I'm not Japanese so I wouldn't really know, but I asked Gemini AI and it placed it 8th:
Quote:
The most popular Japanese last names are:
Satō (佐藤): This is consistently the most common surname in Japan. It's often linked to the powerful Fujiwara clan, with "tō" (藤) being the same kanji as the "fuji" in Fujiwara.
Suzuki (鈴木): The second most common, it means "bell tree" or "bellwood." Its origin is thought to be from an old word for an ear of rice that was considered sacred.
Takahashi (高橋): Meaning "high bridge" or "tall bridge," its roots are unclear but it's believed to have been adopted by people living near bridges in mountainous terrain.
Tanaka (田中): This name means "in the middle of the rice field" and reflects Japan's deep connection to agriculture.
Watanabe (渡辺/渡邊): Meaning "to cross over" or "crossing the border/area," it's often associated with families who lived near water crossings.
Itō (伊藤): Similar to Satō, the "tō" (藤) refers to wisteria, also linked to the Fujiwara clan.
Yamamoto (山本): This means "base of the mountain" or "mountain origin," suggesting families who lived at the foot of mountains.
Nakamura (中村): Meaning "middle village," it likely indicated a centrally located community.
Kobayashi (小林): This name translates to "small forest."
Katō (加藤): Another name incorporating "wisteria" (藤), also often linked to the Fujiwara clan.
Many Japanese surnames have meanings related to geographical features, occupations, or historical clans, reflecting the traditional ways people were identified.
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Of that top 10 I only have 1 Sato on my team. I think that team just lucked out, but it goes to show you what can happen just by chance.
I'm actually a bit surprised OOTP hasn't implemented the idea already for its Korean users. Apparently 45% of Korean last names are either Kim, Lee, or Park.