Otomo

Otomo is a Japanese surname written as Ōtomo (大友). It is associated with the historic Ōtomo clan, a samurai family that held power in northern Kyushu, particularly in the provinces of Bungo and Buzen, during the Sengoku period. The clan rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries and played a significant role in the region’s power struggles and diplomacy, often engaging with neighboring clans and with the central authorities in Edo-era Japan.

The most famous Ōtomo leader was Ōtomo Sōrin (c. 1530–1587), a daimyo who converted to Christianity and welcomed Jesuit missionaries. His adoption of Christianity and interactions with European traders and missionaries linked the clan to broader East–West exchanges in late Sengoku Japan. Following the unification of Japan, the Ōtomo’s holdings were gradually absorbed by broader state power, and the clan's influence declined.

In modern times, the surname Otomo is borne by several notable individuals. The most widely recognized is Katsuhiro Ōtomo (born 1954), a prominent manga artist and film director best known for creating the Akira franchise and for directing animated adaptations. The Otomo name appears in various fields, including arts and scholarship, reflecting its continued presence in Japanese society.