 Four poems in the famous "waka" anthology the "Man'yōshū" are attributed to him, with his name being written in various styles in the notes attached to these poems.His given name is written as 水道 ("water-road") in the attribution of poems 557 and 558 in Book IV, but at 御道 ("august-road") for 843 in Book V.

His "kabane" was Sukune.His court position is not indicated in the collection, so he was likely of low rank.