Japanese client name display

I recently was speaking with a Japanese friend of mine, and we got onto the topic of how he decided his character's name.

Being an english player, and playing on an english client, I naturally assumed that the first name displayed for me was what he considered to be his character's first name. After speaking with him though, I realized that the first name displayed for me, was actually what he considered to be his surname, and I had been calling him by the wrong name all along.

I know that traditionally in Japan, you usually say your surname before your given name. So it made sense that his surname would be displayed first for him. However, it was quite confusing for me, being from America where we naturally say the given name first, followed by the surname.

The situation led me to make this post as I am now curious as to how the japanese client name selection is set up. When making a new character on the japanese client, does it ask you to input the surname first, and then the given name, as per japanese tradition ? If so, this would account for my friend's surname being displayed first on my client. Unfortunately this would mean that I've confused every japanese players' surname for their given name. If this is not the case, and the japanese client asks you to input the given name first, as it does on the english client, then it would seem my friend chose to input the surname first anyway, and he just chose to follow Japanese tradition on his own.

So which is it ? Surname first or second in Japan ? Have I mistaken every japanese players' identity ? Are Japanese players getting my name confused too?

Good question!

While traditionally (and pretty much in everyday life over here in Japan) the last name usually comes first, Japanese gamers are quite aware of the fact that Westerners do things backwards (or forwards, depending on your perspective), and for the most part, when playing an RPG of this nature, have come to expect that first names will come first.

This is the case with FFXIV, and no matter which client you play on, you'll find that names are always displayed first name first. So, you can rest easy knowing that you haven't been disrespecting your fellow compatriots, their ancestors, or their culture. Huzzah!

As for those who have chose to input their surname in the given name slot... Well... I don't know if there's anything we can do there. He (or she) will just have to let everyone know what he wants people to call him...which, on second thought, could end up being a great conversation-starter. Win-win!

I think it's awesome that the playerbase can just ask the devs questions like these and get such prompt, informative responses. I think way too many people take this fact for granted. Keep doin what you're doing, loc team, and everyone else! Don't let the haters bring you down!