Fumi no Nemaro

was a general in Asuka period Japan, who served in the army of Prince Ōama in the Jinshin War.

Biography The Fumi clan (written various as 書氏, 文首、文連、文忌寸文主) was a toraijin clan, claiming descent from Emperor Gaozu of the Han dynasty and the Wani clan, who came to Japan during the reign of Emperor Ojin. The name of Fumi no Nemaro appears in appears in the Nihon Shoki and Shoku Nihongi as one of the retainers of Prince Ōama. Emperor Tenji had originally designated his brother, Prince Ōama, as his successor, but later changed his mind in favor of his son, Prince Ōtomo. Following this decision, Prince Ōama retired to the Yoshino Palace and announced his intention to become a monk. However, in 672 on the death of Emperor Tenji and the accession of Prince Ōtomo as Emperor Kōbun, Prince Ōama decided to raise an army to take the throne by force. He fled east to Mino Province accompanied by his wife, children, about 20 servants, and about 10 court ladies and Fumi no Nemaro was in his retinue. Upon safely reaching Mino, the prince gathered forces, and divided his army into two, with one army to attack Ōmi Province, where Prince Ōtomo had his palace at Ōmi-Ōtsu (currently Ōtsu city, Shiga Prefecture) and the other to march directly into Yamato Province. Fumi no Nemaro was appointed general to lead the invasion of Ōmi, and successfully defeated Prince Ōtomo's forces in several engagements over the course of a month. After the fall of Ōmi-Ōtsu, Prince Ōtomo committed suicide, bringing the Jinshin War to an end. The grave was re-excavated in 1982 using modern methods. It was to be revealed a pit containing hard charcoal with a covering clay layer three meters thick. The pit was a square with rounded corners measuring 2.5 meters east-to-west and more than 2.0 meters north-to-south, with all four sides roughly aligned with the compass. The pit was covered with 4-5 centimeters of clay and sand, with fist-sized piles of hard coal on top, and a base was built to hold the ossuary and gravestone, which were then covered with clay. The site was designated a National Historic Site on April 5, 1984, was one of the few known graves of ancient high-ranking officials.