was a Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 statesman, courtier, general and politician during the Nara period

Nara period

The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...

.

Career

He was a diplomat during the reign of Empress Genshō

Empress Gensho

was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...

; and he was minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu

Emperor Shomu

was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...

. In the Imperial court, Umakai was the chief of protocol (Shikibu-kyō).

• 716 (Reiki
  Reiki (era)
  was a after Wadō and before Yōrō. This period spanned the years from September 715 through November 717. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 715 ; 715: The new era name was created to mark the beginning of the reign of Empress Genshō...
  
    2): Along with , and , Umaki was named to be part of a Japanese diplomatic mission to Tang China
  Japanese missions to Tang China
  Japanese missions to Tang China represent a lens for examining and evaluating the relationships between China and Japan in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries...
  
   in 717-718. Kibi no Makibi and the Buddhist monk Genbō
  Genbō
  , also known as Gembō, was a Japanese scholar-monk and bureaucrat of the Imperial Court at Nara.In 717-718, he was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China along with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro...
  
   were also part of the retinue.
• 724 (Jinki
  Jinki (era)
  was a after Yōrō and before Tenpyō. This period spanned the years from February 724 through August 729. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 724 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
  
   1, 1st month): Umakai led an army against the emishi
  Emishi
  The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
  
  ; but this military campaign was later judged to have been unsuccessful.
• 729 (Tenpyō
  Tenpyo
  , also romanized as Tempyō, was a after Jinki and before Tenpyō-kanpō. This period spanned the years from August 729 through April 749. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
  
   1): The emperor invested Umakai with the power to raise an army to quash a revolt, but the cause for alarm was dissipated without the need for military action.
• 737 (Tenpyō 9): Umakai died at age 44. A smallpox epidemic caused the deaths of Umaki and his three brothers.

Genealogy

This member of the Fujiwara clan was son of Fujiwara no Fuhito

Fujiwara no Fuhito

Fujiwara no Fuhito was a powerful member of the imperial court of Japan during the Asuka and Nara periods...

. Umakai had three brothers: Muchimaro

Fujiwara no Muchimaro

was a Japanese politician of the Asuka and Nara periods. The eldest son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded Nanke , one of the principal kuge families led by the Fujiwara's. His mother was Soga no Shōsi, daughter of Soga no Murajiko...

, Fusasaki

Fujiwara no Fusasaki

Fujiwara no Fusasaki was a member of the Fujiwara clan and the founder of the Hokke branch of the Fujiwara.-Career:Fusasaki was a Sangi in the Daijō-kan....

, and Maro

Fujiwara no Maro

was a Japanese statesman, courtier, and politician during the Nara period.-Career:Maro was a minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu....

. These four brothers are known for having established the "four houses" of the Fujiwara.

Umakai's children included: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu and Fujiwara no Momokawa

Fujiwara no Momokawa

was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period. His original name was .-Career at court:He was a minister during the reigns of Empress Kōken/Shōtoku and Emperor Kōnin....