Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University OlomoucHow do Japanese names reflect gender, identity, and social change?
Using linguistic analysis, carefully compiled datasets, and real-life naming stories, this book explores how naming practices in Japan are evolving and offers a detailed insight into modern Japanese naming trends.
Key findings
- A gradual blurring of boundaries between masculine and feminine names
- Increasing diversity and creativity in Japanese baby names
- The growing presence of gender-neutral names, within specific cultural patterns
- Different ways in which sound, kanji, and meaning express gender
With a strong data-driven foundation, it places these developments in a broader global context of shifting ideas about identity and individuality.