Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix Now×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
business history

Why Larry Ellison Renamed His 191-Foot Yacht Izanami

Larry Ellison’s 191-foot yacht Izanami was renamed Ronin after local newspapers pointed out an awkward resemblance when its name was read backward.

By TheFinanceBase Team 2 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison renamed his 191-foot yacht Izanami to Ronin after local newspapers pointed out that “Izanami,” read backward with spaces added, resembles “I’m a Nazi.” The change was a response to an awkward wordplay problem, not a legal order or formal sanction. Ellison’s reported inspiration for the original name came from Shinto mythology.

What happened to Larry Ellison’s yacht?

Ellison bought the 191-foot yacht in 1999 and named it Izanami, according to The Times of Israel, which drew on JTA reporting. After local newspapers raised the backward-reading resemblance, Ellison changed the vessel’s name to Ronin. He later sold it, though the available account does not give the date of the renaming or sale.

The headline’s word “forced” is best understood conversationally: reporting describes Ellison choosing to change the name after the issue was pointed out. It does not report that a court, government agency, or other authority compelled him to do so.

Why was “Izanami” awkward when read backward?

Writing the name in reverse order produces “imanazI.” If the letters are then respaced and punctuated, the result can be read as “I’m a Nazi.” That is a visual and phonetic coincidence reported by newspapers; the sources do not establish that Ellison intended the message or had noticed the resemblance before it was brought to his attention.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What did Ellison say the name meant?

In an explanation attributed to Ellison’s 2013 biography Softwar: An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle, he connected the name to Shinto creation mythology. As quoted by The Times of Israel, Ellison said: “Izanami and Izanagi are the names of the two Shinto deities that gave birth to the Japanese islands, or so legend has it.”

The same account says Ellison described facing a choice between explaining Shintoism to local reporters and changing the yacht’s name. That reported explanation gives context for the original name, but it does not establish what he knew about the reverse spelling beforehand.

Rank #2
Sale
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
  • Ideal for Gifting
  • Ideal for a bookworm
  • Compact for travelling
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Was this one of Ellison’s later yachts?

No. Izanami, later renamed Ronin, was the 191-foot vessel in the anecdote. A January 2026 Vulture profile discusses other yachts in Ellison’s history, including a later 452-foot yacht and a subsequent 288-foot yacht. Those were separate vessels; the 191-foot Ronin should not be described as his current yacht.

The story resurfaced in January 2026 reporting, but the renaming itself is a historical episode. The available reports establish the purchase year, names and approximate length, but not the exact date of the name change or sale.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
SaleBestseller No. 2
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
Ideal for Gifting; Ideal for a bookworm; Compact for travelling
$10.99
SaleBestseller No. 5
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
It can be a gift option; Comes with secure packaging; Helpful in various ways
$9.15
Best Value
Sale
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
  • It can be a gift option
  • Comes with secure packaging
  • Helpful in various ways

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Money Desk

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.