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Sato (common Japanese surname)
One of the most common Japanese surnames, consistently ranking first or second by population. Often used as a default "sample" name in textbook examples and forms, similar to "Smith" in English.
佐藤さん、こんにちは。
Hello, Mr./Ms. Sato.
A surname so common it is often used as a stand-in name in language textbooks, sample forms, and demonstration materials.
Note on homophones
さとう is also the reading for several unrelated words. In context the meaning is usually clear:
Cultural note
The origin is generally traced to the 藤原 clan, with 佐 referring to the 左衛門尉 office. Today the name is most concentrated in northeastern Japan (東北). It alternates with 鈴木 for the top spot in nationwide surname rankings.