Kobayashi
Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林, lit. 'small woods') is the 8th most common Japanese surname.[1] A less common variant is 古林. Notable people with the surname include:
Arts
Film, television, theater and music
- Ai Kobayashi (小林 愛, born 1973), Japanese actress and voice actress
- Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, 1930–1996), Japanese actor
- Akira Kobayashi (小林 旭, born 1938), Japanese actor
- Chiaki Kobayashi (小林 千晃, born 1994), Japanese voice actor
- Chikahiro Kobayashi (小林 親弘, born 1983), Japanese voice actor
- Haru Kobayashi (小林 ハル, 1900–2005), Japanese musician
- Katsuya Kobayashi (小林 且弥, born 1981), Japanese actor
- Kei Kobayashi (小林 希唯, born 1976), Japanese voice actress
- Keiju Kobayashi (小林 桂樹, 1923–2010), Japanese actor
- Kendo Kobayashi (ケンドーコバヤシ, born 1972), Japanese comedian and actor
- Kentarō Kobayashi (小林 賢太郎, born 1973), Japanese comedian, actor, dramaturge, theatre director and manga artist
- Kiyoshi Kobayashi (小林 清志, born 1933), Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator
- Masaki Kobayashi (小林 正樹, 1916–1996), Japanese film director
- Michitaka Kobayashi (小林 通孝, born 1955), Japanese voice actor
- Naoki Kobayashi (小林 直己, born 1984), Japanese dancer and actor
- Nenji Kobayashi (小林 稔侍, born 1941), Japanese actor
- Ryoko Kobayashi (小林 涼子, born 1989), Japanese actress
- Satomi Kobayashi (小林 聡美, born 1965), Japanese actress
- Sayaka Kobayashi (小林 さやか, born 1970), Japanese actress and voice actress
- Seidō Kobayashi (小林 正道, born 1944), Japanese musician
- Seiran Kobayashi (小林 星蘭, born 2004), Japanese actress
- Shigeo Kobayashi (小林 成男, born 1970), Japanese actor
- Yasuhiro Kobayashi (小林 靖宏, born 1959), Japanese musician
- Yui Kobayashi (小林 由依, born 1999), Japanese singer and model
- Yukiko Kobayashi (小林 夕岐子, born 1946), Japanese actress
- Yuko Kobayashi (小林 優子, born 1961), Japanese voice actress
- Yumiko Kobayashi (小林 由美子, born 1979), Japanese voice actress
- Yūsuke Kobayashi (小林 裕介, born 1985), Japanese voice actor
Literature
- Audrey Kobayashi (born 1951), Canadian geographer and writer
- Hideo Kobayashi (小林 秀雄, 1902–1983), Japanese writer and literary critic
- Katsuyo Kobayashi (小林 カツ代, 1937–2014), Japanese chef and food writer
- Kobayashi Issa (小林 一茶, 1763–1828), Japanese poet
- Takiji Kobayashi (小林 多喜二, 1903–1933), Japanese writer and communist
- Tamai Kobayashi (born 1965), Canadian writer
- Yasuko Kobayashi (小林 靖子, born 1965), Japanese screenwriter
- Yasumi Kobayashi (小林 泰三, born 1962), Japanese writer
Music
- Aika Kobayashi (小林 愛香, born 1993), Japanese singer and voice actress
- Aimi Kobayashi (小林 愛実, born 1995), Japanese classical pianist
- Chie Kobayashi (小林 千絵, born 1963), Japanese actress and singer
- Hana Kobayashi (born 1982), Venezuelan singer
- Kaori Kobayashi (小林 香織, born 1981), Japanese jazz saxophonist and flautist
- Key Kobayashi (小林 啓, Kobayashi Kei), Japanese music producer, better known as Kobametal
- Megumi Kobayashi (小林 恵, born 1977), Japanese model, actress and singer
- Ron Kobayashi, American jazz pianist
- Sachiko Kobayashi (小林 幸子, born 1953), Japanese enka singer and voice actress
- Sanae Kobayashi (小林 沙苗, born 1980), Japanese voice actress and singer
- Saori Kobayashi (小林 早織), Japanese video game composer and pianist
- Satoru Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sumio Kobayashi (小林 純生, born 1982), Japanese classical composer
- Takeshi Kobayashi (小林 武史, born 1959), Japanese keyboardist, lyricist, composer, arranger and record producer
- Yo Kobayashi (小林 洋, born 1981), Japanese roboticist
- Yū Kobayashi (小林 ゆう, born 1982), Japanese voice actress and singer
Other artists
- Kobayashi Eitaku (小林 永濯, 1843–1890), Japanese artist
- Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林 清親, 1847–1915), Japanese ukiyo-e painter and printmaker
- Kokei Kobayashi (小林 古径, 1883–1957), Japanese painter
- Jin Kobayashi (小林 尽, born 1977), Japanese manga artist
- Kobayashi Keisei (小林 敬生, born 1944), Japanese artist
- Kunio Kobayashi (bonsai artist) (小林 國雄 born 1948), Japanese bonsai artist
- Meison Kobayashi (小林 鳴村, 1889–?), Japanese photographer
- Motofumi Kobayashi (小林 源文, born 1951), Japanese manga artist
- Naomi Kobayashi (小林 尚美, born 1945), Japanese artist
- Norio Kobayashi (小林 のりお, born 1952), Japanese photographer
- Shinichiro Kobayashi (小林 伸一郎), Japanese photographer
- Robert Kobayashi (1925–2015), American artist
- Tomoki Kobayashi (小林 智樹), Japanese anime director
- Toshihiko Kobayashi (小林 俊彦), Japanese manga artist
- Tsuneo Kobayashi (小林 常夫, born 1965), Japanese anime director
- Yoshinori Kobayashi (小林 善範, born 1953), Japanese manga artist
- Yūshi Kobayashi (小林 祐史, 1898–1988), Japanese photographer
Military
- Kobayashi Torasaburō (小林 虎三郎, 1828–1877), Japanese samurai
- Masami Kobayashi (小林 仁, 1890–1977), Imperial Japanese Navy admiral
- Seizō Kobayashi (小林 躋造, 1877–1962), Imperial Japanese Navy admiral and Governor-General of Taiwan
Politics and law
- Ann Kobayashi (born 1937), American politician and businesswoman
- Bert T. Kobayashi (1916–2005), Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii
- Bertrand Kobayashi (fl. 2010s), American politician
- Leslie E. Kobayashi (born 1957), American judge
- Kazumi Kobayashi (小林 一三, born 1936), Japanese politician, 6th Mayor of Niitsu, Niigata
- Masao Kobayashi (小林 正夫, born 1947), Japanese politician
- Mieko Kobayashi (小林 美恵子, born 1958), Japanese politician
Scientists and engineers
- Hisashi Kobayashi (小林 久志, born 1938), Japanese electrical engineer and computer scientist
- Kevin Wesley Kobayashi, American engineer
- Kiyoshi Kobayashi (professor) (小林 潔司), Japanese academic
- Shoshichi Kobayashi (小林 昭七, 1932–2012), Japanese-American mathematician
- Riki Kobayashi (1924–2013), American chemical engineer
- Makoto Kobayashi (小林 誠 born 1944), Japanese physicist
- Takao Kobayashi (小林 隆男, born 1961), Japanese amateur astronomer
- Tatsuo Kobayashi (小林 龍生, born 1951), Japanese computer scientist
- Toru Kobayashi (小林 徹), Japanese astronomer
- Toshiyuki Kobayashi (小林 俊行, born 1962), Japanese mathematician
Sports
Baseball
- Masahide Kobayashi (小林 雅英, born 1974), Japanese baseball player
- Ryokan Kobayashi (小林 亮寛, born 1979), Japanese baseball player
- Seiji Kobayashi (小林 誠司, born 1989), Japanese baseball player
- Shigeru Kobayashi (小林 繁, 1952–2010), Japanese baseball player
Football (soccer)
- Daigo Kobayashi (小林 大悟, born 1983), Japanese footballer
- Fumiya Kobayashi (小林 史八, born 1987), Japanese footballer
- George Kobayashi (小林 ジョージ, born 1947), Japanese footballer
- Hidemasa Kobayashi (小林 秀征, born 1994), Japanese footballer
- Hiroki Kobayashi (小林 弘記, born 1977), Japanese footballer
- Hiroki Kobayashi (footballer, born 1992), Japanese footballer
- Jun Kobayashi (小林 洵, born 1999), Japanese footballer
- Kan Kobayashi (小林 幹, born 1999), Japanese footballer
- Masamitsu Kobayashi (小林 成光, born 1978), Japanese footballer
- Minoru Kobayashi (小林 稔, born 1976), Japanese footballer
- Paulinho Kobayashi (born 1970), Brazilian footballer
- Rikako Kobayashi (小林 里歌子, born 1997), Japanese women's footballer
- Riku Kobayashi (小林 里駆, born 2001), Japanese footballer
- Ryo Kobayashi (小林 亮, born 1982), Japanese footballer
- Ryota Kobayashi (小林 亮太, born 1988), Japanese footballer
- Seigo Kobayashi (小林 成豪, born 1994), Japanese footballer
- Shinji Kobayashi (小林 伸二, born 1960), Japanese footballer and manager
- Shota Kobayashi (古林 将太, born 1991), Japanese footballer
