Historical ethnic group inhabiting southern Kyūshū
The Kumaso (熊襲) were a mythical people of ancient Japan mentioned in the Kojiki,[1][2] believed to have lived in the south of Kyūshū[3] until at least the Nara period. The last leader of the Kumaso, Torishi-Kaya was killed by Yamato Takeru in 397. The name of Kumamoto Prefecture originates from the Kumaso people.