takami

Takami is a Japanese name that functions as both a surname and a given name. Because it can be written with different kanji characters, its meaning is not fixed and varies with the chosen forms. As a surname, Takami is often represented by characters such as 高見 or 高海, among others. As a given name, it may be written with characters like 高美 or other combinations that include the element for beauty or nobility. In Japanese, the name is typically pronounced ta-ka-mi.

The name is most common in Japan and among people of Japanese descent, though it appears in non-Japanese contexts when individuals or fictional characters bear the surname or given name. In popular culture, one of the best-known uses is Chika Takami, the main character of the multimedia project Love Live! Sunshine!!, where she is a high school student who becomes a leader of an idol group.

Because kanji choices vary, the practical meaning of Takami depends on the characters chosen by the family or author. The name’s flexibility in written form reflects a broader pattern in Japanese naming, where pronunciation may be shared across different kanji combinations that convey distinct nuances.