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The 'Kumaso' (熊襲) were a people of ancient Japan, believed to have lived in the south of Kyūshū until at least the Nara period. Their name, Japanese for "bear people", is most likely a description resulting from embellished tales of their physical features (similar to the Tsuchigumo, whose name means "ground spider"). As the Yamato pushed southward, the Kumaso people were either assimilated or exterminated. The last "King" of Kumaso was assassinated by Prince Yamatotakeru of Yamato and the Kumaso kingdom came to the end. The name of Kumamoto Prefecture comes from the Kumaso. Some people believe there are still Kumaso people living in rural Kyūshū, or that there were until as late as the early 20th century.
They are believed to have spoken an Austronesian language.