>besides being annoying that I was almost always one of many in every class all throughout school.


:D
My ex was Miia and in her class there was also, Tiia and Piia, all with the same last name, none of them related. :D

>Oddly they pronounce it more correct in Japan than they ever did in America.

Do they make more effort?

> but also gave normal but somewhat uncommon English middle names that they can use if they move to an English speaking country when they get older just to make it easier.

This happened in my family too. I have a "normal" middle name.

>But I'm content to just step away from that and let these young kids duke it out.

If only it was young kids. Bandwagon jumping is real in all generations now.