Meaning & History
Morikawa (most commonly written in Japanese as 森川) is a Japanese surname. It is composed of two elements: mori meaning "forest" and kawa meaning "river" or "stream". This is a typical topographic surname, originally given to someone who lived near a forest and a river.
Notable Bearers
- Collin Morikawa (born 1997), an American professional golfer of Japanese descent.
- Toshiyuki Morikawa (born 1967), a prolific Japanese voice actor known for roles such as Sephiroth in Final Fantasy.
- Yoshio Morikawa (born 1945), a Japanese racewalker who competed in the Olympics.
- Miho Morikawa (born 1968), a Japanese singer and model.
- Kei Morikawa, a Japanese film director.
- Yōichirō Morikawa (born 1979), a film director and actor.
The surname is relatively common in Japan and reflects the country's abundant natural landscapes of mountains, forests, and rivers.
- Meaning: forest + river
- Origin: Japanese
- Type: topographic surname
- Common orthography: 森川
- Regions: mostly in central and western Japan
Sources: Wikipedia — Morikawa