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Draft:Prohibition of Japanese-style surnames

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The Prohibition Japanese Culture in Ryukyu was a policy implemented by the Satsuma Domain in the Ryukyu Islands[1]. It is also know as "Prohibition of Yamato-style surnames" (大和めきたる名字の禁止)

There is no document that prohibits the use of surnames that have a Japanese flavor. The original document was a regulation issued by the Satsuma Domain to the Ryukyu Islands on August 20, 1624 (the first year of the Kan'ei era) [2]


  1. Changing the "中" in the name of King Chuzan to "仲" e.g. 中村(Nakamura） →仲村 (Nakamura), 中間(Nakama) →仲間( Nakama)
  2. Changing the kanji in the family name (e.g. 中曽根(Nakasone) → (仲宗根)Nakasone, 船越(Funakoshi) → 富名腰(Funakoshi)
  3. Changing the Kanji and pronunciation e.g. 東（Higashi）→比嘉（Higa）





During the Old Ryukyu period, Ryukyu family names were usually written in hiragana, but family names with the same roots as mainland Japan (the phonetics were changed to sound more Ryukyuan, e.g. Nakasone/Nakasone was replaced by Nakazuni/Nakajuni) were written with the same kanji as in the mainland Japan. In response to this, the Satsuma Domain, which tried to portray Ryukyu as a foreign country to the Tokugawa Shogunate, forced people to change their surnames. This was not completely enforced, and some surnames that were the same as on the mainland remained. After the Meiji Restoration, there were also many cases where the kanji was changed to the same as on the mainland.

There is no document that prohibits the use of surnames that have a Japanese flavor. The original document was a regulation issued by the Satsuma Domain to the Ryukyu Islands on August 20, 1624 (the first year of the Kan'ei era) [3]

「定」

一、三司官その外諸役職の扶持方、自今以後は御分別次第たるべきのこと

一、科人死罪・流罪の儀、この方に御伺いに及ばず、御分別次第たるべ きこと

一、日本名を付け、日本支度仕り候は、かたく停止たるべきこと

一、おりめまつりの儀、この方御蔵入の分は、耕作時分違わざるようにと仰せ付けられ候、御分領の儀は御分別次第たるべく候

一、他国人その地へ参る儀停止たるべきこと

右条々向後違篇有るべからざるものなり

寛永元年子八月廿日

比志島宮内少輔（花押） 伊勢兵部少輔（花押） 島津下野守（花押）
— 天正十五年六月十八日付覚


Translation

1. From now on, the stipends for the three officials and other positions will be left to your discretion.

1. Regarding the death penalty or exile of criminals, there is no need to consult with this person, but it should be left to the discretion of the individual.

1. The Japanese Style names and culture must be strictly stopped.

1. Regarding the Ori-me Festival, it has been ordered that the portion of the treasury that will be used for this purpose should not differ from the amount used during the cultivation period. The matter of dividing up the land should be left to the discretion of the Emperor.

1. The practice of foreigners visiting the area should be suspended.

The above articles should not be altered in the future.

20th August, 1st year of the Kanei era

Hishima Miyauchi Shoyu (signature) Ise Hyobu Shoyu (signature) Shimazu Shimotsuke no Kami (signature)



Reference

[edit]
  1. ^ 加藤, 晴明 (2012). "奄美における地域メディア研究のための予備考察" (PDF). 中京大学現代社会学部紀要. 6 (1): 77–110.
  2. ^ 鹿児島県史料 (2025-03-07). 【旧記雑録】『後編四』. 鹿児島県.
  3. ^ 鹿児島県史料 (2025-03-07). 【旧記雑録】『後編四』. 鹿児島県.

See also

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