Last name origin & meaning: Japanese: ‘eight trees’; taken from a valley in Tajima (now part of
Hyōgo prefecture) by a branch of the ancient Kusakabe family, which
descended from Emperor Nintoku (early 5th century). The name is also
found in the Ryūkyūan island of Amami, written with characters
used phonetically. The name could also simply mean ‘goat’.
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