What to Do With Kotaro in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players will encounter a number of memorable NPCs along their journey. One such character is Kotaro, a large, sad monk located near the Senpou Temple on Mt. Kongo. His story and the choices you make with him can lead to different outcomes, making his questline an interesting side activity. In this guide, we’ll go over where to find Kotaro, what flowers he wants, and the different ways you can influence his fate.

Where to Find Kotaro

Kotaro is located just outside the Senpou Temple on Mt. Kongo, sitting under a tree on the path leading deeper into the temple area. Once you approach him, he will ask for a white flower, which starts the questline.

What Flowers Does Kotaro Want?

There are two types of flowers (or pinwheels) that Kotaro is interested in, and your choice of which one to give him will influence his fate. Both flowers are located in the Senpou Temple/Mt. Kongo area. Here’s where to find them:

1. White Pinwheel
   • Location: This can be found in the Senpou Temple area, after navigating past the Senpou Assassins and reaching the ledges.
   • This flower is the one Kotaro requests directly, and giving it to him is considered the “good” or most favorable option.
2. Red and White Pinwheel
   • Location: This flower is located near the tiny statues in the Senpou Temple area, across from the path leading to the Armored Warrior mini-boss.
   • This flower gives Kotaro an alternative outcome and opens up additional story paths.

What Happens When You Give the White Pinwheel?

If you decide to give Kotaro the White Pinwheel, you will proceed with the following steps:

1. Kotaro’s Request
   • Kotaro will thank you for the flower and ask to be sent away to join his friends. To fulfill his request, you need to use the Divine Abduction prosthetic tool on him. This will cause him to disappear and reappear in a new location.
2. Kotaro’s Fate: Halls of Illusion
   • After using Divine Abduction, Kotaro will be transported to the Halls of Illusion area.
   • Speak to him there, and he will reward you with a Taro Persimmon, a valuable item that plays a role in the Return ending. This item can be used to advance the storyline of the Divine Child of Rejuvenation questline.

By choosing this path, you fulfill Kotaro’s wish in the most honorable way and also unlock useful rewards.

What Happens When You Give the Red and White Pinwheel?

If you choose to give Kotaro the Red and White Pinwheel, you’ll have a few more options that can lead to different outcomes for him. This decision is morally more ambiguous but provides a deeper layer of consequences:

1. Send to Anayama the Peddler
   • You can send Kotaro to Anayama the Peddler, a merchant located near the Outskirts Wall – Stairway Sculptor’s Idol.
   • Anayama is looking for a strong, dumb person to help him with his plans. If you send Kotaro to him, he will become a part of Anayama’s questline and you will get new dialogue options and items from Anayama.
2. Send to the Surgeons
   • If you’re feeling more sinister, you can send Kotaro to the Surgeons in the dungeon.
   • Kotaro will become an experiment in their cruel practices, which ultimately leads to his transformation.
   • After completing the Surgeons’ questline, Kotaro will be found on a small island between the Abandoned Dungeon and the Senpou Temple, now with red eyes. If you swim over to him, you will witness his tragic fate.

Other Considerations

• The Taro Persimmon you receive from Kotaro is a key item for progressing the Return ending. If you’re aiming for this ending, make sure to give him the White Pinwheel.
• Kotaro’s Fate: The way you treat Kotaro can have lasting effects on other NPCs and the overall narrative. The choices in FromSoftware games are often morally complex, and Kotaro’s questline is a perfect example of how one decision can drastically alter outcomes.
• Divine Child of Rejuvenation: If you’re pursuing the Return Ending, you will need to interact with the Divine Child of Rejuvenation, and the Taro Persimmon given by Kotaro plays an important role in that storyline.

Ultimately, what you do with Kotaro is up to you. From honorable to dark, your choices can shape his destiny and influence your game’s outcome. Whether you decide to grant him his wish or send him down a darker path, there are rewards and consequences to each choice.

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