| --- A few common last names |
|---|
| 青木 aoki Aoki | Ref. 青 [blue] |
| 西野 nishino = west field Ask Marc! 西 [west] | Ref. 野 [field] |
| 林教授 hayashi-kyōju Professor Hayashi | Ref. 林 [forest] |
| 田中氏 tanakashi Mr. Tanaka | Ref. 氏 [honorific] |
| 田中君 tanakakun Mr. Tanaka | Ref. 君 [honorific] |
| 吉田先生 yoshida-sensei Teacher Yoshida | Ref. 吉 [lucky] |
| 松田 matsuda Matsuda | Ref. 松 [pine] |
| 原 hara Hara | Ref. 原 [plain] |
| 池田 ikeda Ikeda (the name of a good friend of mine) | Ref. 池 [pond] |
| 上田 ueda Ueda | Ref. 上 [up] |
| 大谷 ōtani Ōtani (LA Angels star) | Ref. 谷 [valley] |
| 木村 kimura Kimura | Ref. 村 [village] |
| 川村 kawamura Kawamura | Ref. 村 [village] |