April is the beginning of many things in Japan. It's the start of the fiscal year for the government and most companies; a new semester for students from grade school to university; and the start of a working career for graduates. It's also a good time of year in terms of weather (the cherry blossoms are great). People are excited about the start of spring and hopefulness abounds.

Anyone who spends some time in Japan and has experience interacting with people in this country will surely find that when Japanese introduce themselves, they tend to start with their affiliation to an organization such as their company or school, and then their name. In a majority of such occasions (except in casual settings or when specific instructions have been given to do otherwise), you find that a self-introduction in this order tends to be a quite boring list of facts. An interesting facet of April is that it marks a time when you may get a new identity that you use in introducing yourself.

I have thought about this rather unique order of self-introduction and began pondering whether the practice of stating one's affiliation first serves as "protective gear." It seems that if you work for a major established company with good brand name or you are a graduate of a good or well-known university, you are perceived to be smart and competent. The affiliation you describe first when you introduce yourself serves as a "certificate."