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Kanto 関東 – Japanese surname

Kanto (関東) is read かんとう and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 関東, the characters mean: connection + east. This reading can be written with at least 19 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 17 to 30 strokes in total.

How to write Kanto in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
関東	かんとう	connection + east	22
間藤	かんとう	interval + wisteria	30
神東	かんとう	gods + east	17
考藤	かんとう	consider + wisteria	24
管東	かんとう	pipe + east	22
神藤	かんとう	gods + wisteria	27

Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.

The kanji in Kanto

関

connection, barrier, gateway, involve

14 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 4

On: カン Kun: せき、ぜき、かか

東

east

8 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: トウ Kun: ひがし

間

interval, space

12 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: カン、ケン Kun: あいだ、ま、あい

藤

wisteria

18 strokes, taught in secondary school

On: トウ、ドウ Kun: ふじ

神

gods, mind, soul

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: シン、ジン Kun: かみ、かん、こう

Kanto in different scripts

Romaji	Kanto
Hiragana	かんとう
Katakana	カントウ
Kanji (most common)	関東

Full name examples

Ayumi Kanto (Japanese order: 関東歩美, かんとうあゆみ)
Yurina Kanto (Japanese order: 関東百合奈, かんとうゆりな)
Yuki Kanto (Japanese order: 関東結城, かんとうゆうき)

How to pronounce Kanto

Break it into 2 parts: kan · to. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 4 sound units are written かんとう.

Questions about Kanto

What does Kanto mean in Japanese?

Kanto has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 関東, combines these meanings: connection + east. Other spellings include 間藤 (interval + wisteria), 神東 (gods + east), 考藤 (consider + wisteria).

How do you write Kanto in kanji?

The most common way is 関東 (かんとう). It can also be written 間藤, 神東, 考藤, 管東, 神藤.

How do you write Kanto in katakana?

Kanto is カントウ in katakana and かんとう in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Kanto?

Kanto is read かんとう and has 4 syllables (morae).

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Other surnames that use 関

関: connection, barrier, gateway

Iseki 一関 Oseki 大関 Ozeki 大関 Seki 関 Sekiguchi 関口 Sekino 関野 Sekita 関田 Sekiya 関野 Sekizawa 関沢

Names with a similar sound

Kanaga 加中 Kanai 家内 Kanamori 金守 Kanaya 金野 Kanba 上場 Kanbara 上原 Kanbayashi 上林 Kanbe 間部 Kanda 上田 Kaneki 金生