional order while the Japanese one sticks to a Western order.

[lemonscent]

Since it's set in a mostly western environment, [first name][surname] would probably seem more natural. It's true that Asian politicians, celebrities, etc. are often addressed as "[surname][firstname]", but Asians in the Western environment address themselves as [firstname][surname]. I'm totally just being redundant here but you get the point.

I think the name switch is mainly because everyone gets confused if the names are in random order based on ethnicity, culture, etc. Like in certain countries in Asia, non-Asians are generally addressed as [surname][first name] to ease understanding.

[EDIT:] Ok wow Q_Q I'm necro'ing old threads left and right.