Watanabe

Watanabe (渡辺). This surname refers to a location called 'Watanabe no tsu' which was settled by the Watanabe clan, who took the name of the place. It was located near the mouth of the old Yodogawa River in Settsu Province in the medieval period.

The emblen (mon) of the Watanabe clan
The keep of Hirado castle

History

Origin

The first to be named Watanabe were the samurai clan founded by Watanabe no Tsuna (953-1025). He was a Saga Genji warrior, and his official name was Minamoto no Tsuna.[1] He was the son of Minamoto no Atsuru, grandson of Minamoto no Tsutomu, and great-grandson of Minamoto no Tōru (822-895), son of the Emperor Saga (786-842), the 52nd Emperor of Japan. Tsuna established the Watanabe branch of the Minamoto Saga Genji clan, taking the name from his stronghold at Watanabe, a port on the Yodo river, in Settsu Province. He was famous for his military exploits in a number of tales and legends, and was companion in arms to his cousin Minamoto no Yorimitsu (944–1021), whose mother was a daughter of the Saga Genji Minamoto no Suguru. In 1020 he was appointed Tango no kami (Governor of Tango province).

Late Heian period to the Genpei war

During the Hōgen rebellion (1156), and the Genpei War (1180–1185), the Watanabe sided with Minamoto no Yorimasa (1106–1180), until his death at the Battle of Uji, then with Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199).

In 1180, at the Battle of Uji, the first battle of the Genpei War,[2] the Watanabe clan formed with the warrior monks of Miidera most of the Minamoto army.

The Heike Monogatari describes some of the Watanabe samurai present at this battle :

  • Watanabe Choshichi Tonau : "He was attired that day in a samurai clothing of light green, and body armour ornamented with cherry blossoms on a yellow ground, and wore a sword with mounts of red copper; in his quiver he carried twenty four arrows feathered with white and under his arm was a bow lacquered in black and bound with red bands".
  • Watanabe no Kiou : "clad in a brocaded hunting suit profusely embroidered with chrysanthemums, and wearing a general's armour of scarlet; its name was Kisenaga, and it had been a treasured heirloom for many generations. On his head was a helmet shining with silver stars, and a splendid sword hung at his side. In his quiver were twenty four arrows barred with black on their white feathers, not to speak of the special arrow, feathered with a hawk's wing, always carried by the Imperial Guard of the Takiguchi. His bow was a 'shigeto' of black lacquer with red binding. He rode on (the horse named) Nanryo, while one of his retainers followed with a remount and another bore his shield under his arm".

In 1185, the Watanabe sent ships to support the Minamoto cause and their mounted warriors proved to be decisive at the Battle of Yashima.

At the Battle of Dan-no-ura, when the Dowager Empress Kenrei-mon-In, daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, tried to drown herself, she was pulled out by the samurai Watanabe no Mutsuru.

The priest Mongaku Shōnin who urged Minamoto no 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 country from the tyranny of the Taira, which enabled Yoritomo to take up arms,[3] was the son of Watanabe no Endo Mochito.

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.

Watanabe Hisashi (1064-1148 or 1154), also called Minamoto no Hisashi, great-grandson of Watanabe no Tsuna , established at Matsuura (Hizen province) and called himself Matsuura Hisashi. He was appointed Kebiishi (Chief of police and justice), and ruled Matsuura, Iki and a part of Sonogi districts. He is the ancestor of the Matsuura Watanabe branch.

Kamakura to Sengoku periods

In 1235, the Watanabe clan received from the Kamakura shogunate the responsibility of overseeing large shipments of tax and tributes due the shogunate from the provinces of western and central Japan[4]

Watanabe Mochi, descendant of Tsuna, rendered distinguished military service to the Shogun Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358), and was granted the title of Jito (Manager and land steward) of Yamada (Bingo Province). He is the ancestor of the Yamada Watanabe branch, who owned the whole area of Numakuma Peninsula, and were lords of Ichijoyama castle. In the Ōnin War (1467-1477), they sided with the Eastern camp.

Watanabe Moritsuna

During the 16th century wars, the following Watanabe samurai distinguished themselves:

  • Watanabe Kayo († 1543), descendant of the Matsuura Watanabe, was a vassal of Mori Motonari, and was the son of Watanabe Suguru († 1524), lord of Nagamiyama castle. In 1543, at the Battle of Gassan-Toda, he was killed in a fierce battle in place of Motonari, and the Mori clan continued to give important posts to the Watanabe clan.
  • Watanabe Hajime (1534-1612) of the Mori clan, son of Watanabe Kayo, fought at the Battle of Kanbe (1548), against the Hiraga clan of Takayatozaki castle (1551), against the Miya clan of Takiyama castle (1552), at Miyajima (1555) and Moji (1561).[5] In 1586, he took part in the invasion of Kyushu, and in 1588, he went to Kyoto with Mori Terumoto, and received the title of Hida no kami (Governor of Hida Province) from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is listed as one of the eighteen Generals of the Mori.
  • Watanabe Tadasu († 1615) was a descendant of the Matsuura Watanabe, and a retainer of the Toyotomi clan, . He took a part in the Battle of Dōmyōji (1615), in the Battle of Tennōji (1615), and died at the fall of Osaka castle (1615).
  • The Matsuura Watanabe of Izumi, were Shugodai (vice-Governor) of Izumi province and lords of Kishiwada castle. At the battle of Sekigahara, they sided against the Tokugawa and were deprived of their fief.
  • Watanabe Motoharu, of the Yamada Watanabe branch, was a retainer of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki (1537-1597) and lord of Ichijoyama castle. At the Battle of Sekigahara, he fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu. After that his family became retainers of the Mizuno clan.
  • Watanabe Moritsuna (1542–1620), descended from the Matsuura Watanabe, through Watanabe Yasushi, grandson of Matsuura Hisashi, great-grandson of Watanabe no Tsuna. His ancestors were direct retainers of the Ashikaga Shoguns, and later moved to Mikawa province, thence they were called the Mikawa Watanabe branch. He joined Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1557, and fought at the battles of Anegawa (1570), Mikatagahara (1573), Nagashino (1575), Komaki and Nagakute (1584), and the Siege of Osaka (1614-1615). In 1613, he had a revenue of 14,000 koku, and was lord of Terabe castle. He is the ancestor of the Watanabe of Hakata Domain and the Hanzo Watanabe, and is listed as one of the sixteen Generals of the Tokugawa.

