Etymology: Derived from Japanese 'kubo' (久保 or くぼ) meaning 'long-lasting dwelling' or 'hollow', combined with 'ki' (木) meaning 'tree' or 'wood'; however, in some regional interpretations, 'kuboki' may be interpreted as 'wooden bridge' (橋 = hashi, but sometimes read as ki), though it's not a standard compound. The name likely evolved from locational terms referring to a place near a wooden bridge or grove.