– The first kanji, 鳥 (tori), means "bird" and the second, 取 (tori) means "to catch", together tori-tori. Early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl. The name first appears in the Nihon Shoki in the 23rd year of the Empress Suiko when Yukuha Tana, an elder from Izumo, visits the empress. The imperial Prince Homatsu-wake was unable to speak, despite being 30 years of age. "Yukuha Tana presented the swan to the emperor. Homatsu-wake no Mikoto played with this swan and at last learned to speak. Therefore, Yukaha Tana was liberally rewarded, and was granted the title of Tottori no Miyakko."
