Fujiwara no Umakai

• Born: 694
• Died: 737
• Titles: Governor of Hitachi province ([c. 719-723)
• Distinction: third son of Fujiwara no Fuhito
• Japanese: 藤原宇合

General

In 719, Fujiwara no Umakai became governor of Hitachi province, having just returned to Japan from China where he was vice-envoy Kentoshi. In his new post, he was also in charge of inspecting the leadership of Kazusa, Awa, and Shimo tsu Fusa provinces. An accomplished poet, the Man'yoshu contains six of his works. Along with three of his brothers, Umakai died in a 735 nationwide outbreak of smallpox that killed numerous aristocrats, and it is suggested in the Cambridge History of Japan, "approximately one-third of the entire population perished during those two years."