ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1592
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1592
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From: 
12 May 1999


Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You wrote to us concerning the masculine Japanese names <Tatsukawa
Kyuuzou> and <Hasegawa Kyuuzou>.  You wanted to know whether the names
were correct for pre-1600 Japan, and for what period the names would be
appropriate.

There are many patterns for Japanese naming, but the typical form for
the buke (warriors) and kuge (aristocracy) is a three element name:

     [family name] + [common name] + [official name]
         kamei          zokumyou          nanori

A person might take additional name elements under certain circumstances,
but the above pattern is typical.  The zokumyou is a common name used in
casual conversation, and a nanori is the official name used in
proclamations and self-introductions.  Nanori were restricted in use to
the socially privileged.  Commoners had common use names (tsushou)
and might also be differentiated by the name of the house in which they
lived.  Unless you intend to be a commoner, we recommend you construct a
three element name.

We assume that you sent you name to us in standard Japanese order, with
the family name first.  We found a nanori <Kyuuzou> dated to 1568; this
name is very likely a monastic name rather than one used in the general
population.  We also found the family names <Hasegawa> 1569 (meaning
"river of the long valley") [1] and <Tatsukawa> 1600 [1].

This would make <Tatsukawa Kyuuzou> or <Hasegawa Kyuuzou> a reasonable
start on a Japanese name, but you would still lack a zokumyou.  Source [1]
listed below discusses medieval Japanese names in some detail; if you can
locate a copy, it will provide you with lists of names and name elements
to help you.  Since we found the name elements all dated from the late
16th century, this would be an appropriate setting for your persona.

We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you.
Solveig Throndardottir, Arval Benicoeur, and Talan Gwynek contributed to
this letter.

In service,
--Walraven van Nijmegen
Academy of S. Gabriel

[1] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_
    (Carlsbad, NM: The Outlaw Press, 1994)