toori

Toori is a romanized form used in reference to several related concepts in Japanese. It can denote a street or avenue when written in kanji as 通り, and it can also function as a surname or given name in Japan. The romaji Toori is one possible transcription; alternative spellings include Dori or Dōri, depending on the reading and the transliteration system used.

Etymology: The word commonly derives from the verb tooru, meaning to pass through or to go along, with 通り reading as toori meaning street or way. In place names, Toori occurs as part of compounds such as street names and avenues; in personal names it may be rendered as Toori with kanji chosen to convey particular meanings.

Usage: In Japanese contexts, Toori as 通り is primarily seen in street names or addresses—something-dori. As a surname or given name, it remains relatively uncommon and typically uses kanji chosen by the family, often conveying notions related to passage, route, or direction. Outside Japan, Toori can appear in transliterations of Japanese-origin names and locations.

In fiction and media: The name Toori can appear for characters or places in anime, manga, or video games, though there is no single canonical bearer of the name. Because romanization can obscure the original kanji, the exact meaning depends on the chosen kanji in a given work.

See also: Torii, the Shinto gate (distinct in meaning); Dori, a suffix in Japanese place names and surnames; Dōri, another transliteration of the same kanji.