Soga no Umako (蘇我 馬子; 551? – June 19, 626) was the son of Soga no Iname and a member of the powerful Soga clan of Japan. Conflicting evidence has suggested that Soga no Umako was actually an emperor during the Asuka period.
Umako conducted political reforms with Prince Shōtoku during the rules of Emperor Bidatsu and Empress Suiko and established the Soga clan's stronghold in the government by having his daughters married to members of the imperial family.
Kokki (国記), alternatively known as Kuni tsu Fumi meaning "National Record", is a Japanese historical text purported to have been written in 620 by Shōtoku Taishi and Soga no Umako. It is recorded in the Nihon Shoki, but there are no known extant copies. Assuming that it did in fact exist, it would predate both the Kojiki (712) and the Nihon Shoki (720).
Tennōki (天皇記, Record of the Emperor), alternatively known as Sumera Mikoto no Fumi, is a historical text purported to have been written in 620 by Shōtoku Taishi and Soga no Umako. It is recorded in the Nihon Shoki, but no extant copies are known to exist.
According to the Nihon Shoki,
Asuka (飛鳥; Japanese pronunciation: [a.sɯ̥.ka], locally [aꜜ.sɯ̥.ka]) was the Imperial capital of Japan during the Asuka period (538 – 710 AD), which takes its name from this place. It is located in the present-day village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture.
Soga no Iname (蘇我 稲目; c. 506 – March 22, 570) was a leader of the Soga clan, an early proponent of Buddhism in Japan, and a statesman during the reign of Emperors Kinmei and Senka in the Asuka period. He was the first person to hold the position of Ōomi that can be verified with reasonable accuracy, in 536 A.D.
He was the son of Soga no Koma and the father of Soga no Umako.
Soga no Emishi (蘇我 蝦夷; 587 – July 11, 645) was a statesman of the Yamato imperial court. His alternative names include Emishi (毛人) and Toyora no Ōomi (豊浦大臣). After the death of his father Soga no Umako, Emishi took over Ōomi, the Minister of State, from his father.
According to the Nihon Shoki, from the end of the reign of Empress Suiko to that of Empress Kōgyoku, Emishi enjoyed influence in the court. After the death of Empress Suiko, Emishi succeeded in installing Prince Tamura on the throne as Emperor Jomei by citing the will of Empress Suiko. Although Prince Yamashiro was another candidate, Emishi murdered Sakaibe no Marise, his uncle who nominated Yamashiro, paving the way for his favorite. After the discernment of Emperor Jomei, Emishi supported Empress Kōgyoku.