Japan Stage Names & Real Names (本名)

Quick answer: In Japan, performers, writers, athletes and even historical warlords very often go by a name that is not their birth name. Stage names (芸名 geimei), pen names (ペンネーム / 筆名 hitsumei), sumo ring names (四股名 shikona) and gamer handles are all common. This section lists the real name (本名 honmyō) behind each one, but only when the person, their agency, or a reliable published source has made it public.

Why so many Japanese names are not "real" names

Name-changing has deep roots in Japan. Before the modern era, a samurai could have a childhood name, an adult name, court titles and a Buddhist name over one lifetime. Writers in the Meiji era (1868–1912) took literary pen names, a habit that continues with manga artists and novelists today. Traditional arts and comedy use stage names passed from teacher to student. Sumo wrestlers get a shikona from their stable, and many wrestlers born outside Japan are known almost only by theirs.

The entertainment industry added more layers. Idol agencies and voice-acting companies often choose short, memorable stage names. Game companies in the 1980s and 1990s credited staff under aliases, partly so rival companies could not easily recruit them. Pro wrestlers wear masks and characters. Esports players compete under handles.

What you'll find here

• J-pop and idols: stage names and their public real names
• Anime voice actors (声優 seiyū)
• Manga and anime creators' pen names
• Sumo ring names (四股名 shikona)
• Pro wrestlers (プロレスラー)
• Comedians (お笑い owarai)
• Novelists' pen names
• VTubers: only people who have revealed themselves publicly
• Game creators' credit aliases
• Esports and fighting-game handles
• Samurai and warlord names (幼名, 諱, 法名)
• Ninja: fact vs. legend
• Yōkai and folklore aliases (妖怪)
• Game characters' real-life inspirations: only those the creators confirmed

Every profile shows the name in Japanese script, gives a short answer you can quote, and lists its sources. Lore pages clearly label what is history and what is legend.

Our privacy rule

Many idols, voice actors and VTubers keep their real names private on purpose. We list a 本名 only when the person or their agency has made it public, or when it is widely documented in reliable sources (for example, an official profile, the Japan Sumo Association, NHK, Oricon, or major newspapers). We do not publish rumors, leaks or "doxxing." If you think an entry is wrong or should be removed, use the submit form and we will review it.

Play the quiz

Think you know your seiyū from your shikona? Try Guess the Real Name: Japan Edition — 20 questions, from Edo-era ninja to Capcom credit rolls.

FAQ

What does 本名 (honmyō) mean? 本名 means "real name," the legal name a person was registered with. Japanese fans often search 「名前 本名」 to find it. Its opposite is 芸名 (geimei, stage name).

Why do sumo wrestlers have different names? A sumo wrestler's ring name (shikona) is usually given by his stable master and often uses kanji tied to the stable or its past stars. Wrestlers can change their shikona during their careers.

Did samurai really have several names? Yes. A samurai usually had a childhood name (幼名 yōmei), took an adult name at his coming-of-age ceremony, and might take a Buddhist name (法名) later. Takeda Shingen's "Shingen" is a Buddhist name; his given name was Harunobu.

Why do Japanese game credits use nicknames? Many 1980s–90s studios credited staff under aliases. Developers have said one reason was to stop rival companies from poaching staff. Examples include Keiji Inafune ("Inafking") and Yuji Naka ("YU2").

Do you list VTubers' real identities? Only when the person has publicly revealed themselves. We never list leaked or rumored identities.