Why are Japanese names reversed?

Many Japanese names are based on locations or elements of nature, for example Yamashita (bottom of the mountain), Suzuki (bell tree), Kawaguchi (mouth of the river) etc. First names, especially for boys, often reflected the order of birth of those sons, Ichiro and Kazuo for first born, Jiro for second son, Saburo for third son etc. read more

The Japanese manage to survive having both Takamachi Nanoha and Subaru Nakajima in the same work, and I think that non-Japanese audiences can survive this as well. Also, Japanese is the only language where names are reversed. read more

It cites Japanese names the Western way, given name first, surname second. After the war, it was academic books like this study that took the lead in giving Japanese names as they are given in Japan, surname first. read more