Watanabe
Watanabe (渡辺, "ferryside") is the fifth most common Japanese surname.[1]
The first to be named Watanabe were the samurai clan founded by Watanabe no Tsuna (953-1025), whose father was Minamoto no Mitsuru, a great-grandson of Minamoto no Tōru (822-895), a son of the Emperor Saga (786-842). Tsuna established the Watanabe branch of the Saga Genji clan, taking the family name from his residence at Watanabe, a port on the Yodo river in Settsu Province. He was companion in arms to Minamoto no Yorimitsu (944–1021), and famous for his military exploits in a number of tales and legends. Dominating Settsu Province as a focal area of maritime transportation in medieval Japan, the Watanabe family spread its influence widely. Their descendants settled in other areas, including Kyushu. Besides the mainstream of Watanabe, the Matsuura in Hizen Province, later daimyō of Hirado Domain, were the most famous and flourished branch.
Several samurai clans claimed a genealogical relation to the above Watanabe family. They included Watanabe of Hakata and Watanabe of Ōmura. The Watanabe of Hakata were daimyō of Hakata Domain (Izumi Province) until the Meiji Restoration (1868). The Watanabe clan of Ōmura (Hizen Province) and the Watanabe clan of the Suwa (Shinano Province) were also ranked among the Peers after 1868.
During the Hōgen rebellion (1156), and the Genpei War (1180-1185), the Watanabe sided with Minamoto no Yorimasa (1106-1180), then with Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199). In 1185, they sent ships and mounted warriors to support the Minamoto cause. The priest Mongaku Shōnin who urged Yoritomo to start a war against the Taira clan, and who managed to get a letter from the Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192) to Yoritomo, requesting that he set up an army and liberate the court from the tyranny of the Taira, was a kinsman of the Watanabe clan.
During the 16th century wars, the following Watanabe samurai distinguished themselves:
- Watanabe Hajime of the Mori clan at the battles of Gassan-Toda (1540), Miyajima (1555) and Moji (1561).
- Watanabe Moritsuna (1542–1620) who joined Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1557, at the battles of Anegawa (1570), Mikatagahara (1573) and Nagashino (1575).
In the context of the Japanese economy, Mrs. Watanabe is a generic name for housewives who deal in foreign exchange.[2]
People with the surname
- Akane Watanabe (渡邉 あかね, born 1994), Japanese badminton player
- Akeno Watanabe (渡辺 明乃, born 1982), Japanese voice actress
- Akeo Watanabe (渡邉 暁雄, 1919–1990), Japanese composer
- Akio Watanabe (渡辺 明夫, born 1969), Japanese animator
- Akira Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Anne Watanabe (渡辺 杏, born 1986), Japanese model, actress and singer
- Asako Watanabe (渡辺 麻子), Japanese sprint canoeist
- Atsushi Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Atsuo Watanabe (渡辺 敦夫, born 1974), Japanese footballer
- Azusa Watanabe (渡辺 梓, born 1969), Japanese actress
- Chiho Watanabe (渡辺 千穂, born 1972), Japanese screenwriter
- Daigo Watanabe (渡邉 大剛, born 1984), Japanese footballer
