科学｜名字が出世に影響する？ / Science | Does your surname affect your success?

Summary

Recent research has revealed that people with surnames starting with the “A” syllable are more likely to succeed in their careers. This is attributed to their names being more noticeable as they appear at the top of alphabetical lists. In a study conducted by Professor Yamamura, an analysis of 2,000 individuals showed that those with surnames like “Aoki” and “Inoue” tend to attract more attention. This research has been published in the journal of the Japanese Economic Association, providing an intriguing perspective.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey Log, is it true that your last name can affect your career? What do you mean by that?
Log: Well, according to recent research, it seems that people with last names starting with a vowel have a better chance of advancing in their careers. This is because when names are listed in alphabetical order, those at the top are more likely to catch people’s attention.
Chako: Wow, that’s kind of interesting! I might start feeling envious of people like Aoki or Inoue!
Navi: The results of this study could be considered an example of how social visibility can impact one’s career.
Log: Exactly. It shows that the first letter of your name is important.

Admin’s Note

This research provides a new perspective on the impact of first names and surnames on career advancement, and it is quite fascinating. In particular, the point about surnames starting with the “a” sound being more noticeable is something I wouldn’t usually consider. It has also prompted me to think about the power of names. It would be even more interesting if future studies looked into the career progression rates of surnames starting with other letters as well.