Samegawa

Samegawa is a Japanese toponym that can refer to several places in Japan. It is written with the kanji 鮫川, which translates as “shark river” and is read as samegawa in ordinary Japanese. The name is typically linked to a local river or watercourse and may reflect historical associations with river life or local legends about fish in the area.

Because multiple locales bear the name, Samegawa can designate a village, a district within a city, or a riverine neighborhood. The precise administrative status and boundaries depend on the region and on historical municipal mergers, especially those carried out in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Etymology and variants: The components 鮫 (same) and 川 (gawa) are common elements in Japanese place names, and other combinations with 鮫 appear in different words or names. Some places may use historical or local readings and may be written with slightly different kanji representations in old documents or local signage.

In addition to geographic uses, the name Samegawa may appear in cultural references or as part of organizational names, though such uses are far less common than its use for places. Because it is a toponym with multiple instances, the specific features of any one Samegawa depend on its local context.