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Fūma Kotarō's Real Name: Unknown (title of the Fūma leaders)
legend (group: history)
Fūma Kotarō (風魔小太郎) 本名: Unknown (title of the Fūma leaders) (不明)
Answer: Fūma Kotarō is best understood as a name or title used by leaders of the Fūma group, who served the Later Hōjō clan. No individual real name is documented.
History: the Later Hōjō clan of Odawara used irregular fighters and raiders, and the Fūma (風魔) group is associated with them in the Kantō region. Accounts of the Fūma mainly come from later chronicles such as the Hōjō Godaiki, written after the Hōjō fell in 1590, rather than from documents made at the time.
Legend: in those chronicles and later stories, the leader "Kotarō" is a giant with fangs and a terrifying voice who led night raids against the Takeda army. After the Hōjō fell, legend says the group became bandits and was wiped out early in the Edo period. These details cannot be confirmed.
Fūma Kotarō is a popular character in games and anime, including the Samurai Warriors and Fate series.
FAQ
Was Fūma Kotarō a real person? The name appears in later chronicles; it is best treated as legend or a title.
Who did the Fūma serve? The Later Hōjō clan of Odawara.