Military leader of the Asuka period. He was dispatched in [[658]] by [[Empress Saimei]] at the head of a force of 180 ships to proceed north and attack the [[Ezo]] people, who held power in northern Japan. The following year he is said to have crossed over to the China mainland to attack the Mishihase, or Suchen, state. This expedition represents the earliest recorded attempt by the Yamato court to extend control over the [[Tohoku]] and [[Hokkaido]] regions. It is possible that the term Mishihase here does not refer to the actual Tungusic state on the China mainland whose name is read Mishihase in Japanese but to some group in Hokkaido. | Military leader of the Asuka period. He was dispatched in [[658]] by [[Empress Saimei]] at the head of a force of 180 ships to proceed north and attack the [[Ezo]] people, who held power in northern Japan. The following year he is said to have crossed over to the China mainland to attack the Mishihase, or Suchen, state. This expedition represents the earliest recorded attempt by the Yamato court to extend control over the [[Tohoku]] and [[Hokkaido]] regions. It is possible that the term Mishihase here does not refer to the actual Tungusic state on the China mainland whose name is read Mishihase in Japanese but to some group in Hokkaido. |