Some people believe that he was by nature open to adopting new ideas and practices, and that his actions were taken in response to the international circumstance of that time (i.e. during the Tang Dynasty in China and the Paekche Dynasty in Korea); others, however, believe that he was preparing the way for the succession to the Imperial Throne of Prince Furuhito no Oe no Miko.
しかし、同氏は元来開明的だった事もあり、唐や百済等当時の国際状況に対応する為だったとの意見、また、古人大兄皇子への皇位継承の準備固めの意味合いだったという意見もある。