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[João](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o) is a Portuguese name which has
a peculiar pronunciation that is very difficult for foreign people. It is the
Portuguese equivalent to the English John, but the pronunciations are very
different. If you see that Wikipedia page, it might help get a grasp of the
correct pronunciation. However, I have no idea how this name would be
represented in kana...

Does anyone know what might be the correct kana for this name?
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2012-07-11T15:04:05.540
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katakana names
Correct kana for João
> Does anyone know what might be the correct kana for this name?

It is your name, so you are entitled to choose the correct kana.

However, there is historical precedent for ジョアン. There is a famous Portuguese
missionary João Rodrigues who came to Japan in the late 16th century. He left
several important books including "Arte da Lingoa de Iapam" (日本大文典) and "Arte
breue da lingoa Iapoa" (日本小文典). In Japanese he is known as ジョアン・ロドリゲス. Hence,
ジョアン is quite likely.
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2012-07-11T15:20:45.457
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2012-10-10T00:00:39.663
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Like the Poster "Dono" said, you can choose your own characters when you come
to live in Japan and register as a temporary citizen. But, you need to be
consistent in everything you register. If you register for one thing with a
certain kana style, like a bank account, and then change your mind later and
register for a credit card account with a different kana, they will NOT be
able to link both names. So, you should think carefully and once you choose a
combination, you need to stick with it forever (or else, you will face some
nasty bureaucracy and problems). Also, you need to consider the easiness of
typing that kana combination hundreds of times.

And like the poster above mentioned, there is indeed a strong precedent for
ジョアン. I am Portuguese too, but my name is not Joao. You will not be able to
transcribe the current Portuguese pronunciation of Joao successfully, I can
guarantee that. If you move to Japan and follow this precedent, at least some
more Japanese people will be able to remember and write your name, as opposed
to you finding a more obscure combination of sounds. Even if you find it cute
to create a more complicated combination of kana, this might work against you
during your everyday life in Japan. So, once again, consider these things, and
if you decide to go against the precedent, be consistent and stick with it
until the end.
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2012-10-09T06:18:32.727
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I'd recommend you, just like some other contributors have said before, to
stick to a simple and easy remembering combination, such as イオアウ or ジョアウ.

Those combinations resemble its real portuguese pronunciation and will give
you less troubles when typing it, and registering everywhere.

Greetings from Colombia.
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2012-10-10T16:04:58.277
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It's my name, too. I'm from Brazil and if people call me ジョアン, I'll never
think they're referring to me (no one here pronounces "ョ", and the ending "アン"
sounds rather feminine).

The closest I could find to the way we pronounce João here is ジュオン.

I know it sounds like a horror movie, which can be odd, but there's a musician
who goes by this name, too: <http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2133227655867022401>

Do you think it'd sound aggressive? Or laughable?
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