Save Type Surname (from location) Usage Japanese Scripts 谷川, 谷河(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. TAH-NEE-KAH-WAH [key] Other Forms FormsTanigawa, Yakawa, Yagawa Meaning & History From the Japanese 谷 (tani) meaning "valley" and 川 or 河 (kawa) meaning "stream, river."