Satō

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Satō
PronunciationJapanese: [saꜜtoː]
English: /ˈsɑːt/ SAH-toh
Language(s)Japanese
Origin
MeaningFujiwara (藤原) of Saemon-no-jō (左衛門尉),[1] Fujiwara of Sano (佐野), Fujiwara from Sado (佐渡), etc.
Region of originJapan

Satō (Japanese: 佐藤, pronounced [saꜜtoː], English: /ˈsɑːt/ SAH-toh) is the most common Japanese surname,[2] often romanized as Sato, Satou or Satoh. A less common variant for a pen name is 佐島.

Due to the popularity of the name, as well as the tradition of wifes changing their sunames to the surname of their husbands, a Japanese demographic scientist Hiroshi Yoshida from Tohoku University warned that if the trend will continue, everybody in Japan might be named Sato by early 26th century due to snowball effect.

Notable people with the surname Satō[edit]

Fictional characters[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saemon-no-jō (左衛門尉) was () (inspector [third highest of the four administrative ranks of the Ritsuryō period]) in Saemon-fu (左衛門府), and the corresponding court rank was Sixth Rank.
  2. ^ "明治安田生命 全国同姓調査 [Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company - National same family name investigation]" (PDF) (Press release). Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2012-05-30.