What Japanese family names do you find cool ?

[Uncle Frank]

it will always be Hashimoto, (Yoshiko) burned into my heart forever!

Frank

[Mars Man]

Wow,...Good question there. I'd have to say that for me too there are a good number of names I like, but maybe I get some special ringing inside--like Frank--when I hear 'Matsuzawa'.

Actually I seldom use family names,even here in Japan. As long as those I know and meet--and of course all my students--agree to my using their first names, I use their name.

One professor here at the uni has a very unusual family name: Chouki

[Pachipro]

Hosoda, Sawada, and especially Tomoyori, as these were women who will always have a special place in my life's memories.

Other names I find cool that come to mind: Kawaguchi (mouth of the river) and Nakayama (middle of the mountain). There are others but I can't think of themm off hand. I always liked Japanese surnames as they always depicted nature. Much like the American Indian names.