This article explores the origin of the name "Japan" in English and how it has changed over time. It is believed that the word was first used by Portuguese traders who visited Japan and adapted it from Nihon/Nippon, which were already being used by Europeans at that time to refer to Japan. By the 19th century, “Japan” had become widely accepted among English-speaking countries due to its prevalence among European traders, as well as popularized through literature such as James Clavell's novel Shogun (1975). Today, "Japan" is still commonly referred to both domestically and internationally due largely due its popularity among English-speaking countries since at least 1577 when Francis Xavier first used it in a letter.