Government bans unconventional kanji pronunciations to dissuade parents from giving children quirky and individualistic names ...

This move targets a growing trend where parents have assigned unconventional readings to kanji, authorities in Japan said.

Parents in Japan are now prohibited from having complete control over the names they give their children following the implementation of new guidelines on the pronunciation of kanji characters.

If you go to Japan, there’s a chance you might meet someone with an unusual name – such as “Nike,” “Pikachu” or “Pudding.”While still a minority, ...