Omi

Omi (臣?) was an ancient Japanese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing (a kabane) that, along with muraji, was reserved for the most powerful clans during the Kofun period. The omi clans generally took their names from the geographic location from which they originated, such as the Soga (蘇我), the Kazuraki (葛城), the Heguri (平群), the Kose (巨勢), the Kasuga (春日) and the Izumo (出雲). By tradition those who held the kabane of omi were considered branches of the imperial line (皇別氏族, kōbetsu shizoku), and they claimed that they were descendants of Emperor Kōgen, although there is no historical evidence to support this.