Japan bans Pikachu babies as new rules block flashy names like Pudding and Caesar. Parents must now specify kanji pronunciations, with officials reviewing 7 notorious examples—including Prince and Purin—saying, “child’s welfare must come first.”

Officials cite a 2015 study linking kira-kira names to higher ER visits, demanding parents explain every creative kanji twist. With Japan’s birthrate plunging, critics warn the crackdown risks stifling linguistic evolution—no more Pikachu on playground roll calls.

In 1994, Japan blocked the name Akuma (“devil”), but allowed one meaning “god”—a legendary naming paradox.