- Daisuke Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Emi Watanabe (渡部 絵美, born 1959), Japanese figure skater
- Eriko Watanabe (渡辺 えり子, born 1955), Japanese actress
- Fumio Watanabe (渡辺 文雄, 1929–2004), Japanese actor
- Gedde Watanabe (born 1955), American actor and comedian
- Graham Watanabe (born 1982), American snowboarder
- Greg Watanabe (born 1967), American actor
- Hajime Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hamako Watanabe (渡辺 はま子, 1910–1999), Japanese singer
- Hidemaro Watanabe (渡部 英麿, 1924–2011), Japanese footballer
- Hideo Watanabe (渡辺 秀央, born 1934), Japanese politician
- Hidetoyo Watanabe (渡邉 英豊, born 1971), Japanese footballer
- Hirofumi Watanabe (渡部 博文, born 1987), Japanese footballer
- Hiroki Watanabe (渡辺 宏樹, born 1988), Japanese sprint canoeist
- Hiromichi Watanabe (渡辺 博道, born 1950), Japanese politician
- Hiromu Watanabe (渡辺 大夢, born 1988), Japanese shogi player
- Hiroshi Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, born 1955), Japanese actor
- Hisae Watanabe (渡辺 久江, born 1980), Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer
- Hisanobu Watanabe (渡辺 久信, born 1965), Japanese baseball player and manager
- Hitomi Watanabe (渡辺 眸, born 1939), Japanese photographer
- Hyuga Watanabe (渡辺 陽向, born 1994), Japanese motorcycle racer
- Ippei Watanabe (渡辺 一平, born 1969), Japanese footballer
- Ippei Watanabe (swimmer) (渡辺 一平, born 1997), Japanese swimmer
- Jin Watanabe (渡部 仁, born 1990), Japanese handball player
- Jiro Watanabe (渡辺 二郎, born 1955), Japanese boxer and yakuza
- Jolene Watanabe (born 1968), American tennis player
- José Watanabe (1946–2007), Peruvian poet
- Jōtarō Watanabe (渡辺 錠太郎, 1874–1936), Japanese general
- Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳, born 1982), Japanese actor
- Watanabe Jun (渡辺 純, born 1954), Japanese architect
- Junichi Watanabe (渡辺 淳一, 1933–2014), Japanese writer
- Junichi Watanabe (footballer) (渡辺 淳一, born 1973), Japanese footballer
- Junya Watanabe (渡辺 淳弥, born 1961), Japanese fashion designer
- Kaichi Watanabe (渡邊 嘉一, 1858–1932), Japanese engineer
- Kanako Watanabe (渡部 香生子, born 1996), Japanese swimmer
- Kanendo Watanabe (渡辺 兼人, born 1947), Japanese photographer
- Katei Watanabe (渡辺 霞亭, 1884–1926), Japanese writer
- Kathy Watanabe, American politician
- Katsuaki Watanabe (渡辺 捷昭, born 1943), President of Toyota Motor Corporation
- Katsumi Watanabe (渡部 勝美), Japanese baseball player
- Watanabe Kazan (渡辺 崋山, 1793–1841), Japanese painter, scholar and statesman
- Kazuhisa Watanabe (渡邉 一久, born 1983), Japanese boxer, kickboxer and mixed martial artist
- Kazuhito Watanabe (渡邊 一仁, born 1986), Japanese footballer
- Kazuki Watanabe (disambiguation)
- Kazuko Watanabe (渡辺 和子, 1927–2016), Japanese Roman Catholic nun, educator and writer
- Kazuma Watanabe (渡邉 千真, born 1986), Japanese footballer
- Kazuma Watanabe (motorcycle racer) (渡辺 一馬, born 1990), Japanese motorcycle racer
- Kazumi Watanabe (渡辺 香津美, born 1953), Japanese musician
- Kazumi Watanabe (athlete) (渡辺 和己, born 1935), Japanese long-distance runner
- Kazumi Watanabe (sport shooter) (渡辺 和三, 1947–1996), Japanese sport shooter
- Kazunari Watanabe (渡邉 一成, born 1983), Japanese cyclist
