Ogawa

Ogawa is a Japanese surname and toponym. It is written with the kanji 小川, which literally translates to “small river.” The name is common in Japan and is used both as a family name and as a place name.

As a surname, Ogawa is carried by many individuals in Japan and elsewhere. Notable examples include Yoko Ogawa, a Japanese writer known for works such as The Housekeeper and the Professor and The Memory Police. The name appears across various fields, including literature, science, and the arts, reflecting its broad use in Japanese society.

Geographically, Ogawa is used for several places in Japan. The kanji combination 小川 occurs in multiple town, district, and river names, illustrating the frequent occurrence of the toponym in Japanese geography. Because it derives from common elements meaning “small river,” the name is widely encountered in different regions.

In summary, Ogawa denotes both a widely used Japanese surname and a toponym found in various locations in Japan, with Yoko Ogawa among its notable contemporary bearers.