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       Unusual Names Can Complicate Life in Japan. Now Parents Are Being Reined In.

       As such names have increased, so has media attention to cases of people unhappy with them. But critics say new rules may infringe on the right to be creative.

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       Yuuki Matsumoto, formerly Yuni, at his residence in Yokohama, Japan. Credit...Shina Peng for The New York Times

       By Hikari Hida

       Reporting from Tokyo

       Dec. 1, 2023

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       Growing up, all Yuni Matsumoto wanted was to fit in.

       But his name made that hard. It was highly uncommon in Japan and, on top of that, essentially unreadable as written. Middle school classmates ridiculed him. The bullying got so bad that he eventually dropped out of school.

       Mr. Matsumoto, 24, had what is known as a kira-kira — meaning “shiny” or “glittery” — name. A growing number of Japanese parents are choosing these unconventional names, often in hopes of making their children stand out in a country where pressure to conform is strong.

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       Hikari Hida reports from the Tokyo bureau, where she covers news and features in Japan. She joined The Times in 2020. More about Hikari Hida

       A version of this article appears in print on Dec. 3, 2023, Section A , Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: An Unusual Name Can Be a Burden. In Japan, Parents Are Being Reined In. . Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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