Sugano

Sugano is a Japanese surname that is written with the kanji characters 菅 (suga, meaning “sedge” or “rush”) and 野 (no, meaning “plain” or “field”). The name is believed to have originated as a toponymic surname, referring to families that lived near marshy fields where sedge plants grew. It appears in historical records from the Muromachi period and has been borne by several samurai families in the Kii region. In modern times, the name is mostly found in western Japan, particularly in the Kansai and Chugoku areas, but it is also present in other parts of the country due to internal migration and urbanization.

Notable people with the surname Sugano include: Shizuka Sugano, a Japanese professional soccer player who has appeared for the national team and played in the Japanese Women's Football League; Tomohiro Sugano, a former baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball; and Kenichi Sugano, a Japanese composer known for his work on anime soundtracks and video game music. In academia, Mieko Sugano is recognized for her contributions to polymer chemistry and has published extensively in international journals. The surname also appears in the entertainment industry, with actress Rie Sugano gaining popularity in television dramas during the 1980s and 1990s.

In addition to its use as a family name, Sugano is the name of several geographic locations in Japan. Sugano Station is a railway stop on the JR West Sanin Line serving the city of Tottori in Tottori Prefecture. A former village named Sugano existed in Kumamoto Prefecture before it was merged into a larger municipal entity in the early 2000s. While the name does not currently designate a major urban center, it remains a familiar appellation in both personal names and local place names across Japan.