Some people believe that this was due to the fact that Kanemichi's son, Masamitsu, having married MINAMOTO no Takaakira's daughter, Nakahime (see "Eiga Monogatari (Story of Glory)," etc.), Kanemichi was treated coldly as the only supporter of Takaakira among brothers during the Anna Incident.
一説には息子の正光が源高明の娘「中姫君」を娶っていたため（『栄花物語』など）、安和の変の際に兄弟の中で唯一高明派とみなされて冷遇されたとする説がある。