Mutou

Mutou is a Japanese surname commonly written using the kanji 武藤. The first character 武 means “martial” or “military,” while 藤 means “wisteria.” The combination is a traditional toponymic or clan-based surname and is among the more widely encountered Japanese family names. In romanization, it is rendered as Mutō (with a long o), Mutoh, Mutou, or Muto, depending on the transcription system and whether macrons are used.

Origin and distribution: Surnames formed from 武藤 originated in various regions of Japan and may reflect historical associations with a clan, a place name, or an ancestral occupation. Today, Mutō is borne by families across the country, with higher density in some regions according to surname distribution data. It is also found among Japanese communities abroad, especially where families with Japanese ancestry settled.

Usage in culture: The name Mutō appears in fiction and media, where it is used for characters in manga, anime, and video games. Because of its readability and the common kanji components, it is a familiar choice for authors seeking a distinctly Japanese surname.

See also: Muto (disambiguation), Mutō.