the fujiwara clan had influenced japanese politics since its founder, nakatomi no kamatari, assisted in a coup d'état in 645, in which the soga clan was overthrown and shortly thereafter a reform program (taika reform) was launched, aimed at reinforcing imperial authority. in the 730s, the imperial advisory body known as the council of state ("daijō-kan") was controlled by four sons of fujiwara no fuhito known as the "fujiwara four": fujiwara no muchimaro, minister of the right since 729; fujiwara no fusasaki, consultant since 729; fujiwara no umakai and fujiwara no maro who joined the council in 731. together they held four out of ten positions of this important council which was placed directly under the emperor and in charge of all kinds of secular affairs. in addition, the fujiwara were related with the emperor as both shōmu's mother and his consort empress kōmyō, were daughters of fujiwara no fuhito.