At that time, the central political world was occupied by the conflict centered around TAIRA no Kiyomori from the Taira family, who had deposed, and Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa, who planned to create a powerful Insei (rule by a retired emperor); Kanezane continued to view both parties with a critical eye.
この頃、中央政界は専横を極めた平清盛を中心とする平氏一門と強力な院政を目論む後白河法皇の両者の対立が軸となっていたが、兼実は両者に対して批判的態度を取りつづけた。