Widely-accepted theory in the present Japanese historical community is that Keitai was enthroned with the approval of central ruling families, while the question of his origin as the fifth generation descendant of Emperor Ojin remains unsolved.
現在の歴史学界では、継体が応神の5世孫かどうかは不明とするが、中央豪族の支持を得て即位したのは事実とする説が有力である。