Hayashi (林, literally "woods"), is the 19th most common Japanese surname. It shares the same character as the Chinese surname Lin. Notable people with the surname include: , Japanese synchronized swimmer , Japanese footballer , Japanese scholar and diplomat , Japanese swimmer , Japanese singer Cheryl Hayashi, American biologist , Japanese businesswoman , Japanese naval surgeon and Reiki practitioner , Japanese astrophysicist , Japanese voice actress , Japanese footballer , Japanese sport shooter , Japanese musician , Japanese tennis player , pen name of Kaitarō Hasegawa (1900–1935), Japanese writer , Japanese writer and poet , Japanese politician , Japanese manga artist , Japanese economist , Japanese physician , pen name of Toshio Gotō, Japanese writer , Japanese neo-Confucian philosopher and writer , Japanese neo-Confucian philosopher , Japanese diplomat , Japanese physician , Japanese rower , Japanese samurai , Japanese classical composer, pianist and conductor , Japanese historian , Japanese animator , better known as Chikage Oogi, Japanese actress and politician , Japanese singer, actress and television personality , Japanese composer , Japanese sprinter , Japanese footballer , Japanese musician , Japanese government official , Japanese neo-Confucian scholar, teacher and administrator , Japanese women's footballer , member of Aum Shinrikyo , Japanese singer and composer , Japanese physicist Joe Hayashi (1920–1945), United States Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient , Japanese politician , Japanese neo-Confucian scholar , Japanese film director and screenwriter Kanna Hayashi, American academic , Japanese footballer and manager , better known as Kaz Hayashi, Japanese professional wrestler , Japanese actor and voice actor , Japanese diplomat , Japanese footballer , Japanese civil servant and general officer , Japanese kickboxer , Japanese football player , Japanese actor Kim Hayashi (born 1986), American cyclist Kiralee Hayashi, American stunt woman, actress and gymnast , Japanese footballer , Japanese volleyball player , Japanese politician , Japanese writer Marc Hayashi (born 1957), American actor , Japanese actress and voice actress , Japanese writer , Japanese architect Mary Hayashi, American politician , Japanese footballer , Japanese baseball player , Japanese murderer Masumi Hayashi (photographer) (1945–2006), American photographer and artist , Japanese footballer Moritaka Hayashi, Japanese lawyer , Japanese politician , Japanese field hockey player , Japanese samurai , Japanese karateka and kickboxer , Japanese physician, military strategist, scholar, Shinto priest, diviner, and nationalist , Japanese television personality Patrick Hayashi, the defendant in the property law case Popov v. Hayashi , Japanese neo-Confucian philosopher