araki

Araki is a Japanese surname and, less commonly, a place name. It is most often written 荒木, with 荒 meaning “rough” or “wild” and 木 meaning “tree,” suggesting a toponymic origin tied to a landscape feature. Other spellings exist, including 有木, but 荒木 is by far the most common in modern usage. The name is widely distributed across Japan and appears in various geographic names as well as in personal names among Japanese communities abroad.

Notable individuals with the surname include Nobuyoshi Araki (荒木経惟; born 1940), a prolific photographer and filmmaker whose work has been shown internationally; his career spans decades and encompasses a large number of photographic books, exhibitions, and film projects. His work is renowned for its frank portrayal of urban life and intimacy, and it has also been the subject of controversy and scholarly debate.

In general, Araki is a common Japanese surname carried by people in diverse fields such as arts, sports, science, and public service. It is also encountered in place names across the country, reflective of its toponymic roots.