- Kazuo Watanabe (swimmer) (渡辺 和夫, born 1938), Japanese swimmer
- Kazuro Watanabe (渡辺 和郎, born 1955), Japanese amateur astronomer and discoverer of minor planets
- Kazutami Watanabe (渡邊 一民, 1932–2013), Japanese scholar and translator
- Keiji Watanabe (渡邊 圭二, born 1985), Japanese footballer
- Keita Watanabe (渡辺 啓太, born 1992), Japanese speed skater
- Ken Watanabe (渡辺 謙, born 1959), Japanese actor
- Kenji Watanabe (渡辺 健司, 1969–2017), Japanese swimmer
- Kiiko Watanabe, Japanese table tennis player
- Kiyomi Watanabe (渡辺 聖未, born 1996), Japanese-Filipino judoka
- Kodai Watanabe (渡辺 広大, born 1986), Japanese footballer
- Koji Watanabe (渡邊 康二, born 1942), Japanese tennis player
- Konomi Watanabe (渡邉 このみ, born 2006), Japanese child actress and television personality
- Kota Watanabe (渡辺 皓太, born 1998), Japanese footballer
- Kozo Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kumiko Watanabe (渡辺 久美子, born 1965), Japanese voice actress
- Watanabe Kunitake (渡辺 国武, 1846–1919), Japanese politician
- Lui Watanabe (渡部 累), Japanese beauty pageant winner
- Makiko Watanabe (渡辺 真起子, born 1968), Japanese actress
- Makoto Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Makoto Sei Watanabe (born 1952), Japanese architect
- Mamoru Watanabe (渡辺 護, 1931–2013), Japanese film director, screenwriter and actor
- Manabu Watanabe (渡部 学, born 1986), Japanese footballer
- Manami Watanabe (渡辺 愛未, born 1986), Japanese singer
- Marina Watanabe (渡辺 満里奈, born 1970), Japanese singer, actress and television personality
- Masakazu Watanabe (渡辺 正和, born 1986), Japanese shogi player
- Masaki Watanabe (1911–1995), Japanese orthopedic surgeon
- Masaki Watanabe (footballer) (渡邉 将基, born 1986), Japanese footballer
- Masako Watanabe (わたなべ まさこ, born 1929), Japanese manga artist
- Masanosuke Watanabe (渡辺 政之輔, 1899–1928), Japanese communist
- Masao Watanabe (渡辺 正夫, 1888–1950), Japanese general
- Masashi Watanabe (渡辺 正, 1936–1995), Japanese footballer and manager
- Masato Watanabe (渡辺 正人, born 1979), Japanese baseball player
- Masayoshi Watanabe (渡邉 正義, born 1954), Japanese chemist
- Matasaburō Watanabe (渡辺 又三郎, 1850–1910), Japanese politician
- Mayu Watanabe (渡辺 麻友, born 1994), Japanese singer, actress and idol
- Mayuko Watanabe (渡辺 真由子, born 1975), Japanese journalist and media scholar
- Mayumi Watanabe (渡辺 真弓, born 1983), Japanese sprinter
- Michiaki Watanabe (渡辺 宙明, born 1925), Japanese composer
- Michio Watanabe (渡辺 美智雄, 1923–1995), Japanese politician
- Miho Watanabe (渡辺 美保), Japanese musician and actress
- Miki Watanabe (渡邉 美樹, born 1959), Japanese businessman and politician
- Mina Watanabe (渡邉 美奈, born 1985), Japanese judoka
- Minayo Watanabe (渡辺 美奈代, born 1969), Japanese idol and singer
- Minoru Watanabe (渡辺 実, born 1962), Japanese actor
- Misa Watanabe (渡辺 美佐, born 1964), Japanese voice actress
- Misako Watanabe (渡辺 美佐子, bron 1932), Japanese actress
- Misato Watanabe (渡辺 美里, born 1966), Japanese singer
- Mitsuki Watanabe (渡邉 三城, born 1987), Japanese footballer
- Mitsuteru Watanabe (渡辺 光輝, born 1974), Japanese footballer
- Miyuki Watanabe (渡辺 美優紀, born 1993), Japanese singer, actress and idol
- Morinari Watanabe (渡邊守成) born 1959, president of the International Gymnastics Federation
