Iwanaga

Iwanaga (岩永) is a Japanese surname. It is also used as a given name, particularly for females. The name literally translates to "rock eternal" or "rock longevity," referencing the symbolic association of rocks with strength, stability, and long life, especially in Shinto and other Japanese cultural contexts.

The name Iwanaga is most notably associated with Iwanaga-hime, a Shinto kami (deity) who is the elder sister of Konohana-sakuya-hime, the goddess of cherry blossoms. In the mythology surrounding these deities, Iwanaga-hime represents long life and stability, while Konohana-sakuya-hime represents fleeting beauty and prosperity. A well-known myth recounts how the god Ninigi declined Iwanaga-hime's hand in marriage in favor of Konohana-sakuya-hime, resulting in the mortality of the imperial line. Had he chosen Iwanaga-hime, it is said that the descendants would have lived as long as the rocks.

As a surname, Iwanaga is not exceptionally common but is found throughout Japan. Individuals with the surname may have ancestral connections to regions where Iwanaga-hime is venerated or where the symbolic meaning of "rock eternity" held particular significance.