Why is it in japan, a person is called by his surname?

Question

when are they supposed to be called by their first name?

Answer 1

Orientals, in general, go by their surname first because the family is more important than the individual out in society or so I've been told.

Answer 2

Generally he or she isn't.

Countries within the Chinese cultural sphere write their surnames first and given name second. But they generally refer to each other by their given names.

Unless you mean like when we call Yao Ming "Yao" instead of "Ming" Chinese I know but still... That is simply because Western countries always get it wrong.

Answer 3

It's just a cultural difference and as already mentioned above surname comes first in Japan.

I only call someone with his/her given name when they are my close friends and even in these case I also call many of them with surnames or nicknames made from surnames.

Ah and I call my younger brother and girlfriend in given names but my younger brother call me only "aniki"or "niichan" that means "big brother".My parents and relatives are suppose to call me in my first name of course.

Calling someone in his/her suname sounds very friendly or intimate.