Some people say that Emperor Temmu's age was purposely falsified since it was an embarrassing fact that the younger brother became the emperor before his older brother even though they are half-brothers with the same mother; but some argue that according to "Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki)," Emperor Temmu's age was 16 when his father, Emperor Jomei, was enthroned, but it was said that he was 16 when his father died.
これに対しては『「父親が違うとはいえ、兄を差し置いて弟が」ということでは体裁が悪いので、意図的に天智の年齢を引き上げたのだ』との主張があるが、『「日本書紀」に見える、天智の年齢16歳は父舒明天皇が即位した時の年齢だったのを間違えて崩御した時の年齢にしてしまった。