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Japan recently started banning certain nontraditional baby names, in a change widely seen as a crackdown on kirakira (translates to âglitteryâ) names, which started gaining popularity in the late 1980s and morph to align with trends in pop culture.
Banned monikers include: Naruto, Pikachu, Jewel, Lovely, Kitty, Elsa, Ćjisama (âPrinceâ), Daiya (âDiamondâ), Naiki (close to âNikeâ), and more.
Pika-choose another one: The govât says the move is designed to make digital admin procedures at hospitals, schools, etc. more straightforward by granting local authorities the power to reject any name they deem too outrageous or tricky to pronounce (particularly if it could have âa negative impact on a childâs futureâ).
The rule reflects a growing tension in Japan between individual expression and age-old norms when it comes to naming, the South China Morning Post reports.
Not just Japan: In the US, names containing numerals and symbols are usually prohibited (ex: âX Ă A-12â), since most government forms and databases canât process themâwhile in New Zealand, names that conjure up royalty (ex: âKingâ or âPrincessâ) or marijuana themes (ex: âSativaâ/âIndicaâ) are a no-no.
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