Ōtomo no Kanamura
Ōtomo no Kanamura was a Japanese warrior and statesman during the late Kofun period. Most of what is known of his life comes from the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki. His clan, the Ōtomo, had been highly influential at court since the time of his grandfather Ōtomo Muruya.
According to these sources, Kanamura was instrumental in putting down the uprising of Heguri no Matori and in raising Emperor Buretsu to the throne. Buretsu, in gratitude, raised Kanamura to the position of Ōmuraji. He also oversaw the succession of Emperor Keitai, instead of the claimant Prince Yamatohiko, and selected Keitai's empress himself. Kanamura embraced an aggressive policy towards the kingdom of Silla, and advocated sending forces there; his own son Ōtomo no Satehiko led two expeditions against the Korean kingdoms. This policy eventually led to his downfall, when in 540 the Emperor Kinmei, under advice from the minister Mononobe no Okoshi, decided to refrain from direct military action against Silla. The Emperor also removed Kanamura from his position as Ōmuraji as a result.
