When referred to on SportsCenter, they call him Ichiro. His uniform reads Ichiro, so the question is: Is his name (Ichiro Suzuki) still in the Japanese format (last name, first name)? Usually, Japanese names are converted to Western format for simplicity. For example, the names of the Iron Chefs are put into Western format for the version shown on FoodTV. Any guesses on this?
I’m not sure what format his name is in, but when he was being bidded on, he was referred to as Ichiro Suzuki in everything I read. Then I remember him telling everyone (through the interpreter) to refer to him as Ichiro. Sort of like Madonna or Cher, he will be a one name superstar.
Ichiro is his given name. His “Last” name, his surname, is Suzuki.
The “Ichiro” bit is just star worship; he was called that in Japan, where “Suzuki” is like “Smith” anyway, so he likes being called that here. (He’s not even the only Suzuki in North American baseball; there’s a Mac Suzuki.) Having his first name on his uniform isn’t a first, either. Chili Davis used to have just “Chili” on his.
His family name is Suzuki (one of the most common names in Japan, btw), and his given name is Ichiro. So he would be addressed in Japan as Suzuki Ichiro, and in America as Ichiro Suzuki.
If he were an ordinary average guy. But he’s not. He’s Ichiro.
Baseball players in Japan typically (as in 99.999% of the time) have their family names on the backs of their uniforms, just like MLB players do. Ichiro requested that he be allowed to have his given name on his uniform, as that’s how fans and reporters were referring to him (usually people in Japan are referred to by their family name only). In a rare display of flexibility, the management of his team, the Orix Blue Wave, agreed. This was mainly because he was becoming such a popular player, but the fact that there were (I think) two other Suzukis on the team may have been a contributing factor.
When Ichiro signed with the Seattle Mariners, he asked to be allowed to continue using his given name on his uniform, and they agreed.
This leads to a related question I’ve been wondering about: since MLB players have been using uniforms with names on them, has any player before Ichiro used anything other than his family name?
–sublight.
And upon previewing, I see that two people have beaten me to the OP, and that my own question has also been answered. Darn you all to heck.
I know of one case, at least. Ted Turner once decided that players on his Atlanta Braves would be allowed to have their nicknames on the back of their uniforms, just above the number. And by an amazing coincidence the player who wore number 17 gained the nickname “Channel”. His uniform said “Channel 17”, can you guess which channel Turner’s WTBS was broadcasting on? The commissioner’s office came down on them hard and fast, and the uniform only lasted one game.
Vida Blue’s jersey had “Vida” on the back for some seasons.
I believe Ichiro also had an endorsement with a one of the Suzuki Motor Company’s rivals, so he thought it would be better if he emphasized a different name.
But I’m guessing He Hate Me was out of the quetion.
When I was in Japan in 1998, it was easy to spot Ichiro’s name on the scoreboard. Ichiro isn’t spelled with kanji characters, but with that other alphabet (katakana?) that also gets used for the names of gaijin players.
I don’t believe Ichiro is an uncommon first name in Japan. It means “First son”, so it must show up a lot.