Japan wants to start using the traditional order for Japanese names in English in official documents, with family names first, a switch from the Westernized custom the country adopted more than a century ago.
The idea has been floated for years, most recently by foreign and education ministers in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe‘s ultra-conservative Cabinet.
WATCH: Aug. 24 — Trudeau meets with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe ahead of G7 summit
- Colombia’s president asks Trump to suspend tariffs amid earthquake recovery
- Trump suggests ‘declaring’ Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, Iran rebuffs claim
- Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia’s coast, toppling buildings and killing at least 38
- Gas prices set to change when excise tax pause expires — what to know
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Friday that he looked forward to go by Suga Yoshihide, as he is known in Japan.
He said the change will start with government documents.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: Trudeau meets with U.K., Japan prime ministers ahead of G7 summit
Japan adopted the first name first order for use with foreigners about 150 years ago as a way to modernize and internationalize itself.
China and South Korea traditionally use surname first order both at home and internationally.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.