Why does ichiro suzuki of the mariner's have his first name on his jersey and not the last name ???

Answer 1

The fact that family names come before given names in Japan has nothing to do with Ichiro's jersey. Other Japanese players tend to put their family names on the back of their jerseys in the same way that American players tend to do.

Since Suzuki is a very common last name, Ichiro's manager in Japan (for the Orix Blue Wave) came up with the idea to market him on a first-name basis (but in Japan, as in the U.S., most players have their family name on their jersey). He originally resisted the idea, but later became okay with it, as far as I know. The tradition carried over to the U.S.

U.S. players Vida Blue and Chili Davis also went by their first names in uniform.

Answer 2

There used to be another Suzuki on the team or in the league, something to that effect. Plus using Ichiro is more catchy and marketable. The Mariners got permission from MLB for him to use his first name on the jersey. In Japan they say Suzuki Ichiro. It's more marketing than anything but in Japan he wore Ichiro on the back so nothing new. Suzuki is a common surname in Japan so that also plays a factor. Ichiro gives him his own identity and separates him more from the crowd of the many Suzuki's!

Answer 3

It has something to do with Japanese/Chinese custom where the last name and first name are switched. Since his name is Suzuki Ichiro originally, Ichiro appears on his jersey.

Answer 4

Perhaps it was a clerical error and he decided to keep it and not to make any waves to change it. In Japanese, the last name goes first on documents. (e.g. On his official documents, his name would be listed as Suzuki Ichiro.)

Answer 5

I think, and i could be totally wrong but i heard this from someone, that Japanese and Chinese type names are backwards meaning the last name comes first. Yao Ming has Yao on the back of his jersey. But guys like Dice-K and Hideki Nomo aren't like this, so i don't know

Answer 6

Because he is Japanese and he chose to do it that way. Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs had the choice too as to if he wanted his first or last name on his jersey, but he chose to go with his last name.

Answer 7

in japan their names are kind of reversed they are adressed as suzuki ichiro instead of ichiro suzuki as we know him as

Answer 8

Because people think he is a Motocross rider and not a baseball pleyer with Suzuki on his back.

Answer 9

In japan they have it so they only say there last name first and first name last

Answer 10

this question was asked about 2 days ago. Something to do with Japanese customs and addressing people by last name (which was Ichiro), something like that.

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