Nakagawa is a Japanese surname composed of two elements: naka meaning "middle" and kawa meaning "river, stream". This toponymic surname originates from the many places named Nakagawa in Japan, typically referring to a settlement situated between two rivers or along a middle stretch of a river. Surnames in Japan became common only after the Meiji Restoration (1868), when the government mandated all citizens to adopt family names; many people chose names derived from their local geography, resulting in a high frequency of names with elements like 川 (kawa). Distribution and Demographics As a Japanese surname, Nakagawa is ranked among the top 50 most common surnames in Japan. Outside Japan, the name is also found in communities of the Japanese diaspora. According to the 2010 United States Census, Nakagawa ranked 12,696th in frequency, with 2,431 bearers, predominantly of Asian/Pacific Islander heritage (80.46%) and of mixed race (11.48%). Historical and Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname include Shūichi Nakagawa (politician), Nakagawa Kazumasa (samurai commander of the Sengoku period), and Yō Nakagawa (American film director of Japanese descent). In the arts, the name is borne by the 18th-century Japanese painter Nakagawa Kigen, and in modern literature, by the novelist Ken'ichi Nakagawa. Professional sports figures with the surname include footballers Nakagawa Hideo and Teruyoshi Nakagawa. Meaning: From Japanese (naka) "middle" and (kawa) "river, stream" Origin: Geographic (toponymic) Type: Surname Usage: Primarily Japanese and Japanese diaspora