What's Ronald McDonald's name in Japan?

In Japan, Ronald McDonald is known as Donald McDonald. The name is written in Japanese as Donarudo Makudonarudo, reflecting the way the character’s name was adapted for local pronunciation and marketing.

Japanese does not distinguish English sounds in exactly the same way as English, and the “r” sound in “Ronald” is especially different. McDonald’s therefore used “Donald McDonald,” a version that was easier to say and fit more naturally into Japanese-language advertising. The character remains the same red-haired clown mascot associated with McDonald’s restaurants.

This is not a different mascot or a separate character created exclusively for Japan. It is a localized name, much like international brands sometimes alter product names, slogans, or mascots for linguistic and cultural reasons. Japan opened its first McDonald’s restaurant in Tokyo’s Ginza district in 1971, and the localized branding became part of the company’s identity there.