Inoue (kanji: 井上, historical kana orthography: ゐのうへ Winouhe) is the 16th most common Japanese surname.^[1] Historically, it was also romanized as Inouye, and many Japanese-descended people outside of Japan still retain this spelling. A less common variant is 井之上.

Notable people with the surname

• Akio Inoue (井上 秋緒), Japanese lyricist
• Akira Inoue (film director) (井上 昭, 1928-2022), Japanese film director
• Akira Inoue (musician) (井上 鑑, born 1953), Japanese keyboardist, composer and producer
• Alice Inoue (born 1964), American astrologer and writer
• Arisa Inoue (井上 愛里沙, born 1995), Japanese volleyball player
• Asahi Inoue (井上 あさひ, born 1981), Japanese announcer
• Atsuo Inoue (井上 篤夫, born 1947), Japanese writer and translator
• Atsushi Inoue (井上 敦史, born 1977), Japanese footballer
• Azumi Inoue (井上 あずみ, born 1965), Japanese singer
• Daisuke Inoue (井上 大佑, born 1940), Japanese businessman and inventor
• Daisuke Inoue (井上大輔, (1941–2000)), Japanese singer, composer and multi-instrumentist
• Daisuke Inoue (rugby union) (井上 大介, born 1989), Japanese rugby union player
• Daniel Inouye (1924–2012), United States Senator for Hawaii and Medal of Honor recipient
• Egan Inoue (born 1965), American jiu-jitsu practitioner, mixed martial artist and racquetball player
• Enson Inoue (born 1967), American mixed martial artist
• Inoue Enryō (井上 円了, 1858–1919), Japanese founder of Toyo University, educator and philosopher
• Etsuko Inoue (井上 悦子, born 1964), Japanese tennis player
• Inoue Genzaburō (井上 源三郎, 1829–1868), Shinsengumi
• Haruka Inoue (井上 青香, born 1977), Japanese tennis player
• Harumi Inoue (井上 晴美, born 1974), Japanese actress and model
• Haruo Inoue (井上 春生, born 1963), Japanese film director
• Hideko Inouye (井上 秀子, 1875–1963), Japanese educator and first female president of Japan Women's University
• Hideto Inoue (井上 秀人, born 1982), Japanese footballer
• Inoue Hikaru (井上 光, 1851–1908), Japanese general
• Hiromitsu Inoue (born 1974), Japanese entomologist
• Hiroshi Inoue (bryologist) (井上 浩, 1932–1989), Japanese bryologist and subject of the standard botanical author abbreviation "Inoue"
• Hiroshi Inoue (entomologist) (井上 寬, born c. 1917), Japanese entomologist
• Hiroto Inoue (井上 大仁, born 1993), Japanese long-distance runner
• Hisashi Inoue (井上 ひさし, 1934–2010), Japanese writer and playwright
• Hisashi Inoue (historian) (井上 久士, born 1950), Japanese historian
• Honoka Inoue (井上 ほの花, born 1998), Japanese voice actress and singer
• Ibuki Inoue (井上 歩紀, born 1999), Japanese footballer
• Jo Inoue (井上 丈, born 1994), Japanese footballer
• Joe Inoue (井上 ジョー, born 1985), American musician
• Jun Inoue (井上 順, born 1947), Japanese television personality, singer, actor and comedian
• Junichi Inoue (井上 純一, born 1971), Japanese speed skater
• Junnosuke Inoue (井上 準之助, 1869–1932), Japanese businessman and banker
• Junya Inoue (井上 淳哉, born 1971), Japanese manga artist
• Kaori Inoue (井上 香織, born 1982), Japanese volleyball player
• Inoue Kaoru (井上 馨, 1836–1915), Japanese politician
• Katsunosuke Inoue (井上 勝之助, 1861–1929), Japanese diplomat
• Kazuhiko Inoue (井上 和彦, born 1954), Japanese voice actor and singer
• Kazuhiro Inoue (born 1973), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Kazuki Inoue (井上 一樹, born 1971), Japanese baseball player
• Kazuma Inoue (井上 和馬, born 1990), Japanese footballer
• Kazuo Inoue (井上 和郎, born 1981), Japanese cyclist
• Kazurou Inoue (井上 和郎, born 1972), Japanese manga artist
• Keita Inoue (井上 慶太, born 1964), Japanese shogi player
• Kenji Inoue (井上 謙二, born 1976), Japanese sport wrestler
• Inoue Kenkabō (井上 剣花坊, 1870–1934), Japanese journalist and writer
• Kiichi Inoue (井上 喜一, 1932–2010), Japanese politician
• Kikuko Inoue (井上 喜久子, born 1964), Japanese singer and voice actress
• Kiyonobu Inoue (井上 清信, born 1970), better known as Inoran, Japanese musician