- Watanabe Moritsuna (渡辺 守綱, 1542–1620), Japanese samurai
- Mutsuhiro Watanabe (渡邊 睦裕, 1918–2003), Japanese prison camp guard and war criminal
- Nao Watanabe (渡邊 奈央), Japanese singer
- Naoko Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Naomi Watanabe (渡辺 直美, born 1987), Japanese actress and comedian
- Naoto Watanabe (渡辺 直人, born 1980), Japanese baseball player
- Natsuhiko Watanabe (渡辺 夏彦, born 1995), Japanese footballer
- Natsuna Watanabe (渡辺 夏菜, born 1989), Japanese actress and model
- Noriko Watanabe (渡辺 典子, born 1965), Japanese actress
- Nozomi Watanabe (渡辺 心, born 1971), Japanese ice dancer
- On Watanabe (渡辺 温, 1902–1930), Japanese writer
- Osamu Watanabe (渡辺 長武, born 1940), Japanese sport wrestler
- Risa Watanabe (渡邉 理佐, born 1998), Japanese idol
- Ryo Watanabe (渡辺 亮, born 1982), Japanese baseball player
- Ryo Watanabe (Infielder) (渡邉 諒, born 1995), Japanese baseball player
- Ryoko Watanabe (渡辺 良子, born 1961), Japanese pink film actress
- Ryota Watanabe (渡辺 亮太, born 1991), Japanese footballer
- Sadao Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Satomi Watanabe (渡邉 聡美, born 1999), Japanese squash player
- Satosi Watanabe (渡辺 慧, 1910-1993), Japanese theoretical physicist
- Satoshi Watanabe (beach volleyball) (渡辺 聡, born 1975), Japanese beach volleyball player
- Shimon Watanabe (渡邉 志門, born 1990), Japanese footballer
- Shinichi Watanabe (渡邊 慎一, born 1964), Japanese anime director and voice actor
- Shinichirō Watanabe (渡辺 信一郎, born 1965), Japanese anime director, screenwriter and producer
- Shinzo Watanabe (渡辺 信三, born 1935), Japanese mathematician
- Shōichi Watanabe (渡部 昇一, born 1930), Japanese academic and writer
- Shōichi Watanabe (politician) (渡辺 省一, 1930–2000), Japanese politician
- Watanabe Shōtei (1851–1918), Japanese painter
- Shōzaburō Watanabe (渡辺 庄三郎, 1885–1962), Japanese printmaker
- Shu Watanabe (渡辺 周, born 1961), Japanese politician
- Shu Watanabe (actor) (渡部 秀, born 1991), Japanese actor
- Shunji Watanabe (born 1938), Japanese karateka
- Shunsuke Watanabe (渡辺 俊介, born 1976), Japanese baseball player
- Sogo Watanabe (渡辺 奏吾, born 1990), Japanese volleyball player
- Sumiko Watanabe (渡辺 すみ子, 1916–2010), Japanese sprinter
- Sumio Watanabe (渡辺 澄夫, born 1959), Japanese engineer and mathematician
- Susumu Watanabe (渡邉 晋, born 1973), Japanese footballer and manager
- Sylvia Watanabe, American writer
- Tadao Watanabe (渡辺 忠雄), Japanese politician
- Tadashi Watanabe (渡辺 貞, born 1944), Japanese computer engineer
- Taeko Watanabe (渡辺 多恵子, born 1960), Japanese manga artist
- Takaaki Watanabe (渡辺 高章, born 1987), Japanese professional wrestler
- Takahiro Watanabe (渡辺 高博, born 1970), Japanese sprinter
- Takamasa Watanabe (渡辺 隆正, born 1977), Japanese footballer
- Takao Watanabe (渡辺 孝男, born 1950), Japanese politician
- Takashi Watanabe (渡部 高志, born 1957), Japanese anime director
- Takehiro Watanabe (渡部 剛弘, born 1993), Japanese Nordic combined skier
- Takeo Watanabe (渡辺 岳夫, 1933–1989), Japanese musician and composer
- Takeshi Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
- Taku Watanabe (渡辺 卓, born 1971), Japanese footballer
