I really thought whether I should or not, but the more I thought about it and looked up after having several debates on this in past chapters. It really is just the definition of racisms. A majority trampling on a culture. I couldn't find a county in the world that deem it proper or right to change names like this. Its so universally seen as wrong I couldn't find examples or anything really aside from just don't do it. There a lot of advocates for changing it here, and what their reasons all boil down to is, I don't want to have to remember a foregone word, or this name is hard to remember, or I'm not used to this word, its all lazy ignorance and discomfort with another culture and language. Many use the excuse that oh we are supposed to know it right away, but its not meant to be that blatant, the MC took many chapters to notice it and it was explained, so not even a TL note would be called for (which many had objections to as well) It was meant to be subtleish, so if some readers know what Niku means, and others don't that would be the correct reception.
So while it may seem dramatic, it fits the definition of racisms to a T, how bad of racism on a scale of 1-10 is up for debate.
I get the TL wanting to please the readers, but some things you just need to stand your ground on. There is a also a large percentage that don't comment and don't weigh in. Often do to very vocal and persistent types harassing many into silence as they just don't want to deal with them. I hope the TL realizes this isn't just about pleasing the vocal group, there is a reason it is internationally deemed improper and wrong.