Incidental Occxie

The joy of nicknames with endless possibilities associating someone or something with apt terminology.

Having run across the entire spectrum of humankind, most of them Japanese—it is Japan after all—the opportunity to bestow appropriate names abound.

Depending on personal disposition and status inside the organization or circle, these terms of endearment ran the gamut while nicknaming with a tart tongue and a smattering of love and affection.

Once upon a time a colleague was tedious as well as clueless, thus she was referred to as—Mud—an accurate reflection to be sure as most interaction with her were as clear as mud.

We have all met them—spiteful, gossipy, and filled to the brim with malice—this foul cretin’s loyalties changed as often as her undergarments—this particular vile beast being deservedly christened as Toad.

Rounding out our trio of office-ladies is the ultimate power broker perched upon a petty tyrannical throne, these women control the men, who are still pretending to be in charge—true power lies in pulling strings from behind the scene can only be referred to as one thing—The Dark Queen.

Coming into Japanese culture as an adult, naming conventions of the Japanese held some fascination.

The Japanese frequently use the same kanji for successive generations—case in point—The Big Girl’s family—father, brother, and son share a common kanji in their respective names—俊.

Often Japanese names are given with a purposeful intention, for example a common female name Noriko (典子) reads as dictionary child.

This particular father expressed the intention for his daughter through her name to do well at school—which in fact she did, as a native Japanese graduate of the prestigious McGill university with an accounting degree—with a proud beaming father.

On the other hand, coming from ancestors with long name happening into the Land Of The Rising Son, this given name far too long to be of any practical use when interacting with the Japanese—in particular on the phone when trying to spell it out, the Japanese simply are not familiar with Western names.

Actually, this was not just the case in the land of Japan.

As a 12 year-old visiting a country stampede, the notion was to challenge the bucking bull—the announcer after failing to read the name a couple of time simply refereed to the next contestant as—alphabet.

First: 7 letters—5 katakana

Middle: 4 letters—3 katakana

Last: 11 letters—6 katakana

It is a peculiar feeling to come to this eclectic land as a young man and to have seen the ebb and flow of life—wake up one day after 30+ years—although the colour remains the same, this long name is bound to change as the caterpillar morphs into a butterfly that stings like a bee.

Thus, so it will be—a Japanese name to reflect the change, to live life as a caucasian Japanese—herein continues a long and spellbinding story, it will have to suffice, as a matter of course, now considered as—Incidental Occxie—Number None.