Notable branches during the Edo period to the Meiji Restoration
Watanabe Sadatsuna (1668-1715), fifth head of the Hanzo Watanabe, Karō (Chief retainer) of the Tokugawa of Owari Domain, lord of Terabe and Hida no Kami (Governor of Hida province)

Besides the mainstream of Watanabe, the Matsuura branch, Daimyō of Hirado Domain (Hizen Province) until 1868, were the most famous and flourished branch, and had a revenue of 61,700 koku.

The Matsuura Watanabe of Hirado Shinden, Daimyō of Hirado Shinden Domain (Hizen Province) until 1868, descending from the fourth lord of Hirado, was given 10,000 koku, and established a branch domain.

The Watanabe of Hakata, were Daimyō of Hakata Domain (Izumi Province) until the Meiji Restoration (1868), had a revenue of 13,500 koku, and descend from Watanabe Yoshitsuna (1611-1668), grandson of Moritsuna.

The Hanzo Watanabe branch, descending from Watanabe Shigetsuna (1574-1648), son of Moritsuna, were lords of Terabe estate, Hida no Kami (Governors of Hida province), senior retainers of the Tokugawa of Owari Domain, and had a revenue of 10,000 koku. After 1868, they were raised to the Peerage.

Several Watanabe were Hatamoto and high ranking samurai of the Tokugawa Shoguns and their principal branches, like the descendants of :

  • Watanabe Terutsuna, Noto no Kami (Governor of Noto province), and Hatamoto with a revenue of 6,000 koku.
  • Watanabe Zonosuke, a Taishin (high) Hatamoto.
  • Watanabe Tozutsuna, Karō (Chief retainer) of the Tayasu Tokugawa, and of the Hitotsubashi Tokugawa.
  • Watanabe Naotsuna, Wakasa no Kami (Governor of Wakasa province), senior retainer of the Tokugawa of Kishū Domain, had a revenue of 8,000 koku.

The Watanabe of Ōmura (Hizen Province) were ranked among the Peers after 1868.

The Watanabe of Suwa (Shinano Province) were also raised to the Peerage after 1868.

  • Hirado Castle
  • Hirado Castle : Observation tower
  • Hirado Castle : Jizosaka tower
  • Hirado Castle : North Tiger Gate
  • Hirado Castle stands on an island off Kyūshū.
  • Aerial photo of Hirado Castle

People with the surname

A
  • 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

C
  • Chiho Watanabe (渡辺 千穂, born 1972), Japanese screenwriter
  • Chitetsu Watanabe (渡邉 智哲, born 1907), Japanese supercentenarian
  • Corinne Watanabe (born 1950), American judge

D

E
  • Emi Watanabe (渡部 絵美, born 1959), Japanese figure skater
  • Eriko Watanabe (渡辺 えり子, born 1955), Japanese actress

F

G

H

I

J

K
  • 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
  • Katsuji Watanabe (渡辺 勝治, born 1940), Japanese boxer
  • Katsumi Watanabe (渡部 勝美), Japanese baseball player
  • Kazan Watanabe (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
  • Keisuke Watanabe (渡邊 圭祐, born 1993), Japanese actor (Kamen Rider Zi-O)
  • 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
  • Kota Watanabe (field hockey) (渡辺 晃大, born 1996), Japanese field hockey player
  • Kozo Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
  • Kumiko Watanabe (渡辺 久美子, born 1965), Japanese voice actress
  • Kunitake Watanabe (渡辺 国武, 1846–1919), Japanese politician

L

M

N

O

R
  • Rika Watanabe (渡辺 梨加, born 1995), Japanese idol and model
  • Risa Watanabe (渡邉 理佐, born 1998), Japanese idol and model
  • Ryo Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
  • Ryoko Watanabe (渡辺 良子, born 1961), Japanese pink film actress
  • Ryoma Watanabe (渡邊 凌磨, born 1996), Japanese footballer
  • Ryota Watanabe (渡辺 亮太, born 1991), Japanese footballer

S

T

Y

Fictional characters

Miscellaneous

渡辺, means ‘to cross over a river’.

This surname is a toponymic surname (and not an occupational surname) and refers to a location called 'Watanabe no tsu', in the present day Osaka Prefecture, which was located between Tenmabashi Station and Tenjinbashi Station.

It is the fifth most common Japanese surname.[6]

In the context of the Japanese economy, Mrs. Watanabe is a generic name for housewives who deal in foreign exchange.[7]

See also

References
  1. Reider, Noriko L (2016). Seven Demon Stories from Medieval Japan. Utah State University Press. p. 27. ISBN 9781607324898.
  2. ""The Heike Monogatari"".
  3. McClain, James L (1999). Osaka The Merchants' Capital of Early Modern Japan. Cornell University Press. pp. 26. ISBN 0801436303.
  4. McClain, James L (1999). Osaka The Merchants' Capital of Early Modern Japan. Cornell University Press. pp. 28. ISBN 0801436303.
  5. ""Watanabe Hajime"".
  6. "Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Names". Japanverse. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  7. "The Forex Power of Mrs. Watanabe". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
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