What Had Been Decided Before I Knew It

At some point, everyone gets divided into three patterns of how their friends call them—by surname, by nickname, or by given name.

For example, Suzuki Taro has options like Suzuki, Suzuyan, Sutchin, Taro,

and Yamada Hanako splits into Yamada, Yama-san, Hana-chan, Hanako.

Why they split I find a mystery; something I’d never even considered until now began to bother me.

I have a feeling the person’s character, looks, and personality greatly influence it, but I can’t say for certain.

Incidentally, I, Keita Kawasaki, have never once been called “Kawasaki”—I’ve gone on being called “Keita.”

So, what have you all been called? Won’t you join me in puzzling over this cause and effect with no clear conclusion—what it is that decides the name a person is called by?