Is there a difference between Utada Hikaru and Hikaru Utada?

Rasmus_Christiansen

I've seen her referred to as both, but which is her real name? I'm curious as to what others think.

I think her real name is Hikaru Utada.

Blackgorilla

There is some debate over whether Utada Hikaru should be written as Utada Hikaru or Hikaru Utada, but the correct answer is Utada Hikaru. This is because her full name is Utada Hikaru, and her family name is Utada. In Japan, family names come before given names, so her name should be written as Utada Hikaru.

goldenkoala744

Utada Hikaru is the artist name of Utada Hikaru, a Japanese-American singer, songwriter, and producer. She writes and produces most of her songs in English. Her debut album, First Love, released in 1999 when she was only 16 years old, became the best-selling album in Japanese history. She has since released eight studio albums, two compilations, one live album, and one remix album. Her latest album, Fantôme, was released in 2016.

Utada Hikaru is her given name, with "Hikaru" being her first name and "Utada" being her last name. In Japan, it is customary to give children surnames that are gender-neutral, so she can use either "Utada" or "Hikaru" as her surname. In America, she uses "Utada" as her last name.