  We introduce and study generalized Umemura polynomials
$U_{n,m}^{(k)}(z,w;a,b)$ which are the natural generalization of the Umemura
polynomials $U_n(z,w;a,b)$ related to the Painleve VI equation. We show that if
either a=b, or a=0, or b=0, then polynomials $U_{n,m}^{(0)}(z,w;a,b)$ generate
solutions to the Painleve VI equation. We give new proof of
Noumi-Okada-Okamoto-Umemura conjecture, and describe connections between
polynomials $U_{n,m}^{(0)}(z,w;a,0)$ and certain Umemura polynomials
$U_k(z,w;\alpha,\beta)$. Finally we show that after appropriate rescaling,
Umemura's polynomials $U_k(z,w;a,b)$ satisfy the Hirota-Miwa bilinear
equations.
