Kazuo (カズオ, かずお) is a masculine Japanese

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

Possible spellings

It has several written forms, and the meaning depends on the characters used (usually

kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...

, but sometimes

hiragana is a Japanese syllabary, part of the Japanese writing system, along with ''katakana'' as well as ''kanji''. It is a phonetic lettering system. The word ''hiragana'' literally means "flowing" or "simple" kana ("simple" originally as contrast ...

). Common forms include: * 一雄: first son, first in leadership/excellence * 一夫: first son * 一男: first man/male * 和夫: harmonious/peaceful man * 和男: harmonious/peaceful man * かずお (

) * カズオ (

katakana is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji and in some cases the Latin script (known as rōmaji). The word ''katakana'' means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana characters are derived f ...

)

People with the name

*, Japanese sport wrestler * Kazuo Aoki, Japanese government minister during the

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...

, and into

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

*, Japanese shogi player *

Kazuo Chiba Kazuo Chiba (千葉和雄 also T.K. Chiba; February 5, 1940 – June 5, 2015) was a Japanese aikido teacher and founder of Birankai International. He served for seven years as uchideshi at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo before being dispatched abroad to ...

(born 1940),

aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in aroun ...

Kazuo Harada (birthdate unknown, died December 19, 1998) was an anime producer, audio director, and sound effects director in Japan who has worked with Studio Comet, NAS, and Tsuchida Production. Works *'' Ashita Tenki ni Naare'' (TV) (producer) *''Dame ...

(died 1998), anime producer, audio director, and sound effects director * Kazuo Hirai (平井一夫, born 1964), President/CEO of Sony Computer * Kazuo Endo,

Kobe earthquake The , or Kobe earthquake, occurred on January 17, 1995, at 05:46:53 JST (January 16 at 20:46:53 UTC) in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, including the region known as Hanshin. It measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and h ...

survivor *

Kazuo Hashimoto was a Japanese inventor who registered over 1,000 patents throughout the world, including patents for Caller-ID system and telephone answering machine. He patented his first telephone answering machine, the Ansa Fone, in Japan in 1954, followed ...

, late Japanese inventor of

Caller ID Caller identification (Caller ID) is a telephone service, available in analog and digital telephone systems, including voice over IP (VoIP), that transmits a caller's telephone number to the called party's telephone equipment when the call i ...

and the telephone

answering machine An answering machine, answerphone or message machine, also known as telephone messaging machine (or TAM) in the United Kingdom, UK and some Commonwealth countries, ansaphone or ansafone (from a trade name), or telephone answering device (TAD), ...

, including the

ansafone An answering machine, answerphone or message machine, also known as telephone messaging machine (or TAM) in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, ansaphone or ansafone (from a trade name), or telephone answering device (TAD), was used for a ...

. *, Japanese actor and voice actor *

Kazuo Hiramatsu 平松一夫氏死去　学校法人関西学院理事長
w ...

(1947–2020), accounting scholar, president of Kwansei Gakuin University * Kazuo Hirotsu (1891–1968), Japanese novelist and literary critic active in the

Shōwa period Shōwa may refer to: * Hirohito (1901–1989), the 124th Emperor of Japan, known posthumously as Emperor Shōwa * Showa Corporation, a Japanese suspension and shock manufacturer, affiliated with the Honda keiretsu Japanese eras * Jōwa (Heian ...

of Japan * Kazuo Ichinohe (born 1941), Japanese voice actor (stage name Shin Aomori) *, Japanese aikidoka *

Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese philanthropist, entrepreneur and the founder of Kyocera and KDDI. He was the chairman of Japan Airlines. Inamori was elected as a member into the National Academy of Engineering in 2000 for innovation in ceramic materials an ...

(born 1932), Japanese businessman *, Japanese cyclist *

Kazuo Ishiguro Sir Kazuo Ishiguro ( ; born 8 November 1954) is a British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer. Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, and moved to Britain in 1960 with his parents when he was five. He is one of the most cr ...

(石黒一雄, born 1954), British author *, Japanese table tennis player *, Japanese high jumper * Kazuo Kitagawa (北側一雄, born 1953), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Japanese Cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi *, Japanese diver *

Kazuo Koike was a prolific Japanese manga writer ( gensakusha), novelist, screenwriter, lyricist and entrepreneur. He is best known for his violent, artful ''seinen'' manga, notably ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' (with Goseki Kojima, 1970–6), '' Lady Snowblood'' ...

(小池一夫, born 1936), manga artist * Kazuo Komizu (born 1946), Japanese film director *

Kazuo Kubokawa was a Japanese astronomer, who, together with astronomer Okuro Oikawa, co-discovered the Mars-crosser asteroid 1139 Atami in 1929. During the Japanese period in Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in E ...

(窪川一雄, 1903–1943), astronomer *, Japanese actor, voice actor and theatre director *, Japanese ice hockey player *

Kazuo Matsui is a Japanese retired professional baseball player who played as a shortstop and is the current manager of the Saitama Seibu Lions. He is a switch-hitter. Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December 17, 2003, becoming the first Japanese i ...

