Emishi

Of course, there were almost certainly hunter communities in the Okuyama, the deep mountain ranges of central Honshu, for probably forever.

Indeed, you might recall from our discussion of the wars that led to Japan's emperors conquering northern Honshu that the Emishi, the indigenous inhabitants of northern Japan, were able to raid Japanese settlements on the border so successfully because they had such a talent for survival and navigating the mountains themselves.

And yes, before you ask, there are of course theories the Matagi are descended from Emishi communities too.

But in terms of a verified documentary historical record, we don't actually even see mention of the Matagi in anything written until pretty late actually, the year 1644.

And it's not a fancy chronicle or a tale of brave hunters doing battle with a bear or anything really dramatic at all.

In places like the Hokura Kofun Cluster, Hokura Kofun-gun, in Joetsu and Kofun sites around Nagaoka, Large stone chambers yielded mirrors and jewellery, reflecting the power of local rulers.

In the 7th century, a defensive fortification known as Nutarinoki was established to protect the north from the Emishi, thought to be located around present-day Murakami.

The people whom the central government back then called Yamato Chote or the Yamato Court referred to as Emishi were indigenous groups living in what is now the northern Tohoku region, particularly Aomori, Iwate and Akita, as well as southern Hokkaido.

It's early proof that Niigata was a strategic transportation and defence hub.

During the Nara and Heian periods, spanning from about 710 to 1185 Common Era, Niigata, then known as Echigo Province, paid rice and textiles to the imperial court.

...

the Emishi clan-

Yes

... and these are his motivations.