Inoue (kanji: , historical kana orthography: Winouhe) is the 16th most common Japanese surname. Historically, it was also romanized as Inouye, and many Japanese-descended people outside of Japan still retain this spelling. A less common variant is . Notable people with the surname include: , Japanese lyricist , Japanese film director , Japanese keyboardist, composer and producer Alice Inoue (born 1964), American astrologer and writer , Japanese volleyball player , Japanese announcer , Japanese writer and translator , Japanese footballer , Japanese singer , Japanese businessman and inventor , Japanese singer, composer and multi-instrumentist , 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 , Japanese founder of Toyo University, educator and philosopher , Japanese tennis player , Shinsengumi , Japanese tennis player , Japanese actress and model , Japanese film director , Japanese educator and first female president of Japan Women's University , Japanese footballer , Japanese general Hiromitsu Inoue (born 1974), Japanese entomologist , Japanese and subject of the standard botanical author abbreviation "Inoue" , Japanese entomologist , Japanese long-distance runner , Japanese writer and playwright , Japanese historian , Japanese voice actress and singer , Japanese footballer , Japanese footballer , American musician , Japanese television personality, singer, actor and comedian , Japanese speed skater , Japanese businessman and banker , Japanese manga artist , Japanese volleyball player , Japanese politician , Japanese diplomat , Japanese voice actor and singer Kazuhiro Inoue (born 1973), Japanese mixed martial artist , Japanese baseball player , Japanese footballer , Japanese cyclist , Japanese manga artist , Japanese shogi player , Japanese sport wrestler , Japanese journalist and writer , Japanese politician , Japanese singer and voice actress , better known as Inoran, Japanese musician , Japanese academic, historian and writer , Japanese sprint canoeist , Japanese footballer , Japanese boxer , Japanese judoka , Japanese volleyball player , Japanese golfer , Japanese statesman , Japanese journalist , Japanese aikidoka , Japanese professional wrestler Lorraine Inouye (born 1940), American politician serving in the Hawaii State Senate Lurdes Inoue, Brazilian statistician , Japanese tennis player , Japanese voice actor , Japanese golfer , Japanese actress , Japanese voice actress and singer , Japanese daimyō , Japanese actor and martial artist , Japanese cyclist