<p>At the time when this was originally posted in August 2016, <a href="http://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E6%A0%B9%E3%81%86%E3%81%BF%E3%81%93" rel="noreferrer">her entry on Pixiv's dictionary</a> only mentioned the origin of her surname but not the reason,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>沖縄県民特有の苗字で呼ばれることを嫌っている（理由は不明）。</p>
<p>She hates being called by her <em>Okinawans specific surname (unknown reason)</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>However</strong>, thanks to <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/44302/2516">Jimmy's answer referring to the official illustration book released in September 2016</a>, apparently it's because it sounds like a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju" rel="noreferrer"><em>kaijuu</em></a> (giant monsters genre that is popular in Japan).</p>
<hr />
<p>As for why it matches her appearance, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Prefecture" rel="noreferrer">Okinawa</a> is a prefecture comprises of <em>islands in tropical climate</em>, southernmost of Japan. That should explain her tanned skin due to sunburn.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEW_GAME!" rel="noreferrer">the article of NEW GAME! on Japanese Wikipedia</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>沖縄県出身で、日焼けした肌の持ち主。</p>
<p>Born in Okinawa, having tanned skin (lit. sunburnt skin)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T04:56:59.757Z
While this is official, as non Japanese and I never follow something like Ultraman I still don't get it how Ahagon sounds like a Kaijuu name. Mind to explain that bit?
Darjeeling
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T05:03:17.397Z
@Darjeeling I'll let Jimmy add that info first on his answer because it deserves a special recognition... otherwise, I'll add a short detail after the bounty.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T11:27:30.617Z
2018-01-20T04:55:38.007Z
2020-06-17T09:17:53.303Z
Aki Tanaka
<p>It might have to do with the fact that she is a military fan. There was apparently a famous Okinawan pacifist, named Shoko Ahagon, who spent his life opposing the military presence on Okinawa. Of course this had mainly to do with human rights abuses by the U.S. occupiers. 
It may suit her because she is so serious about getting work done right. Besides his campaign against the military, Shoko Ahagon was a Christian convert who admonished fellow Okinawans to live a respectable lifestyle, emphasizing issues such as temperance, and a proper work ethic. Of course this is all conjecture on my part.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-24T03:00:56.617Z
2016-08-24T03:00:56.617Z
Leigh
<p>Well, the first reason that came to my mind is that aho means stupid or idiotic in Japanese.  For example, ahoge is hair on dumb characters, and Aho-Girl is a show about a stupid girl.  So she probably hates her name because it sounds like idiot in Japanese.  The Okinawan people have unique names not found in Japan.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:14:32.533Z
2017-11-18T23:07:38.713Z
2017-11-18T23:07:38.713Z
Kohkisparten117
<p>Interesting point that may be a clue: 阿波根 in Chinese is translated to Apollo. You know, the sun god. Sun god - sun tan? Also the first NASA space mission burst into flames on the launchpad. Burnt. Like her skin?</p>

<p>I think the name in too many ways refers to her dark skin, as a result of her name sounding like the sun god's name in Chinese. And the mainland Japanese speakers are probably butchering the pronunciation of her name in Okinawan, which has roots in Japanese and Chinese... apparently. </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fqGt0l.png" alt="Chinese Translation of 阿波根"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-19T08:08:01.217Z
Not really, that's a wrong translation by Google Translate. According to [Chinese Wikipedia](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E7%BD%97), "Apollo" is "阿波**罗**", not "阿波**根**" (the 3rd character is different). In fact, [阿波根 doesn't mean anything in Chinese](http://ce.linedict.com/dict.html#/cnen/search?query=%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E6%A0%B9) (and any other online dictionaries).
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-19T07:54:50.660Z
2018-01-19T08:11:34.143Z
2018-01-19T08:11:34.143Z
Gaz66d
<p>While I had a feeling it was because it sounded like a kaijuu monster, I had no official confirmation until now. If you look at page 111 of the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MU07KJF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1" rel="noreferrer">New Game! illustration book Fairies Story</a>, it has an introduction of Umiko's setting, where it specifically states that </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>she has a complex about her name sounding like a kaijuu.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Note that Ahagon is a relatively rare name that comes from Okinawa. Most people would not be familiar with the name and if they've ever watched something like Ultraman as a kid, they might first think it's a kaijuu name, which is probably why it's become a complex for her.</p>

