- 14 Mar 2002
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A recent study conducted by Seinan Gakuin University has suggested that Japanese people whose surnames begin with the vowels A, I, U, E, or O — the first row of the Japanese syllabary (五十音— gojūon) - may have a small but measurable advantage in life. The research found that those with such names often stand out more easily, which can make career progression slightly smoother. Names such as Aoki, Aida, or Inoue, the study noted, might evoke envy among people with less distinctive surnames. The findings were published in June in the Japanese Economic Review, the journal of the Japanese Economic Association.
Yamamura Eiji, a behavioural economics professor at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, explained that similar trends have been observed in Western studies, where individuals with surnames that appear early in the alphabet seem to benefit from subtle advantages. He added that when people are asked to select or recommend someone from a list, they tend to choose names that catch their attention first, rather than making detailed comparisons of each person's actual ability or record.
Yamamura Eiji, a behavioural economics professor at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, explained that similar trends have been observed in Western studies, where individuals with surnames that appear early in the alphabet seem to benefit from subtle advantages. He added that when people are asked to select or recommend someone from a list, they tend to choose names that catch their attention first, rather than making detailed comparisons of each person's actual ability or record.