Sonozaki

Sonozaki is a Japanese surname written with the kanji characters 園崎. The first character 園 can mean garden or park, and 崎 means cape or promontory; together they form a toponymic-style surname that is read as Sonozaki in Japanese. The name is relatively uncommon and is found among people in Japan; outside Japan it is mainly encountered in reference to fiction or fans of Japanese media.

In popular culture, the name is best known from the visual novel and anime series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry). In the series, the Sonozaki family is a longstanding and influential clan in the rural village of Hinamizawa, with its members playing a central role in the village’s history and the unfolding mystery. The two principal characters bearing the surname are Mion Sonozaki and Shion Sonozaki, sisters who lead the clan and whose actions drive much of the narrative across various story arcs.

There are no widely reported real-world figures of global prominence with this surname, and its recognition primarily stems from its use in fiction and fan communities. The name remains relatively niche in real-world contexts but is well known to fans of the Higurashi franchise.