Kaji

Kaji is a name that appears in several cultural contexts with distinct origins. In Japan, Kaji (written with the kanji for “forge” and “blacksmith,” 鍛冶) is an old occupational term that came to be used as a surname. The name reflects the historical role of metalworkers in Japanese communities and is now a recognized surname across Japan. It may also appear in compound family names and, less commonly, in place names or clan identifiers.

In the Indian subcontinent and among diaspora communities, Kaji is a transliteration variant of the Persian-Arabic title Qazi (قاضي), meaning judge. In South Asia, the name has been used as a surname and, historically, as an honorific within Muslim communities. Related spellings include Qazi, Kazhi, and other regional variants, depending on language and script.

Beyond these primary uses, Kaji can appear as a given name or part of longer names in various languages, though its most widely attested meanings relate to the Japanese occupational surname and the South Asian Qazi-derived title.

Overall, Kaji demonstrates how a single romanization can reflect diverse linguistic and cultural histories, spanning occupational surnames in Japan and judicial titles in Persianate cultural spheres.