(松井稼頭央, born 1975), baseball player *

Kazuo Misaki Kazuo Misaki (born April 25, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2013, he was the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight (183 lbs) Grand Prix Champion, and also competed in Sengoku, Pancrase ...

(born 1976), Japanese professional mixed martial arts fighter and former judoka *

Kazuo Miyagawa was a Japanese cinematographer. Career Born in Kyoto, Miyagawa was taken with sumi-e Chinese ink painting from the age of eleven and began to sell his work as an illustrator while a teenager. He became interested in the cinema during the 1920s, ...

(宮川一夫, 1908–1999), cinematographer * Kazuo Mizutani (水谷和夫), Chief of Staff of Japanese Imperial Guard during the close of World War II *

Kazuo Nakamura Kazuo Nakamura was a Japanese-Canadian painter and sculptor (born Vancouver October 13, 1926; died Toronto April 9, 2002) and a founding member of the Toronto-based Painters Eleven group in the 1950s. Among the first major Japanese Canadian arti ...

(1926–2002), Japanese-Canadian painter and sculptor *, Japanese basketball coach *

Kazuo Nakanishi was briefly the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza syndicate in the chaotic years of the Yama-Ichi War. He was also the founder and 1st ''kumicho'' of the Nakanishi-gumi. Nakanishi accepted the temporary leadership position after the assassina ...

(1922–2003), briefly the leader of the

Yamaguchi-gumi is Japan's largest '' yakuza'' organization. It is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi. Its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe before World War II. It is one of the largest criminal organizations i ...

yakuza syndicate in the chaotic years of the Yama-Ichi War *, Japanese magazine editor and photography critic *, Japanese swimmer *

Kazuo Ohno was a Japanese dancer who became a guru and inspirational figure in the dance form known as Butoh. He is the author of several books on Butoh, including ''The Palace Soars through the Sky'', ''Dessin'', ''Words of Workshop'', and ''Food for the ...

(1906–2010), Japanese dancer associated with Butoh *

Kazuo Oka was a Japanese voice actor employed by the talent management firm Arts Vision. Anime TV *'' Argento Soma'' (xxxx) (Smith) *''Brave Police J-Decker'' (1994) (Kazuto Azuma) *'' Dragon Drive'' (xxxx) (Guankū) *'' Fushigiboshi no Futagohime Gyu!' ...

(born 1948), Japanese voice actor *, Japanese-American professional wrestler *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer and manager *, Japanese racewalker *

Kazuo Sakamaki was a Japanese naval officer who became the first prisoner of war of World War II to be captured by U.S. forces, and the second to be captured by Americans. Early life and education Sakamaki was born in what is now part of the city of Awa, T ...

(酒巻和男, 1918–1999), first prisoner of war held by the US in World War II * Kazuo Sakurada (1948–2020), known as Mr. Sakurada) retired Japanese professional wrestler *, Japanese cross-country skier *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese sport wrestler *, Japanese shogi player *, Japanese mixed martial artist *

Kazuo Taoka was one of the most prominent yakuza godfathers.History and Cultur ...

(田岡一雄, 1913–1981), Godfather of the

yakuza syndicate * Kazuo Umezu (楳図かずお, born 1936), horror manga author *, Japanese businessman *

Kazuo Yamada was a Japanese conductor and composer. Birthday Born in Tokyo in 1912. Began studies at Gakushuin and then Tokyo University of the Arts (formerly the Tokyo Music School). Studied piano with Leo Sirota and Paul Weingarten, and composition wi ...

(1912–1991), Japanese conductor *, Japanese sociologist

Fictional characters

* Kazuo Tengan, the antagonist of '' Danganronpa'' * Kazuo Nakano, character in Yudetamago's manga series ''

Kinnikuman is a Japanese manga series created by the duo Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada, known as Yudetamago. It follows Suguru Kinniku, a superhero who must win a wrestling tournament to retain the title of prince of Planet Kinniku. ...

'' * Kazuo Saki, brother of the Shredder from the 1987–1996 animated TV series, ''

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (named after It ...

'' * Kazuo Uzuki, fictional baseball player that

Topps The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, a ...

created as an April Fools' Day hoax * Kazuo Kiriyama, the primary antagonist of '' Battle Royale'' * Kazuo Makunoichi, fictional character in '' Hajime no Ippo''

Video games

* Kazuo or Go! Sudoku, is the name for the Japanese release of the PlayStation Portable puzzle game * Kazuo Sawa is the name of a video game composer. Notable works include the soundtracks for ''

The Battle of Olympus ''The Battle of Olympus'' is a 1988 Action role-playing game, action role-playing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in 1990, in Europe in 1991. A port for the Game Boy was also released. Plot ''Th ...

'' and '' Rivercity Ransom'' * Kazuo Akuji is the leader of the Ronin in the Saints Row 2 * Kazuo Hoshiro is the leader of the Investigation Team of

Sweet Home (video game) ''Sweet Home'' is a survival horror role-playing video game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Family Computer in 1989. It is based on the Japanese Sweet Home (1989 film), horror film of the same name and t ...

References

{{given name Japanese masculine given names