Kawakami (written: 川上) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Kawakami Gensai (1834–71), a famous samuraiHajime Kawakami (1879-1946), Japanese Marxist economistHiromi Kawakami (born 1958), an authorJuria Kawakami (born 1993), a singerKenji Kawakami (born 1946), the inventor of ChindōguKenshin Kawakami (born 1975), a Major League Baseball pitcherKikuko Kawakami (1904–1985), a novelistKiyoshi Kawakami (nicknamed "Karl"; 1873–1949), a journalist and authorMasashi Kawakami (born 1972), a boxerMieko Kawakami (born 1976), a singer and authorOtojirō Kawakami (1864–1911), an actor and theatrical managerYasuhiro Kawakami, a video game composerTetsuharu Kawakami (1920-2013), Japanese baseball player "God of Batting/Hitting", and managerYū Kawakami (川上 祐), a Japanese pornographic film actressFictional characters
Momoyo Kawakami and Kazuko Kawakami in Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! (Majikoi ~ Oh! Samurai Girls)