Mori: Kazuo or Issei? (E+J)

[Aaron Gerow]

It is easier transliterating Japanese names when you are working in 
fields like literature which not only have many name dictionaries, but 
also allow you to use the Diet Library authority files. Like with LC in 
the US, the Diet Library is supposed to be the authority on name 
readings. But in general, the person has to have published a book to 
appear in there, which doesn't help all of us who are looking for 
obscure staff names. But since libraries are increasingly collecting 
videos and there are some books on and by film people, it does always 
help to try looking up name readings in Webcat. Thus the Diet Library 
does give Kazuo as Mori's personal name.

Which you use, however, is a matter of debate. I personally tend 
towards using the Diet Library version because readers, if they are 
looking things up in the library or any other database that relies on 
authority files, will use that reading as well. It is a matter of 
courtesy and avoids confusion. But there are times where the 
non-authoritative reading has become so popular that it is odd not to 
use it. To use an example of a film critic, Abe Kasho, his name is 
officially Abe Yoshiaki according to the Diet Library and all his 
numerous books are filed under that name. No one, however, calls him 
that. American libraries, in fact, seem to use Kasho, for some reason. 
Then there's the problem that for some other reason Abe-san has decided 
to call himself "Casio" in English, even though no American library 
will ever use that name when cataloging his Japanese books (even his 
recent translated book will not be cataloged under "Casio"--that is 
only an alternative name).

Ah, the confusion.

But do remember there are some other source books for name readings of 
film people. Nichigai Associates has put out many such books in 
different fields, including one in film (Eizo media sakka jinmei jiten) 
that is one of the few to include people other than directors and 
actors, and one in anime and manga.

This also recently appeared (Nihon eiga jinmei jiten sutaffu hen), 
though I have not checked it out for accuracy.

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     * ???: ????????(?????) ; ISBN: 4760303332 ; (2005/02)


Aaron Gerow
KineJapan owner

Assistant Professor
Film Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
Yale University

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