Yamato Takeru (ヤマトタケルノミコト, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto), originally Prince Ousu (小碓命, Ousu no Mikoto), was a Japanese folk hero and semi-legendary prince of the imperial dynasty, son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan.

The story of his life and death are told principally in the Japanese chronicles in Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720), but also mentioned in Kogo Shūi (807) and some histories like the Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki (常陸国風土記) (721).

However, Takeru succeeded in defeating his enemies, and in the latter case, he achieved this by cross-dressing as a maid attendant at a Kumaso drinking party to get close to the chieftain and stab him to death.

He lost his wife Oto tachibana-hime during a storm when she sacrificed herself to soothe the anger of the sea god.

He defeated many enemies in the eastern land, and legend has it that he and a local old man composed the first sedōka in Kai Province with Mount Tsukuba (now in Ibaraki Prefecture) as its theme.

[1] The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with the sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home.

Otori shrines exist throughout Japan, and every November a festival is held on a day of the Rooster known as Tori no Ichi, literally "Market of the Bird".

Worshipers pray for prosperity and vendors sell charms on shrine grounds known as kumade, which are miniature rakes adorned with auspicious objects like Maneki-neko or rice.