Homutsuwake no mikoto was deeply loved by his father, but although he grew up and even had the beard long enough to reach his breast, he did not speak a word, and moreover, according to the Nihonshoki, he kept only crying like a baby.
誉津別皇子は父天皇に大変鍾愛されたが、長じてひげが胸先に達しても言葉を発することがなく、特に『日本書紀』では赤子のように泣いてばかりであったという。