Ishikawa

Ishikawa is a Japanese name that can refer to a surname as well as several geographic and organizational uses. In geography, Ishikawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the western coast of Honshu along the Sea of Japan. Its capital is Kanazawa, a city known for its well-preserved historic districts, Kenroku-en garden, and traditional crafts such as gold leaf production and Kutani porcelain. The prefecture encompasses coastal areas, the Noto Peninsula, and portions of the Hakusan Range, and it is known for Buddhist temples and cultural heritage.

As a surname, Ishikawa is common in Japan and is written with characters meaning "stone" and "river." Individuals bearing the name appear in various fields.

In quality management, the Ishikawa diagram, also known as the fishbone diagram, is a tool for identifying potential root causes of a problem. Developed by Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s, it helps teams analyze factors across major categories such as methods, machines, materials, environment, and people.

Other uses include place names and administrative divisions in Japan bearing the same kanji, reflecting the commonality of the toponym.