POTENTIAL OF TOPONYMY, BY HARUHIKO

Author: Haruhiko

First-year student at the University of Tsukuba

This essay was granted permission for publication on December 21, 2021.

First of all, I was very impressed by the potential of toponymy. I believe it will change the way I look at the world because it can lead me to read a lot of information from what I used to think were just proper nouns. For example, I heard that places, where kanji such as “ja”(蛇) or “ryu”(龍) are used, may have once been the place the flood has occurred. There are also kanji that represent the industries that took place in the area, the purpose of the birth of the village, and so on.

There is one sad example of not making good use of toponymy. It is the sediment disaster in Hiroshima in August 2014. More than 120 millimeters of rain fell per hour and caused the area to collapse. The Yagi area was the most damaged in this disaster. However, in fact, this area used to be called “Jyarakuji Ashidani”（蛇落地悪谷). It contained the kanji “ja”(蛇). It is said that the name changed to “Yagi Kamirakuji Ashiya”(八木上楽治芦屋) and then to the present “Yagi”(八木)  over time. With the passage of time, generations of people have been replaced and development has progressed, and the name of the place has changed from an abhorrent name to a new, modern name. Our ancestors had warned our descendants with the names of places. However, if I had not known about the existence of toponymy, I am sure I would not have paid attention to the name of the area. 

The meanings of kanji or Chinese characters vary from case to case. In any case, even if it is composed of just two or three kanji, it contains the wishes of the people. And this can be valuable information that is useful for study. I really feel the usefulness and importance of this study.

Next, I would like to write about the fun of toponymy. It is not only academically important but also a literary expression that brings color to our daily lives. When I am thinking about a specific place name, my idea often becomes like a story. Sometimes, the combination of kanji characters that are not well understood at first glance can create a story like a fantasy novel. For example, Nagano(長野), where I am from, means “Long Field.” It is not so interesting. But Ibaraki(茨城), where I live now, means “castle surrounded by thorns.” I never realized until now that this is a very poetic and evocative name. It reminded me of a scene from a war novel. I like it. Toponymy seems to increase my attachment to the place where I live, where I studied. And, it would be even more fun if I could share these thoughts with someone else. Also, I’m sure it would be a great first topic to talk about with someone from a different area that I’ve never met before.

I will not major in toponymy as an academic discipline. However, if I enjoy this way of thinking in my daily life, I am sure it will lead me to have a rich mind.　

Work cited:

Miyake,T. Kikikanri Brog. March 11, 2019. https://www2.dpsol.co.jp/archives/51951831.html. Accessed November 30, 2021.