Taniguchi

Taniguchi is a Japanese surname written with the kanji 谷口, meaning “valley mouth” or “mouth of the valley.” It is a relatively common surname in Japan and is typically read as taniguchi in Japanese; in English-language contexts it is usually romanized as Taniguchi.

The name can appear in place names and other toponyms, reflecting its geographic meaning. It is also used in various institutions and family lineages that originated from regions where the surname was common. Because it is derived from common geographic terms, Taniguchi can refer to multiple locations or people in different contexts.

A notable bearer of the name is Jirō Taniguchi (谷口ジロー, 1937–2017), a respected Japanese manga artist known for works such as The Walking Man and A Distant Neighborhood. His international acclaim has made the surname familiar to readers outside Japan.

Because Taniguchi is relatively widespread, the term may refer to several individuals or places. In references, it is common to provide additional identifiers, such as given names or occupations, to distinguish one Taniguchi from another.