Think about your name.

Why youre named what you are, does your name have any meaning? What can
you come up with? There may be a special reason why you have your name. Perhaps after a family member, but
what about the actual meaning of your name? Does it describe you in anyway? In Japan the names of people most of
the time tell a little about the person who claims said name. When 1st meeting someone new, one may already be
able to gather knowledge about the unknown person just by hearing their names. There is a lot more to the names of
the Japanese. They have general meanings behind their names. A lot is said about a person by what their name
means and how they are addressed.
Japanese is written in four different ways. Romaji, Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji. Romaji is used to write
the Japanese language using Roman symbols. Its basically the Japanese written using the letters of the English
alphabet. Romaji isnt really used in Japan its mostly used to express what the words sound like. Katakana is an
angular script of writing. Its composed of forty-six distinct yet basic characters. Its used to express any sound in
the Japanese language. Katakana is mostly used to express foreign names, borrowed foreign words, company names
and new words to the Japanese language. Hiragana is much smoother then Katakana and is full of loops and curves.
It is sometimes hard to learn Hiragana because it can be difficult to tell the difference between Katakana and
Hiragana and because the curves and loops can be difficult to write. Like Katakana, Hiragana is made of forty-six
basic scripts. Each script has a counterpart in Katakana, so all sounds in Japanese language can be expressed with
Hiragana. Hiragana is mostly used to express grammar in words. Its used for simple words like small verbs and
nouns. And also its used for conjunctions that appear at the end of verbs. Kanji is the last and hardest form of
Japanese written language to master. Unlike the rest of the different scripts, Kanji represents different ideas not
sounds. Most Kanji have more then one possible meaning. Its mainly used for writing places, names of people and
nouns verbs and adjectives.
In Japan people use titles at the end of peoples names a lot. The title generally comes at the end of the first
name and tells the relationship between people. The most common ones are -san, -kun, -chan, -sensei, and sama.
san serves as a mark of respect. Its the most common and is used when someone doesnt know the other well but
still wishes to remain respectful and when the opposite person is of a higher social rank. san may be used by/for
anyone. No one can reasonably take offense at san. kun is most of the time used for boys. Its used for male
children, high school boys, men younger then self, men of lesser status and among friends. Parents call their sons

kun and probably do all throughout life. Only once in awhile will kun be used for girls. sama is used for people
older then you or of a higher status. Clerks, waiters and other service people address everyone as sama. It can
sometimes be translated into Lord or Lady but sama generally means Sir or Maam. chan is the informal
version of san. Its used to address children under the age of ten, and female family members. chan is used as a
term of endearment into adult hood, especially for girls, parents probably call their daughters chan all through their
life. sensei is used for teachers, doctors and anyone with a higher education. sensei is used as anyone who a
person received some sort of service or instruction from.
Japanese names are normally written in Kanji but sometimes Hiragana and Katakana is used. When written
in Kanji the name could have multiple pronunciations. That is why it can create problems for a reader. The
surnames, or last name, is written first followed by the personal name. The surname shows that the Japanese have a
group oriented culture. Most Japanese surnames use two Kanji and have a meaning of nature, locations, personalities
and/or strengths. Personal names consist of two Kanji as well. However since Kanji can have identical meanings,
first names that sound the same may not be spelled the same. The meanings of the name often have positive
characteristics and sometimes the gender of a person can be guessed by the ending of their first name. In Japan
theres a form of fortune telling using names called Seimei Handan. It uses the number of stokes required to write
the characters of the name. Depending on the number of strokes, a name is considered more or less auspicious.
Sometimes parents consult Seimei Handan when selecting the name of their child.
In conclusion a lot more can be told about a person by just hearing their name in Japan then here in
America. Names tell a little about the person and the title that a person call them by tells of their relationship with
said person. Greeting people and finding