Kanno

Kanno is a Japanese surname. It can be written with various kanji, with 菅野 and 神野 among the more common forms. The meaning of the name varies with the kanji used; for example, 菅野 may be interpreted as “sedge field.” The surname is most common in Japan but is also found among Japanese communities abroad due to migration.

In romanization, the name is rendered as Kanno, Kano, or Kanō, reflecting different transcription standards and personal preferences. Because Japanese names do not have fixed spellings in the Latin alphabet, individuals bearing the name may spell it differently.

Notable people with the surname include Yoko Kanno (菅野 洋子), born 1963, a prominent composer and musician known for anime and film scores such as Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Wolf’s Rain. The surname appears across various fields, including sports, academia, and entertainment, with numerous bearers contributing to diverse areas in Japan and abroad.