Silly Hikaru Utada Question About Her Name

[Uemarasan]

This is an extremely silly question, but I'm a silly guy, so here goes nothing:

Well, I've been a Hikaru Utada fan for quite some time now, and I've always either referred to her as Utada Hikaru (when I speak), Hikaru Utada (online), or Hikki (in fan forums), but I've never ever called her just plain Utada. So I'm just wondering why so many fans call her by her last name? I know that's the name she uses in the US (aside from Cubic U), but to me it just sounds weird whenever her fans call her Utada. It's like saying "Hamasaki", "Nakashima", "Hirai", or "Wong". It seems very, uh, high school roll call?

Of course, this could just be me being weird. Again

easier perhaps? i've always called her Hikki. hmm..
i've always thought Utada was her first name.

[Luv ~Venus~]

Originally Posted by austin. ♥

easier perhaps? i've always called her Hikki. hmm..
i've always thought Utada was her first name.

I Know! lol I was so confused...I'm like "It's Utada Hikaru, Hikaru is her last name!" (lol) I've been her Hikki though for the past year and a half bcuz everyone was saying it and it was sorta...catchy?! Besides, Hikaru Utada is so, ugh, dry. It just doesn't sound right! Hikki and Utada does though. If I was to vote between the two, I'd choose Utada as the best name to call her.

[sora2522]

maybe cuz she released exodus as Utada? *shrugs*

[Uemarasan]

Utada Hikaru just rolls off the tongue better than Hikaru Utada. Anyway, Utada Hikaru is the Japanese arrangement of her name

Originally Posted by sora2522

maybe cuz she released exodus as Utada? *shrugs*

Yeah, I already mentioned that in my original post

[SKYia]

got the same with Koda Kumi, I always thought Koda is her name. I was soooo wrong :]

[Luv ~Venus~]

^I always refer to her as Kumiko! Her name, Kumi, is to close to Kuma's name! I hate that! Hmmm...I wonder what name Hikki prefers??? I'm thinkin' she likes Utada better! hehe

[fanmail]

it's Hikaru Utada? the kanji is Utada Hikaru, and then don't they switch the names around or something? x\

[Luv ~Venus~]

Originally Posted by fanmail

it's Hikaru Utada? the kanji is Utada Hikaru, and then don't they switch the names around or something? x\

Yea....that's right but Utada Hikaru still sounds better. I wish I could say the same for Ayumi....Hamasaki Ayumi! No way!

[fanmail]

omg what. I always call her Hamasaki Ayumi. and Kumi Koda sounds so ... cheap.

[Partino]

Hamasaki Ayumi is more diva-ish and Ayumi Hamasaki is a lil more welcoming ... I always call her AYU ..... even if I'm talking to people who don't know whom I'm talking about

[taskinillusion]

Maybe because for native English speakers it's easier to say Utada than Hikaru?

Hamasaki Ayumi is the formal Japanese way of writing her name just like Utada Hikaru and Koda Kumi are the formal Japanese way for their names. They put last name first in formal arrangements.

[Partino]

so now you have to explain why it should be harder to say "HIKARU" than "UTADA" ...

[Weslicious]

Originally Posted by fanmail

omg what. I always call her Hamasaki Ayumi. and Kumi Koda sounds so ... cheap.

Like Utada though people more often say Koda Kumi with the 'surname' first.

Having said that, because some stars mix and match, if I'm not a huge fan there are time's I'm not sure which is their first name

[Raiu-Ayu]

I've always called her Utada. Hikaru just sounds like a cheap version of Hikari to me (not to offend anyone XD)

I can't call her Hikki cuz I always think of a love bite when someone says it XD

[taskinillusion]

Originally Posted by Partino

so now you have to explain why it should be harder to say "HIKARU" than "UTADA" ...

I don't know, it was just a guess. I've heard some people completely butcher the name "Hikaru."

[Partino]

maybe in the deep south ... but the rest???

[taskinillusion]

Originally Posted by Partino

maybe in the deep south ... but the rest???

O_o I live in the Deep South and not everyone who lives here (especially those who live on the COAST) sound like freakin' rednecks thank you.

And YES it's possible for people to screw up names they're not familiar with hearing.

[Partino]

sorry ... no offence to you, your family and friends ... but most people I had the pleasure to meet sounded like that ... but that's another story

but HI KA RU ... who hard can it be to pronounce that ... ^-~

[Luv ~Venus~]

^Just as hard as it is to say U TA DA