Takeuchi (Japanese: 竹内; "within bamboo") or Takeuchi (Japanese: 武内; "warrior househol")is a Japanese surname. It is common in west-central Japan, and is pronounced Takenouchi (Take-no-uchi) by some bearers. The family claims descent from the legendary hero-statesman Takenouchi-no-Sukune, himself supposedly a descendant of the mythical Emperor Kōgen and a counselor to several other emperors, including Emperor Ōjin (late 4th century). Other families such as the Soga also claim Takenouchi-no-Sukune as an ancestor.