Nakatomi no Kamatari: The Mastermind Behind Ancient Japan
When travelers visit the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto, they often hear the name “Fujiwara.” For centuries, the Fujiwara clan pulled the strings of the Imperial Court, marrying their daughters to Emperors and serving as powerful regents. But every great dynasty has an origin story, and for the Fujiwara, it begins with one man: Nakatomi no Kamatari.
Kamatari was not born into supreme power; he seized it through intelligence, political maneuvering, and a dramatic coup d’état that reads like a thriller novel. For history buffs and culture seekers exploring Japan, understanding Kamatari is essential to understanding the very foundations of the Japanese state.
Origins: The Scholar and the Shoe
Born in 614 AD, Kamatari originally belonged to the Nakatomi clan, a family responsible for Shinto rituals and religious observances at the court. Unlike the military clans, the Nakatomi held spiritual power, but during Kamatari’s youth, the political landscape was dominated by the Soga clan. The Soga were powerful, ambitious, and increasingly disrespectful toward the Imperial family, effectively ruling Japan from the shadows.
Kamatari, a brilliant scholar influenced by Confucian principles brought from China, grew disgusted by the Soga clan’s arrogance. He sought a partner to help him restore Imperial authority.
The Kemari Incident
History tells us of a fateful meeting that changed Japan forever. Kamatari attended a game of Kemari (a traditional kickball game) at Hōkō-ji temple. During the game, Prince Naka-no-Oe (the future Emperor Tenji) kicked the ball so hard his shoe flew off. Kamatari retrieved the shoe and knelt to return it to the Prince with great reverence. This act sparked a deep friendship and a secret political alliance that would eventually topple the Soga regime.
Legend: The Isshi Incident
The defining moment of Kamatari’s life—and a turning point in Japanese history—is known as the Isshi Incident of 645 AD. Kamatari and Prince Naka-no-Oe plotted to assassinate Soga no Iruka, the head of the Soga clan, right inside the Imperial palace.
The Assassination
During a court ceremony where memorials from Korean kingdoms were being read, the conspirators struck. The gates were barred, and armed men rushed Iruka. In a gruesome and dramatic scene, Iruka was cut down in front of the Empress Kogyoku. This violent act ended the Soga dominance immediately.
Following the coup, the Prince and Kamatari initiated the Taika Reforms. These reforms were monumental, modeling the Japanese government after the Tang Dynasty of China. They centralized power, abolished private land ownership, and established a legal code that unified the country under the Emperor.
Just before his death in 669 AD, Emperor Tenji granted Kamatari a new surname to honor his service: Fujiwara. Thus, the most influential aristocratic family in Japanese history was born.
Modern Culture: The Legacy of the Fujiwara
Today, Nakatomi no Kamatari is revered not just as a politician, but as a deity. After his death, the Tanzan Shrine in Nara was established to enshrine his spirit. He is often depicted in traditional court robes, symbolizing wisdom and loyalty.
The Fujiwara clan he founded went on to dominate the Heian period (794–1185), fostering a golden age of art and literature. Without Kamatari’s initial ambition, masterpieces like The Tale of Genji (written by a woman of the extended court sphere influenced by Fujiwara politics) might never have existed. In modern media, the events of the Isshi Incident are frequently dramatized in NHK taiga dramas and manga, portraying Kamatari as a stoic, intellectual strategist.
Traveler’s Tips: Walking in Kamatari’s Footsteps
If you want to connect with the spirit of Nakatomi no Kamatari, you must venture outside of Kyoto into the mountains of the Nara Prefecture.
Tanzan Shrine (Nara)
The most significant site associated with him is the Tanzan Shrine (Tanzan-jinja) in Sakurai City. It is said that Kamatari and the Prince met on this mountain (originally Tounomine) to plot their coup in secret.
- Best Time to Visit: Mid-November. The shrine is famous for its 3,000 maple trees. The contrast between the fiery autumn leaves and the vermilion thirteen-story pagoda (the only wooden one of its kind in the world) is breathtaking.
- Kemari Matsuri: Twice a year (April 29 and the second Sunday of November), the shrine hosts a Kemari festival. You can watch reenactors dressed in colorful Heian-period costumes play the ancient kickball game that originally brought Kamatari and the Emperor together.
Asuka Village
To see where the actual history took place, visit the Asuka region. You can visit the ruins of the Itabuki Palace, where the assassination occurred, and explore the ancient burial mounds (kofun) that define this era.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in the primary historical accounts of Nakatomi no Kamatari and the Taika Reforms, the following ancient texts are essential:
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): Completed in 720 AD, this is the primary source detailing the coup and Kamatari’s life.
- The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 1: For a modern academic breakdown of the political shift from the Soga to the Fujiwara.