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Maeda

Maeda (前田) is a Japanese surname. The kanji mean “front” and “paddy” or “rice field.” It is one of the more common surnames in Japan and is associated with several historically prominent families and clans.

Historically, the Maeda clan originated in Kaga Province (modern Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures). The family rose

In modern times, Maeda remains a common surname in Japan. Notable contemporary individuals include Maeda Atsuko

to
power
during
the
Sengoku
period
with
the
support
of
Oda
Nobunaga
and
Toyotomi
Hideyoshi,
notably
through
Maeda
Toshiie
(1539–1599)
and
his
son
Maeda
Toshinaga
(1562–1624).
After
the
early
17th
century,
the
Maeda
controlled
the
Kaga
Domain,
one
of
the
wealthiest
han
in
the
Edo
period,
with
a
kokudaka
on
the
order
of
one
million
koku.
The
clan
remained
influential
in
the
early
modern
era,
contributing
to
regional
governance
and
culture
before
the
Meiji
Restoration
reorganized
Japan’s
feudal
structure.
(born
1991),
a
Japanese
pop
singer
and
actress
who
rose
to
fame
as
a
member
and
former
center
of
the
idol
group
AKB48.
Beyond
individuals,
the
name
appears
in
various
place
names
and
cultural
works,
reflecting
its
long
historical
and
social
footprint
in
Japan.