According to "Heiji Monogatari" (The Tale of Heiji), Goshirakawa was crazy about singing 'Imayo songs' and his half older brother, the Retired Emperor Suko made a critical comment about Goshirakawa by saying, 'He has no talent in literature, sword fighting, no special skills and no artistic skills'
『平治物語』によれば「今様狂い」と称されるほどの遊び人であり、「文にあらず、武にもあらず、能もなく、芸もなし」と同母兄・崇徳上皇に酷評されていたという。