Yanagi

Yanagi is a Japanese term written with the kanji 柳 and primarily refers to the willow tree. It is also a common Japanese surname and can appear in place names, brand names, and literary contexts.

Linguistically, 柳 is read yanagi in kun’yomi, with on’yomi readings such as ryū. The word denotes willows, a group of trees in the genus Salix. Willows are typically fast-growing, deciduous trees known for slender, flexible branches and long, narrow leaves. In Japan and other parts of East Asia, willows have long been cultivated for ornamental use in gardens and for practical uses such as basketry and crafting with flexible wood.

In culture, willows appear as a traditional motif in Japanese literature, poetry, and art, where they are associated with grace, melancholy, and resilience. The plant's image is used in gardens and decorative motifs, contributing to aesthetic sensibilities that value subtle beauty and natural form.

Notable individuals with the surname include Soetsu Yanagi (柳宗悦), a 20th-century Japanese art critic and philosopher who founded the Mingei movement, which celebrated the beauty of everyday, handmade crafts and influential ideas about functional aesthetics.

As a surname and a common noun, Yanagi appears in various contexts across Japan, reflecting both botanical and cultural significance.