A TV series makes it out like it was Sawaemon's spontaneous idea; however, according to "Onodera Shojo," they had previously received information that a lot of Kira's retainers were good at shooting arrows, and therefore they decided to cut off bowstrings as soon as they found them.
ドラマなどではこれは幸右衛門のその場の機転のようになっているが、『小野寺書状』によると吉良家臣は弓の使い手が多いという情報を事前につかんでいたので弓は発見次第に弦を切るよう事前に決めていたとしている。