There were different races such as the Hayato (an ancient tribe in Kyushu) in the south of Kyushu and the Ezo (northerners) in the north of the Japanese archipelago; however, the former was subjugated in the 8th century and the latter in the 12th century thanks to the suppression of the uprising of the Hayato people and the achievements of SAKANOUE no Tamuramaro, Seii taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians").
日本列島内には、異民族とされている九州南部の隼人（熊襲）、北日本の蝦夷などがいたが、隼人の反乱の鎮圧や征夷大将軍坂上田村麻呂の活躍等によって、隼人は8世紀に、蝦夷は12世紀に完全に服従したとされる。