Kojima Yatarō

{{Short description|Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2022}}

{{family name hatnote|Kojima|lang=Japanese}}

{{Infobox martial artist

| native_name = 小島弥太郎

| name = Kojima Yatarō

| native_name_lang= jp

| residence = Japan

| other_names = Kojima Sadaoki; Kazutoshi, Katsutoshi, alias: Kyonosuke, His name: Oni Kojima

| image = Onikojima_Yatarō.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Rear view of Oni-Kojima Yatarô Kazutada in armor with a sashimono, a woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the series Six Select Heroes

| birth_name = Yatarō

| birth_date = 1522

| birth_place = Harima Province or Mimasaka Province, Japan

| death_date = {{Death date|1582|1|1}} (aged 60–61)

| death_place = Tenjinyama of Tochio Ohno cho, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata Prefecture.

| death_cause = Battle

| martial_art = Kenjutsu

| teacher = Kenshin Uesugi

| rank =

| students =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

{{nihongo|Kojima Yatarō|小島 弥太郎|extra=1522 – 1582}} was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, who served the Uesugi clan of Echigo Province. He was one of Uesugi Kenshin's leading generals. His ferocity in combat gave rise to his nickname, {{nihongo|Demon Kojima|鬼小島|Oni Kojima}}.{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B0%8F%E5%B3%B6%E5%BC%A5%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E-1074819|title=小島弥太郎（読み）こじま・やたろう 朝日日本歴史人物事典「小島弥太郎」の解説|publisher=kotobank|access-date=20 October 2021}}

He was also sometimes called "The Ogre" because his helmet had an image of a grinning oni, a mythical creature which has been translated as ogre or demon. His weapon was a kanabō, a weapon associated with ogres, and thus adding further to his reputation.