During Empress Kōken's reign, Otomaro was promoted to Senior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade in 749 and became the Governor of Echizen Province. In 750, he was promoted to Junior Third Rank, Director of the Dazaifu.[1] In 752, Ki no Maro became Director of the Dazaifu, and in 757 Otomaro was moved to the position of Governor of Mimasaka Province, but it is not clear what happened in the five years in between these two events. It is possible that Otomaro's relationship with his brother Nakamaro, who later became the leading figure of the government, deteriorated after Otomaru's exceptional promotion in 750.[2]