Japan Cracks Down on “Flashy” Baby Names in New Naming Law Reform

The era of Japanese children being named Pikachu, Pudding, or even Prince may be drawing to a close, as new regulations designed to curb eccentric naming practices take effect this week. The Japanese government has implemented rules that will make it more difficult for parents to register kira-kira, or “flashy,” baby names — an increasingly common phenomenon that has sparked both fascination and concern.

For years, Japan has allowed a high degree of freedom in naming children, largely due to the nature of the Japanese writing system. Names are typically written in kanji, characters that often have multiple possible readings. Parents could choose unconventional, even bizarre pronunciations for these characters — a practice that led to children being named everything from Caesar to Pikachu, even when the kanji suggested otherwise.

One notorious example is the name Shiizaa (Caesar), formed from kanji meaning “emperor,” and Eren, a stylized rendering of the English name Ellen using characters for “eternal love.” Other examples include Raburi (Lovely), Purin (Pudding), and the now-banned Pikachu.

Under the new rules, however, parents must specify the pronunciation of a child’s name when registering it. More importantly, government officials will now review proposed names and block those deemed to have “extreme readings” or those considered contrary to a child’s best interests. Names that invert the meaning of the kanji — for example, using characters with positive meanings but pronouncing them negatively — will no longer be allowed.

The new policy is the result of years of deliberation by a dedicated government committee, aiming to strike a balance between individual freedom and societal standards. The criteria remain somewhat ambiguous, but the underlying principle is clear: the child’s welfare must come first.

This isn’t the first time Japan has intervened in naming practices. In 1994, a man was denied permission to name his son “Akuma,” the Japanese word for “devil,” though a name meaning “god” was allowed. In another case, Ojisama Akaike — whose name meant “Prince” — eventually changed his name to Hajime (“beginning”) after years of embarrassment and disbelief from others.

Supporters of the change argue it will prevent children from suffering due to their parents’ overzealous creativity. A 2015 study even linked kira-kira names to higher rates of emergency room visits, though whether this was due to neglect or over-vigilance remains debated.

Still, critics argue that the crackdown risks stifling linguistic evolution and self-expression. In an editorial, the liberal-leaning Asahi Shimbun cautioned against excessive interference, writing: “Names and readings of names written in kanji, like words in general, change with the times. Restrictions … should be limited to the absolute minimum.”

With Japan’s population in decline — recording twice as many deaths as births in recent years — some see this as a misplaced priority. Yet for many children burdened by names that provoke ridicule or disbelief, the move may come as a long-overdue correction.

As Japan ushers in this new naming era, one thing is clear: Pikachu may remain in Pokémon games and movies, but not in the nursery.