<p>Explanation about kaijuu
If you look at the list of <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E6%80%AA%E7%8D%A3%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7" rel="noreferrer">kaijuu of the Ultraman series</a>, you will see there are 98 monsters that end in "-gon". (Others include "-don", "-ton" "-mon" "-ron", and I believe it stems from how many dinosaurs end in "-don", so these endings give that same feeling of something large and powerful.)　It is a common game to add or change the end of a name to make it sound like a kaijuu. In English, I suppose it would like like adding "-(s)aurus" so the end of names to make them sound dinosaur-like".</p>

<p>As for "matching her appearance", I believe so because it she is Okinawan, and has a deep suntan. Okinawa is a tropical area of Japan, where it is warm most times of the year and with beautiful beaches, therefore it is full of heavily-tanned people. A bit stereotypical, but that's what a person would expect to see from an Okinawan.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T04:24:09.470Z
Great answer with the official source! Apparently, there's also [an interesting writing in Japanese about this *~gon* phenomena on Okinawa](http://okinawa-houtouki.com/%E7%AE%A1%E5%B7%BB%E3%81%8D/post-8777/) that claims since *Ahagon* and *Hiyagon* sound like a *kaijuu*, most of the times they are read as *Ahane* and *Hiyane* instead.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T04:35:29.970Z
while this is official, as non Japanese and I never follow something like Ultraman I still don't get it how Ahagon sounds like a Kaijuu name. Mind to explain that bit? Also, is there any explanation of how it match her appearance?
Darjeeling
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-20T05:22:58.247Z
@Darjeeling Updated my answer. Hope this helps.
Jimmy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-19T19:57:19.747Z
2018-01-20T05:28:51.353Z
2018-01-20T05:28:51.353Z
Jimmy
<p>Ahagon doesn't like her given name and introduced herself as Umiko. And Kou said her name matches her appearance.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EWAOy.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EWAOy.jpg" alt="New Game! Chapter 15"></a></p>

<p>Why is she embarrassed with her name? And how does it match her appearance? She pretty much always looks like this</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/e8Jcu.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/e8Jcu.jpg" alt="Ahagon Umiko&#39;s expression"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-30T19:33:10.870Z
I found this on a wiki, though it's unsourced: `Umiko hates it when people call her by her last name, "Ahagon" because it sounds like "Ahegao".` Funny if it's true.
Kaithar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-19T08:28:00.953Z
@Kaithar you can blame [this anonymous user with only 1 contribution](http://new-game.wikia.com/wiki/Ahagon_Umiko?diff=857&oldid=763) for that revision...
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-19T11:20:32.243Z
@AkiTanaka such sad, seemed too good to be true :(
Kaithar
<new-game>
Why is Ahagon embarrased with her name? And how does it match her appearance?
# Why is Ahagon embarrased with her name? And how does it match her appearance?
Posted by: username_0 on 2016-08-12
Ahagon doesn't like her given name and introduced herself as Umiko. And Kou said her name matches her appearance.

[![New Game! Chapter 15](https://i.sstatic.net/EWAOy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/EWAOy.jpg)

Why is she embarrassed with her name? And how does it match her appearance? She pretty much always looks like this

[![Ahagon Umiko's expression](https://i.sstatic.net/e8Jcu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/e8Jcu.jpg)
**Tags:** new-game
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I found this on a wiki, though it's unsourced: `Umiko hates it when people call her by her last name, "Ahagon" because it sounds like "Ahegao".` Funny if it's true.  
> **username_2**: @Kaithar you can blame [this anonymous user with only 1 contribution](http://new-game.wikia.com/wiki/Ahagon_Umiko?diff=857&oldid=763) for that revision...  
> **username_1**: @AkiTanaka such sad, seemed too good to be true :(  
---
## 5 answers
### Answer by username_6 on 2018-01-19. Score: 10 | Accepted answer
While I had a feeling it was because it sounded like a kaijuu monster, I had no official confirmation until now. If you look at page 111 of the [New Game! illustration book Fairies Story](https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MU07KJF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), it has an introduction of Umiko's setting, where it specifically states that

> she has a complex about her name sounding like a kaijuu.

Note that Ahagon is a relatively rare name that comes from Okinawa. Most people would not be familiar with the name and if they've ever watched something like Ultraman as a kid, they might first think it's a kaijuu name, which is probably why it's become a complex for her.

Explanation about kaijuu
If you look at the list of [kaijuu of the Ultraman series](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E6%80%AA%E7%8D%A3%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7), you will see there are 98 monsters that end in "-gon". (Others include "-don", "-ton" "-mon" "-ron", and I believe it stems from how many dinosaurs end in "-don", so these endings give that same feeling of something large and powerful.)　It is a common game to add or change the end of a name to make it sound like a kaijuu. In English, I suppose it would like like adding "-(s)aurus" so the end of names to make them sound dinosaur-like".

