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In-Migration Analysis of Japanese Surnames in Japan

Names: Cristino Tiburan Jr. Yusuke Toyoda

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Contents

• Represent Data and compare them by Counts, Percentage and Index

• Show what the geography of names infers us about people and places

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Background of Surnames

• Koda( 幸田） originated from Shimousa-no-kuni ( 下総国 ; now in Chiba and Ibaraki Pref).

• Watanabe( 渡辺 ) came from the area name, Watanabe, in Osaka. In 10th Century, a man (Sagagenji-no-tsuna) changed his surname to Watanabe(-no-tsuna) when he moved here from Musashi (Now in Tokyo).

• The origin of Kataoka （片岡） is in Ohmi (in Shiga) and Yamato (Nara).

• Koga （古賀） originated from North Kyusyu Area• As to Koizumi （小泉） , it is said that its origin is place

names but we have various accounts where it comes from, such as Nagano, Shizuoka, and Nara Pref, etc.

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SURNAME MINIMUM MAXIMUM MEANSTANDARD DEVIATION

Koda 2 592 100 126

Watanabe 351 39703 7059 7948

Kataoka 22 3429 766 842

Koga 2 13935 740 2097

Koizumi 8 5791 725 1170

SURNAME MINIMUM MAXIMUM MEANSTANDARD DEVIATION

Koda 0 12.6 2.1 2.7

Watanabe 0.1 12.0 2.1 2.4

Kataoka 0.6 9.5 2.1 2.3

Koga 0 40.1 2.1 6.0

Koizumi 0 17.0 2.1 3.4

POPULATION

PERCENTAGE

5

AKITA

TOKYO

0

592

6OKINAWA

TOKYO

351

39703

7

YAMAGATA

OSAKA

22

3429

8

AKITA

FUKUOKA

2

13935

9

SAGA TOKYO8

5791

10OKINAWA

TOKYO51298

525

11

AKITA

TOKYO

0%

12.6%

12

TOKYO

WAKAYAMA

OKINAWA

12.0%

0.1%

0.1%

13OKINAWA

IWATE

YAMAGATA

0.6%

0.6%

0.6%

OSAKA9.5%

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IWATE

YAMAGATA

AKITA

FUKUOKA

0%

0%

0%

40.1%

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SAGATOKYO0%17%

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Reason for Representation by Index

• When %( ),

figures are affected by total pop in prefectures.

• When Index( ),

figures are not affected by total pop in prefectures.

• More appropriate to compare how much surnames diffuse

N

L

S

S

100)/(

)/(

NL

NL

PP

SS

SL: Pop with a surname in a pref.SN: Pop with a surname in JapanPL: Pop in a pref.PN: Pop in Japan

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Represent names by Index (Koda[ 幸田 ]); Rank 1311

• Tend to concentrate around Tokyo and West Japan, especially in Tokushima Pref.

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Represent names by Index (Watanabe[ 渡辺 ]); Rank 9

• Diffuse into whole of Japan, especially into East Japan, Especially in Fukushima and Niigata Pref.

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Represent names by Index (Kataoka[ 片岡 ]) Rank 203

• Diffuse, especially, into West Japan, especially in Kochi and Okayama Pref.

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Represent names by Index (Koga[ 古賀 ]); Rank 213

• Concentrate on North Kyusyu Area, especially around Echizen Area (Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki Pref.)

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Represent names by Index (Koizumi [ 小泉 ]); Rank 219

• Diffuse widely, especially in Kanto Area

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Although Koda`s population is less than 750 in all prefectures, great percentage of this surname can be observed in Tokyo, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. However, the possibility of encountering Koda is higher in Tokushima

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Watanabe is well spread in the country but significant percentage of this surname is in the Kanto and south of Tohoku region. You may also have greater chance of meeting people with this surname in Yamanashi, Fukushima and Niigata

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The distribution of Kataoka surname in Japan is observed to concentrate in the Kanto and Kansai regions. But greater chance of meeting them in Kochi and Okayama

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The distribution of Koga surname follows the same trend in all population, percentage and index maps which generally concentrates in the South and Southwest portions

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Most population and percentage distributions of Koizumi surname has been observed in the Kanto region and in Hokkaido and Osaka. However, the chance of meeting them is higher in Yamanashi, Aomori, and Ibaraki

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Surname and place name(Koda[ 幸田 ])

It seems that many people with surname, Koda, tend to live near places with name, Koda.