- Tadao Kobayashi (小林 忠生, born 1930), Japanese footballer and manager
- Takamichi Kobayashi (小林 高道, born 1979), Japanese footballer
- Tatsuki Kobayashi (小林 竜樹, born 1985), Japanese footballer
- Teruaki Kobayashi (小林 久晃, born 1979), Japanese footballer
- Yasutaka Kobayashi (小林 康剛, born 1980), Japanese footballer
- Yayoi Kobayashi (小林 弥生, born 1981), Japanese women's footballer
- Yoshiyuki Kobayashi (小林 慶行, born 1978), Japanese footballer
- Yōsuke Kobayashi (小林 陽介, born 1983), Japanese footballer
- Yu Kobayashi (footballer) (小林 悠, born 1987), Japanese footballer
- Yugo Kobayashi (footballer) (born 1991), Japanese footballer
- Yuki Kobayashi (football, born 2000), Japanese footballer
- Yuzo Kobayashi (小林 祐三, born 1985), Japanese footballer
- Zach Kobayashi (born 1997), American soccer player
Mind sports
- Izumi Kobayashi (小林 泉美, born 1977), Japanese Go player
- Kenji Kobayashi (小林 健二, born 1957), Japanese shogi player
- Koichi Kobayashi (小林 光一, born 1952), Japanese Go player
- Reiko Kobayashi (Go player) (小林 禮子, 1939–1996), Japanese Go player
Winter sports
- Junshirō Kobayashi (小林 潤志郎, born 1991), Japanese ski jumper
- Miki Kobayashi (小林 美貴, born 1987), Japanese biathlete
- Norihito Kobayashi (小林 範仁, born 1982), Japanese Nordic combined skier
- Reiko Kobayashi (小林 れい子, born 1961), Japanese figure skater and coach
- Ryōyū Kobayashi (小林 陵侑, born 1996), Japanese ski jumper
- Ryuichi Kobayashi (小林 竜一, born 1976), Japanese bobsledder
Wrestling
- Abdullah Kobayashi (アブドーラ小林, born 1976), or Yosuke Kobayashi, Japanese professional wrestler
- Eita Kobayashi (小林 瑛太, born 1991), Japanese professional wrestler
- Kaho Kobayashi (小林 香萌, born 1992), Japanese professional wrestler
- Kenta Kobayashi (小林 健太, born 1981), also known as Hideo Itami, Japanese professional wrestler
- Kuniaki Kobayashi (小林 邦昭, born 1956), Japanese professional wrestler
- Takeshi Kobayashi (wrestler) (小林 武, born 1948), Japanese sport wrestler
Other athletes
- Chisa Kobayashi (小林 千紗, born 1987), Japanese synchronized swimmer
- Celes Kobayashi (born 1974), Japanese boxer
- Daisuke Kobayashi (小林 大祐, born 1987), Japanese basketball player
- Dawn Kobayashi (born 1971), Jamaican sport shooter
- Etsuko Kobayashi (born 1992), Japanese cricketer
- Fujio Kobayashi (小林 富士夫, born 1944), Japanese golfer
- Fumikazu Kobayashi (小林 史和, born 1978), Japanese middle-distance runner
- Hideo Kobayashi (canoeist) (小林 英男, born 1943), Japanese sprint canoeist
- Hiroko Kobayashi (小林 弘子, born 1970), Japanese slalom canoeist
- Kai Kobayashi (小林 快, born 1993), Japanese racewalker
- Kamui Kobayashi (小林 可夢偉, born 1986), racing driver
- Kazuo Kobayashi (小林 一男, 1908–?), Japanese diver
- Kenya Kobayashi (小林 研也, born 1983), Japanese gymnast
- Kunio Kobayashi (karateka) (小林 國雄 born 1967), Japanese karateka
- Maki Kobayashi (小林 眞樹, born 1965), Japanese rower
- Marino Kobayashi (小林 海, born 1994), Japanese cyclist
- Masanori Kobayashi (小林 正則, born 1976), Japanese golfer
- Misaki Kobayashi (小林 海咲, born 1990), Japanese squash player
- Miwako Kobayashi (小林 美和子, born 1952), Japanese swimmer
- Nobuaki Kobayashi (小林 伸明, 1942–2019), Japanese three-cushion billiards player
- Royal Kobayashi (born 1949), Japanese boxer
- Ryosei Kobayashi (born 1994), Japanese squash player
- Susumu Kobayashi (小林 晋, born 1973), Japanese sport shooter
- Takako Kobayashi (小林 貴子, born 1968), Japanese judoka
- Takeru Kobayashi (小林 尊, born 1978), Japanese competitive eater
- Yasuo Kobayashi (小林 保雄, born 1936), Japanese aikidoka
- Yoshimi Kobayashi (小林 良美, born 1968), Japanese softball player
- Yugo Kobayashi (小林 優吾, born 1995), Japanese badminton player
- Yuka Kobayashi (小林 優香, born 1994), Japanese cyclist
- Yuriko Kobayashi (小林 祐梨子, born 1988), Japanese middle- and long-distance runner