• Kiyoshi Inoue (井上 清, 1913–2001), Japanese academic, historian and writer
• Kiyoto Inoue (井上 清登, born 1957), Japanese sprint canoeist
• Kohei Inoue (井上 公平, born 1978), Japanese footballer
• Koki Inoue (井上浩樹, born 1992), Japanese boxer
• Kōsei Inoue (井上 康生, born 1978), Japanese judoka
• Kotoe Inoue (井上 琴絵, born 1990), Japanese volleyball player
• Kouichi Inoue (井上 幸一, born 1946), Japanese golfer
• Inoue Kowashi (井上 毅, 1844–1895), Japanese statesman
• Kozo Inoue (井上 公造, born 1956), Japanese journalist
• Kyoichi Inoue (井上 強一, born 1935), Japanese aikidoka
• Kyoko Inoue (井上 京子, born 1969), Japanese professional wrestler
• Lorraine Inouye (born 1940), American politician serving in the Hawaii State Senate
• Lurdes Inoue, Brazilian statistician
• Maiko Inoue (井上 摩衣子, born 1979), Japanese tennis player
• Makio Inoue (井上 真樹夫, 1938–2019), Japanese voice actor
• Makoto Inoue (井上 信, born 1974), Japanese golfer
• Mao Inoue (井上 真央, born 1987), Japanese actress
• Marina Inoue (井上 麻里奈, born 1985), Japanese voice actress and singer
• Inoue Masaharu (井上 正春, 1805–1847), Japanese daimyō
• Masahiro Inoue (井上 正大, born 1989), Japanese actor and martial artist
• Masaki Inoue (井上 昌己, born 1979), Japanese cyclist
• Masakichi Inoue (井上 政吉, 1886–1975), Japanese general
• Inoue Masamoto (井上 正甫, 1778–1858), Japanese daimyō
• Inoue Masanao (井上 正直, 1837–1904), Japanese daimyō
• Mao Inoue (井上 麻生, born 1997), Japanese professional wrestler known by his ring name Mao
• Masanori Inoue (井上 将憲, born 1972), Japanese hurdler and bobsledder
• Masao Inoue (actor) (井上 正夫, 1881–1950), Japanese actor and film director
• Masao Inoue (wrestler) (井上 雅央, born 1970), Japanese professional wrestler
• Inoue Masaoto (井上 正巳, 1856–1921), Japanese daimyō
• Inoue Masaru (bureaucrat) (井上 勝, 1843–1910), Japanese government official
• Inoue Masasada (井上 正定, 1754–1786), Japanese daimyō
• Inoue Masashige (井上 政重, 1585–1661), Japanese daimyō
• Inoue Masatsune (井上 正経, 1725–1766), Japanese daimyō
• Masaya Inoue (born 1973), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Megumi Inoue (井上 恵, born 1973), Japanese sport shooter
• Miki Inoue (井上 美紀, born 1967), Japanese voice actress
• Minako Inoue (井上 美奈子, born 1977), Japanese singer
• Mitsuharu Inoue (井上光晴, 1926–1992), Japanese writer
• Miyabi Inoue (井上 雅, born 1991), Japanese tennis player
• Miyako Inoue (anthropologist) (born 1962), American anthropologist
• Mizuki Inoue (井上 瑞樹, born 1994), Japanese kickboxer and mixed martial artist
• Motokatsu Inoue (1918–1993), Japanese martial artist
• Nagi Inoue (井上和, born 2005), Japanese idol singer Nogizaka46 member
• Nanami Inoue (井上 奈々朱, born 1989), Japanese volleyball player
• Naohisa Inoue (井上 直久, born 1948), Japanese painter
• Naoki Inoue (井上 直樹, born 1997), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Naoya Inoue (井上 尚弥, born 1993), Japanese boxer
• Nisshō Inoue (井上 日召, 1887–1967), Japanese Buddhist preacher and far-right activist
• Nobuyuki Inoue (井上 信行), Japanese video game developer
• Noriaki Inoue (井上 鑑昭, 1902–1994), Japanese aikidoka
• Norihiro Inoue (井上 倫宏, born 1958), Japanese actor and voice actor
• Osamu Inoue (井上 治, born 1932), Japanese long-distance runner
• Rena Inoue (井上 怜奈, born 1976), Japanese-born American figure skater
• Rikito Inoue (井上 黎生人, born 1997), Japanese footballer
• Ryoki Inoue (born 1946), Brazilian writer
• Ryota Inoue (井上 亮太, born 1990), Japanese footballer
• Ryota Inoue (井上 涼太, born 1988), better known as Kazunoko, Japanese fighting games player
• Sadae Inoue (井上 貞衛, 1886–1961), Japanese general
• Sanji Inoue (井上 三次, born 1948), Japanese cyclist
• Santa Inoue (井上 三太, born 1968), Japanese manga artist
• Satoko Inoue (井上 郷子, born 1958), Japanese pianist
• Satoru Inoue (井上 悟, born 1971), Japanese sprinter
