Japanese names, when written in romaji, are usually given in the Western name order : given name - family name.
I do not agree with this practice of reversing our names for the following reasons.
First, giving up the traditional order of Japanese names, that is, family name - given name, is to lose part of our cultural identity. In fact, such countries as China, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Hungary retain the family name - given name order when speaking or writing English.
Second, the argument about putting given names before family names is one-sided. An American friend of mine insists on having his name written in the Western order when it is written in katakana. He does not want his name George Watson to be written ワトソン・ジョージ，though he takes it for granted that Japanese given names, when romanized, come first.
Of course, a sudden change would create confusion among Japanese people who have been accustomed to the reversed name order, but we should reconsider the current practice and write our names in the traditional way.
First, giving up the traditional order of Japanese names, that is, family name - given name, is to lose part of our cultural identity. In fact, such countries as China, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Hungary retain the family name - given name order when speaking or writing English.
Second, the argument about putting given names before family names is one-sided. An American friend of mine insists on having his name written in the Western order when it is written in katakana. He does not want his name George Watson to be written ワトソン・ジョージ，though he takes it for granted that Japanese given names, when romanized, come first.
Of course, a sudden change would create confusion among Japanese people who have been accustomed to the reversed name order, but we should reconsider the current practice and write our names in the traditional way.