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Japan has announced new rules that limit parents' freedom in choosing their children's names, as authorities will now be required to register the phonetic pronunciation of names written in kanji characters.

According to the Guardian newspaper, this move comes to curb the spread of unusual or flashy names (kirakira), which have become common among parents looking to add a creative touch to their children's names, causing administrative confusion and social criticism.

Under the amendments to the family registry law, parents are now required to clarify the phonetic pronunciation of their children's names at registration, adhering to the officially recognized pronunciation of kanji characters.

The goal is to reduce the confusion caused by unconventional names in schools, hospitals, and public services, as well as to facilitate administrative digitization processes.

The phenomenon of unusual names has emerged since the 1990s, with some parents choosing names inspired by famous characters or brands, such as Pikachu (from Pokémon), Nike, Dia (diamond), Pooh (Winnie the Pooh), or Kitty (Kitty Chan). Names like Ojisama (prince) and Akuma (devil) have also sparked widespread controversy.

Notable examples include former Olympic athlete Seiko Hashimoto, who named her children Gerishia (Greece) and Torino (Turin) after the cities that hosted the Olympics.

Some parents defend their choices, considering them an expression of individual distinction in a society dominated by pressure to conform.

However, officials complain about the difficulty of pronouncing many of these names, especially those that stray from the traditional pronunciation of kanji characters.

Now, parents who choose an unusual pronunciation will be required to provide written clarification, and they may be asked to select an alternative name if necessary.

These amendments represent a rare change in the Japanese family registry (koseki), which is a legal document that records the names and birth dates of family members.

Reports indicate that authorities will only reject the most extreme cases, but this step shows the government's commitment to regulating names more clearly.