• Satoshi Inoue (musician) (井上 智, born 1959), Japanese jazz guitarist
• Satoshi Inoue (politician) (井上 哲士, born 1958), Japanese politician
• Seiryū Inoue (井上 青龍, 1931–1988), Japanese photographer
• Seiya Inoue (井上 晴哉, born 1989), Japanese baseball player
• Setsuko Inoue (井上 節子, born 1946), Japanese volleyball player
• Shigeyoshi Inoue (井上 成美, 1889–1975), Imperial Japanese Navy admiral
• Shingo Inoue (井上 真悟, born 1980), Japanese marathon runner
• Shinji Inoue (井上 信治, born 1969), Japanese politician
• Shinya Inoué (井上 信也, 1921–2019), Japanese-born American biophysicist and cell biologist
• Shion Inoue (井上 潮音, born 1997), Japanese footballer
• Shoko Inoue (井上 昌己, born 1969), Japanese singer
• Shota Inoue (井上 翔太, born 1989), Japanese footballer
• Shumpei Inoue (井上 俊平), Japanese footballer
• Shunsuke Inoue (井上 俊輔, born 1985), Japanese volleyball player
• Sonoko Inoue (井上 苑子, born 1997), Japanese singer-songwriter and actress
• Sueo Inoue (井上 末雄, born 1949), Japanese professional wrestler known by his ring name Mighty Inoue
• Tadayuki Inoue (井上 忠行, 1935–2007), Japanese baseball player
• Taira Inoue (井上 平, born 1983), Japanese footballer
• Takako Inoue (井上 貴子, born 1969), Japanese professional wrestler
• Takashi Inoue (井之上 隆志, 1960–2017), Japanese actor
• Takashi Inoue (author) (井之上 喬, born 1944), Japanese public relations practitioner, scholar and theorist
• Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, born 1967), Japanese manga artist
• Takeshi Inoue (footballer) (井上 健, 1928 – 1992), Japanese footballer
• Takeshi Inoue (mixed martial artist) (井上 武, born 1980), Japanese mixed martial artist
• Taki Inoue (born 1963), Japanese racing driver
• Takuma Inoue (井上 拓真, born 1995), Japanese boxer
• Takuto Inoue (井上 拓斗, born 1995), Japanese badminton player
• Tetsu Inoue, American music producer
• Tetsuo Inoue (井上 哲夫), Japanese table tennis player
• Inoue Tetsujirō (井上 哲次郎, 1855–1944), Japanese philosopher
• Tomohiro Inoue (井上 智裕, born 1987), Japanese sport wrestler
• Toshiaki Inoue (井上 敏明, born 1951), Japanese triple jumper
• Toshiki Inoue (井上 敏樹, born 1959), Japanese screenwriter
• Umetsugu Inoue (井上 梅次, 1923–2010), Japanese film director and screenwriter
• Waka Inoue (井上 和香, born 1980), Japanese idol, television personality and actress
• Wataru Inoue (井上 亘, born 1973), Japanese professional wrestler
• Wataru Inoue (footballer) (井上 渉, born 1986), Japanese footballer
• Wayne Inouye (born 1953), American businessman
• Yasushi Inoue (井上 靖, 1907–1991), Japanese poet and writer
• Yō Inoue (井上 瑤, 1946–2003), Japanese voice actress
• Yoshihiro Inoue (井上 嘉浩, 1969–2018), a high-ranking member of Aum Shinrikyo executed for the Tokyo subway attack
• Yoshihisa Inoue (井上 義久, born 1947), Japanese politician
• Inoue Yoshika (井上 良馨, 1845–1929), Imperial Japanese Navy officer
• Yoshiko Inoue (井上 佳子, born 1988), Japanese sport wrestler
• Yōsui Inoue (井上 陽水, born 1948), Japanese singer-songwriter
• Yudai Inoue (井上 裕大, born 1989), Japanese footballer
• Yuki Inoue (footballer) (井上 雄幾, born 1977), Japanese footballer
• Yuko Inoue (井上 祐子), Japanese classical violinist
• Yuzuru Inoue (井上 謙, born 1963), Japanese volleyball player
• Yuki Inoue (curler) (井上 祐樹), Japanese curler

Fictional characters

• Chisato Inoue (井上 千里), a character in the anime series Vampire Princess Miyu
• Takina Inoue (井ノ上 たきな), a character in the anime series Lycoris Recoil
• Kanbei Inoue (井上 勘兵衛), a character in the film Azumi
• Mayuko Inoue (井上 真由子), a character in the manga series Ushio and Tora
• Orihime (井上 織姫) and Sora Inoue (井上 昊), characters in the manga series Bleach
• Toro Inoue (井上 トロ), an anthropomorphized cat created by Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Yolei Inoue or Miyako Inoue (井ノ上 京), a character in the anime series Digimon Adventure 02

References