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My name is "Leonardo Makoto" (given names) "Mito" (surname) because, in my
country, it is common for Nisei and Sansei to have a foreign first name and a
Japanese second name (so my family can call me Makoto and everyone else can
call me Leonardo). Now, I am going to spend a year in Japan as an exchange
student and I am worried about how to present myself and write my name since I
do not speak Japanese.

> I intend to present myself as "Mito Makoto" to make it easier for them to
> pronounce my name. Is this a good idea or should I stick with "Mito
> Leonardo"?

I know the Kanji for my family name is {{ja:三登}} and "Makoto" was not intended
to mean anything.

> How are second-names written in Japan? In particular, how should I write my
> name?

Should it be in Katakana {{ja:レオナルド・マコト・ミト}}, with only the surname in Kanji
hiding my foreign name {{ja:三登 まこと}}, choosing a random Kanji for "Makoto"
{{ja:三登 誠}}, or a mixture of everything {{ja:三登 レオナルド 誠}}?

Thanks in advance!

**Edit:**

I was asked by Kyoto University to provide the Kanji for my family name, if
available. Then, I asked my aunt (who lives in Japan) for it on Facebook and
she replied {{ja:三登}}. This same person said it was pronounced {{ja:ミト}}.
However, my aunt might not be very proficient in the Japanese language.

Based on the answers and comments, I understood Kanji is somewhat confusing
and I should avoid it while I am not familiar with Japanese. I shall write my
name in full katakana, then.
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question
katakana names kanji-choice
How to write foreign names that are mixed with Japanese names?
I think the most natural way you can present it is 三登 レオナルド・マコト you put the
dot to separate your given names and then first is the surname.
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I don't have any advice about what kind of name Japanese people will find the
most pleasing, but there are various regulations about what you put on various
documents such as your "My Number" card, your Zairyu card, your registered
inkan, or your driving licence, and the worst part is that they all differ
from each other. To the best of my recollection from a discussion with someone
trying to use a kanji name they had invented themselves, using a kanji name
can actually be difficult for some purposes unless you come from a kanji-using
country and you have an ID with the kanji on it from your home country.

If you want to save your sanity probably the best bet is to use katakana
version of the name.

The place you can find experts on this kind of topic is [the Japan life group
on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife).
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> I intend to present myself as "Mito Makoto" to make it easier for them to
> pronounce my name. Is this a good idea or should I stick with "Mito
> Leonardo"?

First of all, I'm doubting if you should stick to the name as "Mito Makoto"
since if Japanese native speakers heard "Leonard Makoto" aka レオナルド・マコト, then
most of the Japanese people I believe would instantly notice you have a family
historical Japanese relationship.

> Should it be in Katakana レオナルド・マコト・ミトウ, with only the surname in Kanji
> hiding my foreign name ミ登 まこと, choosing a random Kanji for "Makoto" ミ登 誠, or
> a mixture of everything ミ登 レオナルド 誠?

According to [**this
page,**](https://name.sijisuru.com/Fname/search?moji=%E3%81%BF%E3%81%A8%E3%81%86&option=0&pages=0)
, the surname you inherited was in Japanese probably in ranking in case if it
is read as **Mitou** ,

> 1 見当
>
> 2 見藤
>
> 3 見富
>
> 4 見籐
>
> 5 御藤
>
> 6 御任
>
> 7 三刀
>
> 8 三東
>
> 9 三籐
>
> 10 実藤

* * *

> If your inherited surname is read as **Mito** , according to the same page,
>
> 1 見戸
>
> 2 光戸
>
> 3 三計
>
> 4 三津
>
> 5 **三登**
>
> 6 三都
>
> 7 三刀
>
> 8 水戸
>
> 9 水渡

So, actually your surname, originally speaking, either called Mitou or Mito,
is actually rare, ( I have not met anyone in my 40 years more life who has the
surname which can be read either ( May be I am the only one. )

So after all, the best option I recommend is, you simply write your whole name
"レオナルド・ミトウ" or "レオナルド・ミト" in especially Katakana, since most people notice
your parents or grandparent is Japanese origin.
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