- Yuta Kobayashi (小林 祐太, born 1987), Japanese basketball player
Others
- Emi Kobayashi (小林 恵美, born 1983), Japanese gravure idol
- Hannah Kobayashi (born 1994), American missing person
- Hitomi Kobayashi (小林 ひとみ, born 1965), Japanese AV idol
- Ichizō Kobayashi (小林 一三, 1873–1957), Japanese industrialist
- Kana Kobayashi (小林 香菜, born 1991), Japanese idol
- Keiichiro Kobayashi (小林 慶一郎, born 1966), Japanese economist
- Ken Kobayashi (小林 健, born 1949), Japanese businessman
- Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi (小林 研一郎, born 1940), Japanese conductor and composer
- Sanzaburo Kobayashi (小林 参三郎, 1863–1926), Japanese surgeon
- Maya Kobayashi (小林 麻耶, born 1979), Japanese journalist
- Yotaro Kobayashi (小林 陽太郎, 1933–2015), Japanese businessman
- Yumi Kobayashi (小林 優美, born 1988), Japanese fashion model
Fictional characters
- Kobayashi (小林), a character in the manga series The Law of Ueki
- Kobayashi (小林), the protagonist in the manga series Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
- Kobayashi, a character in the film The Usual Suspects
- Akane Kobayashi (小林 あかね), a character in the manga series Doki Doki School Hours
- Amiko Kobayashi, a character in Marvel Comics
- Atari Kobayashi, a character in the film Isle of Dogs
- Daigo Kobayashi, a character in the film Departures
- Hayato Kobayashi (ハヤト・コバヤシ), a character in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam
- Hitomonji Kobayashi (小林 一文字), a character in the manga series Cheeky Angel
- Hatoko Kobayashi (小林 鳩子) and Kotaro Kobayashi (小林 虎太郎), characters in the manga series Angelic Layer
- Koji Kobayashi, a character in the film Godzilla Raids Again
- Masafumi Kobayashi, a character in the film Noroi: The Curse
- Matcha Kobayashi (小林 抹茶), a character in the media franchise Project 575
- Rin Kobayashi (小林 輪), a character in the manga series Please Save My Earth
- Sanpeita Kobayashi (小林 三平太), protagonist of the manga series Kemeko Deluxe!
- Sashi Kobayashi, a character in the Disney XD animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
- Sumiko Kobayashi (小林 澄子), a character in the manga series Case Closed
- Tamami Kobayashi (小林 玉美) a side character in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
- Washu Kobayashi (小林 鷲羽), also known as Washu Hakubi, a character in Tenchi Muyō! media
See also
- Akiko Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Atsushi Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fumiaki Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hideaki Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hirokazu Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hiromi Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hiroshi Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hiroyuki Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kaoru Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kōji Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Makoto Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mao Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Masahiro Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Masato Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Miyuki Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Osamu Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Takashi Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Yuki Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Yūsuke Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
- Yutaka Kobayashi (disambiguation), multiple people
References
- ^ "明治安田生命 全国同姓調査 [Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company - National same family name investigation]" (PDF) (Press release). Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2019-03-09.