# That small Japanese island with some old American roots **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851 "2004-07-13T04:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/1 "2004-07-13T04:57:26Z")
I read somewhere of a small island belonging to Japan, where some American sailors landed in the mid 19th century, and remained. They intermarried with the local population, and quite a few people on the island today look Caucasian, or at least Eurasian. One thing struck me about this article in particular. It was mentioned, and it seemed to be important, that Nozawa is a common name on this island. So what I’m wondering is if the name Nozawa is in some way related or derived from an Anglo name? ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/2 "2004-07-13T05:21:24Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > So what I’m wondering is if the name Nozawa is in some way related or derived from an Anglo name? Hmm, I’ve never heard of this but it would surprise me that Nozawa would be derived from an Anglo name. For one, it’s a more or less common last name. Literally, it means “field marsh”. Do you have a bit more information? Are you sure the name is Nozawa? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/3 "2004-07-13T07:10:01Z")
You’re not thinking of the [Ainu,](http://www.ainu-museum.or.jp/english/english.html) are you? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/4 "2004-07-13T20:53:03Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Hmm, I’ve never heard of this but it would surprise me that Nozawa would be derived from an Anglo name. For one, it’s a more or less common last name. Literally, it means “field marsh”. > > Do you have a bit more information? Are you sure the name is Nozawa? It was definitely Nozawa, and there were a few others. Unfortunately I only remember Nozawa, probably because I know someone by that name. It had nothing to do with the Ainu. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/5 "2004-07-14T00:27:07Z")
Pardon the hijack, but I was just at Fort Vancouver in Vancouver Washington (not BC) and saw a statue dedicated to soem japanese fisherman whos boat was blown off course and ened up on Long Beach. This was back in the mid 1800s. Man that is a long way to get lost. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/6 "2004-07-14T00:29:07Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Pardon the hijack, but I was just at Fort Vancouver in Vancouver Washington (not BC) and saw a statue dedicated to soem japanese fisherman whos boat was blown off course and ened up on Long Beach. This was back in the mid 1800s. Man that is a long way to get lost. Argh, must type slower. That was supposed to be: “Some japanese fishermen whose boat was blown off course and ended up on Long Beach”. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-small-japanese-island-with-some-old-american-roots/254851/7 "2004-07-14T05:52:13Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Argh, must type slower. That was supposed to be: “Some japanese fishermen whose boat was blown off course and ended up on Long Beach”. Since that monument was in Washington and not California, it’s most likely that the Long Beach in question was the one in Washington. That particular beach is just north of the mouth of the Columbia.