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In chapter 3 (titled _Savior_ ) of the manga _Shurabara!_ , I don't understand
the meaning of certain lines in there:

> "I absolutely cannot accept someone like you, Yagimoto Kazuhiro, who only
> has fifteen strokes in his name!"

Is it rare to have fifteen strokes in a person's name or is it a joke? What
does she mean?

![page from Shurabara! chapter 3 containing above
quote](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vexMy.jpg)


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2013-09-01T13:50:06.087
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2013-12-24T21:04:23.700
2013-12-24T21:04:23.700
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question
shurabara
What is the significance of fifteen strokes in a name?


It is a cultural thing, but parallells can be drawn with other cultures of
course. Some consider(ed) characters with more strokes to be more classy and
aristocratic. Which goes back in history, peasants had shorter and more simple
names—often practical in their nature. While the rich could have several
names, with rich symbolism, more abstract meaning and sometimes exotic
pronunciation.

Some of the really aristocratic families in olden times actually created their
own characters so they could be really unique (often by adding a stroke or two
to an existing character or by combining two or more existing characters into
one). This is actually referenced in many Japanese/Chinese dramas where a name
can be “taken” from someone by removing a stroke or character, as well as
adding a stroke to the (real/adopting) father’s given name so that the
relation father–son could well be seen, as well as adding rich philosophical
ideas to the relationship. For example, consider the anime movie _Spirited
Away_ where the protagonist Chihiro has part of her name taken away by a
witch, which then becomes Sen (while the pronunciation differ, the character 千
_sen_ is actually the same as _chi-_ in 千尋 Chihiro).

But back to the number of strokes. There is one Japanese belief (not sure how
widespread) that it is good fortune to have the same number of strokes in your
given name and the family name (not seldom combined with similar meaning
and/or pronunciation). That, and that some numbers in themselves are
considered either auspicious or inauspicious are additional aspects on the
stroke count. (For example the number four is considered ill-lucky as it can
be pronounced the same as 死 _shi_ “death”, while the number eight is one of
the more lucky, a heirloom from the Chinese culture.)

**八木本一大 (YAGIMOTO Kazuhiro)**

  * 八 _hachi_ (here _ya-_ ), the number eight (2 strokes)
  * 木 _ki_ (here _-gi-_ ), a tree (4 strokes)
  * 本 _hon_ (here _-moto_ ), a book (5 strokes)
  * 一 _ichi_ (here _kazu-_ ), the number one (1 stroke)
  * 大 _ōki_ (here _-hiro_ ), something large (3 strokes)

That is 11 strokes in the surname and 4 strokes in the given name (15 strokes
total). Ordinary characters, low stroke count, common pronunciation and very
concrete, everyday meanings. It’s hard to get more low profile than this,
naming-wise!

**羊飼桃乃 (HITSUJIKAI Momono)**

  * 羊 _hitsuji_ , a sheep (6 strokes)
  * 飼 _kau_ (here _-kai_ ), to keep animals (13 strokes)
  * 桃 _momo_ , a peach or peach tree (10 strokes)
  * 乃 _no_ , an older form of the possessive marker の (2 strokes)

That is 19 strokes in the surname and 12 strokes in the given name (31 strokes
total). The double of Kazuhiro’s. When it comes to the meaning and
pronunciation of Momono’s characters they are somewhat more “refined” than
Kazuhiro’s. It adds to the feeling of a name belonging to someone more
important. Which I guess is what the mangaka is trying to achieve, name-wise.
Of course, a childish game, but yet an important one if you are insecure in
your own place.

He he, I was only going to write a sentence or two. And still, there is much
more to be said. If you wish to know more, take a look at Japanese folktales
and history.


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2013-10-27T22:00:20.043
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2013-10-27T22:00:20.043
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