Order of names

[Gylfi]

I'm a bit confused about how you read and say Japanese names. I always thought the names were read in the order they appear (family name then given name) but I've been watching some films where characters introduce themselves in the regular Western order of name+surname. Perhaps this is an old custom (the films are quite old)? Anyway, which order do you actually read/say Japanese names?

 

[Mike Cash]

In Japanese, family name first. Many people will reverse the order (family name last) when speaking to non-Japanese people, especially when outside Japan and speaking a different language.

 

[Gylfi]

In Japanese, family name first. Many people will reverse the order (family name last) when speaking to non-Japanese people, especially when outside Japan and speaking a different language.

Maybe the subtitles are incorrect then? I was watching Seven Samurai and when Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba's character) introduces himself I'm certain he says: Katayama Gorōbei. Both Wikipedia and imdb list his name as Gorōbei Katayama. This same thing happened in another movie I watched, and in both cases the characters were native Japanese speakers. The name would appear in reverse order and the characters would say them in the "right" order (or vice versa).

 

[Angel Valis]

Maybe the subtitles are incorrect then? I was watching Seven Samurai and when Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba's character) introduces himself I'm certain he says: Katayama Gorōbei. Both Wikipedia and imdb list his name as Gorōbei Katayama. This same thing happened in another movie I watched, and in both cases the characters were native Japanese speakers. The name would appear in reverse order and the characters would say them in the "right" order (or vice versa).

Many anime reverse the name order in subtitles so that (presumably) the audience, more familiar with given name first, will understand which is the character's given name.