Origin of Wakayama prefectural name
WAKAYAMA – Poetry Mountain 和歌山県 Most Japan aficionados would know that waka (和歌) is a famous type of Japanese poetry. So you might think Wakayama is a land of waka…
Origin of “Suzuki,” Japan’s No. 2 surname
by Philbert Ono, updated June 14, 2023 “Suzuki” (鈴木) is Japan’s No. 2 most common family name, right behind “Sato.” The name’s meaning is very puzzling because the meaning of…
Minabe Plum Grove, Wakayama
Years ago, my very first trip to Wakayama Prefecture included a visit to Minabe Plum Grove, Japan’s largest ume plum grove. It was fabulous. Plum blossoms covered the hills as…