AboutJapan, for beginners - Japanese name(1)

In Japanese text, surname is in front.
For example, Asô Tarô's surname is Asô, and Tarô is his personal name.
But when we show our names to foreigners, particulary to westerners, we often reverse the positions of surname and personal name.
Asô Tarô is also written, Tarô Asô.
Doing so was originally our good will to westerners. Westterner's personal name is in front of names.
We made consideration to their custom.
But now it makes us confused. There are two Japanese, one writes its surname in front, and another writes its personal name in front, in English text.
As a result, foreigners can't know what is his surname or personal name.
I write surname in front about Japanese name on this blog.
And I will write surname in capital letter to show clearly that it is surname.

There were two types of surname in Japan.
Clan name and family name.
Usually, only family name is used now. Most of young men don't know what are their clan names.
My family name is Itô. And my clan name is Fujiwara.
My personal name is Kazuma.
So I am called usually Itô Kazuma.
When clan name is used, I am called Fujiwara no Kazuma.
When we use clan name, in front of personal name, "no" is put.
"no" means "of". A no B = B of A.
So, Fujiwara no Kazuma means that, Kazuma who belongs to Fujiwara clan.
Conversely, when there is "no" in names, the front name of "no" isn't family name, but clan name.
Like Mononobe no Moriya, or Fujiwara no Kamatari.
TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, the first shôgun of Edo bakufu, belonged to Minamoto clan.
So he was also called, Minamoto no Ieyasu.