Ōtomo Yoshinao (大友 能直, January 29, 1172 - December 20, 1223) was a Japanese samurai lord and gokenin of the early Kamakura period.

He was a close retainer of shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, even called his "matchless favorite", and served as Governor of Buzen and Bungo Provinces, Defense Commissioner of the West and Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards (Sakon no shōgen) under the Kamakura shogunate.

After Yoshinao's genpuku (coming-of-age ceremony),[4] he succeeded the position of Defense Commissioner of the West previously held by his adoptive father Nakahara no Chikayoshi,[4][1] and became the steward of Ōno Manor in Bungo Province (present-day Ōita Prefecture).

[5] On July 19, 1199, Chikayoshi, who was busy in Kyoto, received news that Yoritomo's daughter Sanman was in critical condition.

[5] According to the Ōtomo genealogy, Yoshinao was appointed Defense Commissioner of the West and Governor of Buzen and Bungo Provinces in Kenkyū era.

In addition, Kondō Kunihira, who was a gokenin of Minamoto no Yoritomo, was Yoshinao's second cousin, and the descendants of his younger brother, Tamura Nakanori, later became members of the Mizunoya clan.

At the time of 21st generation Yoshishige, the Ōtomo clan reached its zenith by expanding its power to Hizen, Higo, and Chikuzen Provinces.

[1] At its zenith, the Ōtomo clan ruled six provinces (Buzen, Bungo, Hizen, Higo, Chikuzen and Chikugo) and two half-provinces (Hyūga and Iyo).