Yorimichi was taught the rules and practices of the imperial court and military houses by the scholar FUJIWARA no Sanesuke of the Ononomiya school, who was a critic of Michinaga, and the two became close friends.
頼通は有職故実に通じた当代の学識者だった小野宮流の藤原実資に師事して親交を結び、道長への批判者だった実資も頼通には好意を持っていた。