Japanese names in the Western media

[Samurai_Jerk]

Calm returns to southern Chinese city after anti-police riot

Anger flared after Li Guochao, 31, crashed into a lamppost after a local official threw a walkie-talkie at him as he sped away from a checkpoint, the city's public security bureau said in a statement.

Pyongyang's military inspects joint North-South industrial park

The delegation was led by Lieutenant General Kim Yong-Chol, top policy maker at the National Defence Commission chaired by leader Kim Jong-Il.

Hattori, Saiki lead by one stroke in Japan

Japan's Mayu Hattori and Miki Saiki shot 5-under 67s on Friday to share the Mizuno Classic lead, leaving Women's British Open champion Shin Ji-yai a stroke back in the event sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and Japan LPGA.

What do these stories have in common? Nothing really. However, I've always wondered why Chinese and Korean names are printed in family name, given name order in the English-language press while Japanese name are printed in given name, family name order. Does anyone know?

[Behan]

At my school a lot of the teachers and students seem to prefer give name first, family name second, too. I wonder if it sounds more exotic or more like they are really communicating in English.

[Choan]

Japan would seem to have an official policy of giving names in given-family name order when using English. Look at the English websites of the Foreign ministry, METI, etc - they all give their ministers names in that order.
I would guess that Korea and China have the opposite policy.