Naramaro confessed that he planned the rebellion because the government had no mercy and its people were suffering from hardship caused by the construction of the Todai-ji Temple and other factors.
奈良麻呂は永手の聴取に対して「東大寺などを造営し人民が辛苦している。政治が無道だから反乱を企てた。」と打ち明けた。