Talk:Hirose Ayaka/@comment-26181155-20150308151626/@comment-76.68.124.57-20170601041807

The kanji that looks different in her two names is actually the same word, except in her stage name it is the post-1946 format ("Shinjitai") and her actual name uses the older format ("Kyūjitai"). While you are supposed to use the post-1946 format when writing in current times, families are given the choice whether to use the new or old kanji in their family name. Many chose to continue using the character(s) as written before the Second World War.