Isonokami no Yakatsugu

Isonokami no Yakatsugu 石上宅嗣
Illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai, from Zenken Kojitsu
Born	729
Died	July 23, 781
Father	Isonokami no Otomaro

Isonokami no Yakatsugu (石上 宅嗣, 723 – July 23, 781) was a Japanese noble and scholar of the late Nara period. He was the grandson of the sadaijin Isonokami no Maro and son of the chūnagon Isonokami no Otomaro. Yakatsugu himself reached the court rank of shō san-mi (正三位) and the position of dainagon, and was posthumously awarded the rank of shō ni-i (正二位).

In 751, Yakatsugu was promoted from shō roku-i no ge (正六位下) to ju go-i no ge (従五位下) and appointed second assistant to the |Minister of Ceremonies (治部少輔). In 757, he was promoted to ju go-i no jō (従五位上) and appointed governor of Sagami province, in 759 the governor of Mikawa province, and in 761 the governor of Kazusa province. In 761 he was also appointed vice-envoy to Tang dynasty China, but in the next year was replaced by Fujiwara no Tamaro without making the voyage over. In 763, he was appointed vice-minister in the Shikibu-shō.

Yakatsugu plotted with Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, and Saeki no Imaemishi to overthrow the daijō-daijin and power of the day, Fujiwara no Nakamaro, but their plot was discovered. In 764, Yakatsugu was demoted to an assistant minister in the Dazaifu — until nine months later, when Nakamaro led his own failed rebellion. Yakatsugu was rehabilitated, promoted to shō go-i no jō (正五位上), and made governor of Hitachi province.