- Takumi Watanabe (渡辺 匠, born 1982), Japanese footballer
- Tamae Watanabe (渡辺 玉枝, born 1938), Japanese mountain climber
- Tatsuo Watanabe (渡部 龍雄, 1928–2001), Japanese ski jumper
- Tatsuya Watanabe (渡邊 達哉, born 1991), Japanese badminton player
- Tetsu Watanabe (渡辺 哲, born 1950), Japanese actor
- Watanabe Tokutarō, Japanese businessman
- Tomoyoshi Watanabe (渡辺 具能, born 1941), Japanese politician
- Toshiyuki Watanabe (渡辺 俊幸, born 1955), Japanese musician and composer
- Tsukasa Watanabe (渡辺 司, born 1957), Japanese golfer
- Watanabe no Tsuna (渡邊 綱, 953–1025), Japanese samurai
- Tsuneo Watanabe (渡邉 恒雄, born 1926), Japanese businessman
- Tsurugi Watanabe (渡邉 剣, born 1996), Japanese actor and television personality
- Yanosuke Watanabe (渡邊 彌之助), Japanese footballer
- Yasunori Watanabe (渡辺 泰憲, 1974–2010), Japanese rugby union player
- Yasushi Watanabe (渡辺 靖, born 1967), Japanese anthropologist
- Yoko Watanabe (渡辺 葉子, 1953–2004), Japanese opera singer
- Yoshiaki Watanabe (渡辺 好明, 1955–2009), Japanese artist
- Yoshiichi Watanabe (渡辺 由一, born 1954), Japanese footballer
- Yoshiko Watanabe (渡辺 佳子), Japanese manga artist, illustrator and animator
- Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, born 1952), Japanese politician
- Yoshinori Watanabe (渡辺 芳則, 1941–2012), alleged yakuza
- Yoshio Watanabe (渡辺 義雄, 1907–2000), Japanese photographer
- Yoshitaka Watanabe (渡辺 佳孝, born 1973), Japanese footballer
- Yui Watanabe (渡部 優衣, born 1988), Japanese voice actress, actress and singer
- Yuichi Watanabe, Japanese mixed martial artist
- Yukari Watanabe (渡邊 ゆかり, born 1981), Japanese speed skater
- Yukiyoshi Watanabe (渡邉 幸義), Japanese businessman and writer
- Yumi Watanabe (渡邊 由美, born 1970), Japanese women's footballer
- Yuta Watanabe (渡邊 雄太, born 1994), Japanese basketball player
- Yuta Watanabe (badminton) (渡辺 勇大, born 1997), Japanese badminton player
- Yuuya Watanabe (渡辺 雄也), Japanese Magic: The Gathering player
Fictional characters
- Cameron Watanabe, the Green Samurai Ranger from Power Rangers Ninja Storm
- Kanako Watanabe (ワタナベ・カナコ), a character in the anime series Star Driver
- Mari Watanabe (渡辺 摩利), a character in the light novel series The Irregular at Magic High School
- Mia Watanabe, the Pink Ranger from Power Rangers Samurai
- Osamu Watanabe (渡邊 オサム), a character in the manga series The Prince of Tennis
- Sayaka Watanabe (渡辺 彩花), a character in the manga series The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior
- Terry Watanabe, a character from Power Rangers Samurai
- You Watanabe (渡辺 曜), a character in the media franchise Love Live! Sunshine!!
See also
- Watanabe Tekkōjo, steel foundry, renamed in 1943 to Kyūshū Heiki (Kyūshū Armaments), dissolved in 2001
- Watanabe Instruments, later Graphtec Corporation
- The Watanabes, hit group of Tokyo-based international Indie/acoustic band
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Watanabe (surname). |
- ↑ "Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Names". Japanverse. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ↑ "The Forex Power of Mrs. Watanabe". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
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