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I've noticed this a lot in many manga I've read. The character (usually the
protagonist) is named after their mother's family name and not their father's.
Some examples I have found of this are as follows:

  * In Special A, Kei Takashima is named of his mother's family not his father's. Unless the parents were cousins, it seems the dad changed his name to Takashima, too.
  * In Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki is named after his mother Kushina Uzumaki. I know that this may be a plot device to hide who Naruto's father is at the beginning, but still why name after the mother? Why wasn't he named Namikaze?
  * In Shokugeki no Soma, Saiba Jouichiro changes his name to his wife's: Yukihira. Why doesn't he keep his name? It's possible that he wants to stay out of the public eye, but is it common for the man to take his wife's name?
  * Another example from the same manga as above, Azami Nakamura. He changed his name to Nakiri after marrying into Erina's mother's family. It could have been for prestige, but isn't it normally the wife who changes the name and not the husband? And Erina is named from her mother's family too.

Sorry for all the examples, but I really would like it if someone could help
me understand. I know it could be because of a plot device, but it has
confused me for a while.


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2016-05-27T12:43:06.430
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2016-05-30T06:29:51.357
2016-05-27T13:30:42.770
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culture
Why are a lot of characters in anime and manga named after their mothers and not their fathers?


Expanding my comment into an answer.

In Japan, it’s uncommon, but not unheard of, for [a man to take his wife’s
name after
marriage](http://www.makikoitoh.com/journal/men_taking_their_wives_last_names_is_not_uncommon_in_japan).
It can happen for any reason, but a common reason is when a man marries into a
family with no sons and his wife’s family wants to keep their name going.

In modern Japan, married couples are required to pick one partner’s family
name for both of them. From [a Time article](http://time.com/3940094/maiden-
married-names-countries/):

> In contrast, Japan requires that married couples take one of the spouses’
> family names, which, unsurprisingly, means that 96% of married Japanese
> women assume their husband’s last name.

Any children of the marriage are given that last name as well, so if the
couple chooses to use the wife’s name, the children will have their mother’s
family name.

In anime, of course, this is used as a plot device, and the exact reason
depends on the show. For instance, in Evangelion, Gendou takes Yui’s last
name, Ikari, to try and distance himself from some of the unsavory things he
did in the past. So Shinji gets his mother’s name, which might have various
meanings, given all the Freudian subtext in the show.


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I shall talk about Uzumaki Naruto as such..Since, it is a special case..
Uzumaki clan at the time of Naruto birth(and later) were a few in number..
Mostly scattered throughout the world. Also, many decided to change their
names fearing for their lives( the Uzumaki clan is quite noted for its Sealing
jutsus; which was feared a lot, especially during the wartimes such as Shinobi
World war 1,2 and 3). The seal which binds the Kyuubi(Nine-tailed fox) in
Naruto is itself a Uzumaki Clan's jutsu. Also, since it was not given of any
other person from Namikaze clan except for Minato, we can fairly assume
Namikaze clan too was dwindling in numbers. Now, why was Naruto named after
his mother? Interesting, right (since both clans had less members)? This is
because of the fact that Minato Namikaze was the 4th Hokage, meaning he had
his enemies. Thus, naming Naruto after his father's clan was quite dangerous.
(Note that the enemies pursuing Uzumaki clan dwindled once peaceful times
started after the world war 3, except for people like Orochimaru that is. )


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