ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Japanese surname

So imagine you're at a party and a grown-up asks you what your name is. You tell them your first and last name, like "Sarah Smith." In Japan, they also have first and last names, but their last names are a little different.

In Japan, your last name usually comes first and your first name comes second. So instead of "Sarah Smith," it would be "Smith Sarah." Japanese last names often tell you something about your family history, like who your ancestors were or what job they used to do.

For example, if your last name is Sato, it means that your family probably comes from an area with lots of fields because "sato" means "village." Some last names are also really common in Japan, like "Suzuki" or "Tanaka."

In conclusion, Japanese last names are like your last name, except it comes first and often tells you something about your family history.