What's in a (Japanese) name?

Can you imagine introducing yourself to a new acquaintance with "Hello, my name is Saito Ichiro Sama-no-kami Minamoto-no-Ason Tadayoshi, it's so nice to meet you"? Yikes! According to this article in The Japan Times Online, the Japanese naming convention of surname followed by personal name is a relatively new practice.

{Image "Green Pond" (circa 1927), by Takeuchi Seihō via Mellow Monk}