In 717-718; Abe no Nakamoro was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China (Kentoshi) along with Kibi no Makibi and Genbo. They returned to Japan; he did not.

In China; he passed the civil-service examination. Around 725; he took an administrative position and was promoted in Luoyang in 728 and 731. Around 733 he received Tajihi Hironari; who would command the Japanese diplomatic mission. In 734 he tried to return to Japan but the ship to take him back sank not long into the journey; forcing him to remain in China for several more years. In 752; he tried again to return; with the mission to China led by Fujiwara no Kiyokawa; but the ship he was traveling in was wrecked and ran aground off the coast of Vietnam; but he managed to return to Chang'an in 755.

When the An Lushan Rebellion started later that year; it was unsafe to return to Japan and Nakamaro abandoned his hopes of returning to his homeland. He took several government offices and rose to the position of Governor-General of Annam between 761 and 767; residing in Hanoi. He then returned to Chang'an and was planning his return to Japan when he died in 770. Pictures From History