> In Japan, over 90% of people who are adopted are what age?And the answer: adults. Japan has the world's second highest adoption rate, but most of the peopleadopted are adult men in their 20s and 30s. The strategy goes back thousands ofyears, when business owners without sons needed a successor to keep the businessin the family.This unique, Japanese-style style adoption is commonly referred to as Mukoyoshi.It is an ancient practice that is believed to have started the firstgenerational business practice. Some 1300 years ago, it is said that the god ofMount Haku visited Buddhist monk Taicho Daishi in a dream and told him to find ahot spring in nearby village. When Daishi discovered the spring, he ordered hispupil Garyo Hoshi to build a guest house. Garyo Hoshi, in turn, preachedBuddhism to his visitors and adopted a son as his successor who took hischildhood name Zengoro. According to Guinness World Records, this is the firstknown instance of family business inheritance.Today, the practice remains popular. Many large companies are still consideredto be family-run businesses through this system of adoption. When it comes timeto pass the torch, company owners will adopt their daughter's husband or anotheryoung, capable man. The young man will then change his name to that of thebusiness. Did you know?Only 150 years ago, people did not have family names unless they came from asignificant social class of Samurai. Often, when people added or changed theirfamily names, it was an honor or award for an accomplishment or aspiration.