Matsuoka (written: or lit. "pine tree hill") is a Japanese surname.
Matsuoka is the 142nd most common name in Japan as of 2024, belonging to approximately 1 out of 865 people, or 137,000 individuals. It is most prevalent in Osaka, with the highest percentage per capita in Kochi and Kumamoto prefectures.
It is believed that the name either originated from descendants of kannushi families, as hills of pines were often considered sacred and the location of many Shinto shrines, such as the descendants of Matsuoka Masanao at the Atsuta Shrine, or simply that individuals lived near a pine hill, sacred or otherwise.
Popular kamon associated with the name include Three Pine Trees in a Circle (丸に三階松), Three Oxalis leaves with Swords (剣片喰), Two Lines in a Circle (丸に二つ引両), and Oak leaves and Vines in a Snowflake (丸に蔓柏) help illustrate the diversity of various lines and their associations with bigger clans.
Notable people with the surname include:
(Names are listed by field, alphabetically by given name in the western convention of given-name, surname for clarity.)
Academics , Japanese philanthropist and cultural ambassador Hiroyuki Matsuoka (born c. 1956), Japanese professor of infection and immunity , Japanese baron and economics professor , birth name of Kunio Yanagita, Japanese scholar and folklorist , Japanese computer scientist , Japanese noh scholar , Japanese naval officer, linguist, and ethnologist Japanese Confucianist and herbalist Yoko Matsuoka McClain (1924–2011), Japanese-born American professor of language and literature Yoky Matsuoka (born 1972), American computer scientist
Arts and entertainment , Japanese musician , Japanese painter , Japanese film studio executive , Japanese film director , Japanese rakugoka known as Danshi Tatekawa , Japanese musician , Japanese mystery writer , Japanese television executive Kent Matsuoka (born 1974), American film producer , Japanese actress , Japanese actress and musician , Japanese actor and musician , Japanese actress Mei Matsuoka (born 1981), Japanese-English illustrator and writer , Japanese musician Mona Matsuoka (born 1998), American fashion model , Japanese musician Takashi Matsuoka (born 1954), American writer , Japanese voice actress , Japanese writer , Japanese voice actor , Japanese voice actor , better known as Aka Plu, Japanese comedian
Politics , Japanese Bakufu loyalist , Japanese wife of Eisaku Satō , Japanese politician and businessman , Japanese politician and labor activist , Japanese political activist , Japanese politician , Japanese politician , Japanese politician , Japanese baron and politician , Japanese diplomat and politician
Sports and martial arts , Japanese cross-country skier , Japanese footballer , Japanese footballer , Japanese baseball player , Japanese sport shooter , Japanese martial arts master , Japanese baseball player , Japanese women's basketball player , Japanese long-distance runner , Japanese footballer , Japanese footballer , Japanese tennis player , Japanese footballer , Japanese footballer , Japanese judoka , Japanese volleyball player
Others , Japanese Go player , Japanese Shinto priest Japanese Catholic Bishop Japanese guitar maker Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist , Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher , Japanese mob boss
Fictional characters Kenjiro Matsuoka, a character in the video game Killer7 , a character in the manga and anime series Strawberry Marshmallow , a character in the anime series Free!
References