• Exception is Tokushima Pref.

No. of place

Green bars show the number of places with the name of Koda, accodring to JapanKnowledge.

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From place name (Koda[ 幸田 ])

• JapanKnowledge shows Kochi has no place name of Koda, however, in fact Kochi has it as small districs

Ex.

Koda, Tachibana-cho, Anan City, Tokushima Pref. ( 徳島県阿南市橘町幸田 )

Oaza-Koda, Sanakawachi-Mura, Nakata-County, Tokushima Pref. ( 徳島県名東郡佐那河内村上字幸田 )

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Represent names by Index (Watanabe[ 渡辺 ]); Rank 9

• Diffuse into whole of Japan, especially into East Japan, Especially in Fukushima and Niigata Pref.

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Its origin and place name(Watanabe[ 渡辺 ])

• It is clear that the population of this surname is not connected to the place name, Watanabe, now.

Green bars show the number of places with the name of Watanabe, accoring to JapanKnowledge.

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Migration through wars (invasion)(Watanabe[ 渡辺 ])

• A man (Sagagenji-no-tsuna) changed his surname to Watanabe(-no-tsuna) when he moved here fromTokyo.

• His offsprings helped a military commander (Minamoto-no-yorimasa) raise an army.

• After that, they kept fighting various places so that this surname diffuses in many prefectures, mainly, in East Japan.

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Surname and place name(Kataoka[ 片岡 ])

• It seems that many people with surname, Kataoka, tend to live near places with name, Kataoka.

• Exception is Kochi Pref.

Green bars show the number of places with the name of Kataoka, accoring to JapanKnowledge.

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Becoming powerful clan(Kataoka[ 片岡 ])

• It is said that the origin of Kataoka in Kochi is a man (Kataoka-no-Naotsuna) who moved from Ueno (now in Tokyo) to Tosa (now in Kochi).

• Becoming one of the powerful clans in Kochi.

• In his offspring period, Kataoka clan declined its power but they kept surviveing such to work as village headmen.

• Then they could distribute their surname in Kochi.

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Surname and place name(Koga[ 古賀 ])

Chinese people named themselves Koga according to the place name (who have lived in Kai Area [ 甲斐 ] (in Yamanashi

Pref) at first).

• It is clear that this surname is strongly connected to the area name, Koga.

Green bars show the number of places with the name of Koga, accoring to JapanKnowledge.

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Surname and place name (Koizumi [ 小泉 ])

• It seems that prefectures have the area name, Koizumi, tend to have more population with the surname, Koizumi.

• Exception is Yamanashi Pref.

Green bars show the number of places with the name of Koizumi, accoring to JapanKnowledge.

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Becoming powerful clan(Koizumi [ 小泉 ])

• Once, Osuge ( 小菅） clan was prospered around Yamanashi in Edo Period.

• Koizumi clan was one of the competent subordinates of Osuge clan and its offspring still live there.

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What the geography of names infers us about people and places:

• Area names may have affected on Japanese surnames (and sometimes vice-versa).

• However, it is not enough to explain where population with the certain surname is large.

• Invasion and becoming powerful in places they moved to, may be factors that make people migrate.

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Distributions of surnames abroad

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Main References

• Harimaya.com. (n.d) Retriveved on 13th/April/2009. From:http://www.harimaya.com/

• Hiroshi M. Nihonjin-no-myoji (Japanese surnames). (n.d.) Retrieved on 13th/April/2009. From:http://home.r01.itscom.net/morioka/myoji/index.html

• JapanKnowledge. (2009) Retrived on 13th/April/2009. From:http://www.japanknowledge.com/

• Nihon-no-myoji-nanasen-ketsu (7000 Japanese surnames). (2009) Retrieved on 13th/April/2009. From:http://www.myj7000.jp-biz.net/

• Publicprofiler. (2008) Retrived on 13th/April/2009. From:http://www.publicprofiler.org/

• Under Ground. (2008) Retrived on 13th/April/2009. From:http://aries.hp.infoseek.co.jp/myouji/