As for "matching her appearance", I believe so because it she is Okinawan, and has a deep suntan. Okinawa is a tropical area of Japan, where it is warm most times of the year and with beautiful beaches, therefore it is full of heavily-tanned people. A bit stereotypical, but that's what a person would expect to see from an Okinawan.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2018-01-20): Great answer with the official source! Apparently, there's also [an interesting writing in Japanese about this *~gon* phenomena on Okinawa](http://okinawa-houtouki.com/%E7%AE%A1%E5%B7%BB%E3%81%8D/post-8777/) that claims since *Ahagon* and *Hiyagon* sound like a *kaijuu*, most of the times they are read as *Ahane* and *Hiyane* instead.  
> **username_0** (2018-01-20): while this is official, as non Japanese and I never follow something like Ultraman I still don't get it how Ahagon sounds like a Kaijuu name. Mind to explain that bit? Also, is there any explanation of how it match her appearance?  
> **username_6** (2018-01-20): @Darjeeling Updated my answer. Hope this helps.  
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-16. Score: 5
At the time when this was originally posted in August 2016, [her entry on Pixiv's dictionary](http://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E6%A0%B9%E3%81%86%E3%81%BF%E3%81%93) only mentioned the origin of her surname but not the reason,

> 沖縄県民特有の苗字で呼ばれることを嫌っている（理由は不明）。
>
> She hates being called by her *Okinawans specific surname (unknown reason)*.

**However**, thanks to [Jimmy's answer referring to the official illustration book released in September 2016](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/44302/2516), apparently it's because it sounds like a [*kaijuu*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju) (giant monsters genre that is popular in Japan).

---

As for why it matches her appearance, [Okinawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Prefecture) is a prefecture comprises of *islands in tropical climate*, southernmost of Japan. That should explain her tanned skin due to sunburn.

From [the article of NEW GAME! on Japanese Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEW_GAME!),

> 沖縄県出身で、日焼けした肌の持ち主。
>
> Born in Okinawa, having tanned skin (lit. sunburnt skin)
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2018-01-20): While this is official, as non Japanese and I never follow something like Ultraman I still don't get it how Ahagon sounds like a Kaijuu name. Mind to explain that bit?  
> **username_2** (2018-01-20): @Darjeeling I'll let Jimmy add that info first on his answer because it deserves a special recognition... otherwise, I'll add a short detail after the bounty.  
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-24. Score: 3
It might have to do with the fact that she is a military fan. There was apparently a famous Okinawan pacifist, named Shoko Ahagon, who spent his life opposing the military presence on Okinawa. Of course this had mainly to do with human rights abuses by the U.S. occupiers.
It may suit her because she is so serious about getting work done right. Besides his campaign against the military, Shoko Ahagon was a Christian convert who admonished fellow Okinawans to live a respectable lifestyle, emphasizing issues such as temperance, and a proper work ethic. Of course this is all conjecture on my part.
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2017-11-18. Score: 0
Well, the first reason that came to my mind is that aho means stupid or idiotic in Japanese. For example, ahoge is hair on dumb characters, and Aho-Girl is a show about a stupid girl. So she probably hates her name because it sounds like idiot in Japanese. The Okinawan people have unique names not found in Japan.
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2018-01-19. Score: -4
Interesting point that may be a clue: 阿波根 in Chinese is translated to Apollo. You know, the sun god. Sun god - sun tan? Also the first NASA space mission burst into flames on the launchpad. Burnt. Like her skin?

I think the name in too many ways refers to her dark skin, as a result of her name sounding like the sun god's name in Chinese. And the mainland Japanese speakers are probably butchering the pronunciation of her name in Okinawan, which has roots in Japanese and Chinese... apparently.

![Chinese Translation of 阿波根](https://i.sstatic.net/fqGt0l.png)
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2018-01-19): Not really, that's a wrong translation by Google Translate. According to [Chinese Wikipedia](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E7%BD%97), "Apollo" is "阿波**罗**", not "阿波**根**" (the 3rd character is different). In fact, [阿波根 doesn't mean anything in Chinese](http://ce.linedict.com/dict.html#/cnen/search?query=%E9%98%BF%E6%B3%A2%E6%A0%B9) (and any other online dictionaries).  
---
