The reason why Gotobain (the Retired Emperor Gotoba) particularly favored Saigyo may have been the fact that there was a commonality between Saigyo's poems, which have an air of being common, yet elegant, while being quiet, yet sensual and unique.
後鳥羽院が西行をことに好んだのは、こうした平俗にして気品すこぶる高く、閑寂にして艶っぽい歌風が、彼自身の作風と共通するゆえであったのかもしれない。