In the letter to Yamagata Echizen-no-kami (Lord of Echizen province) Harutada INOUE as of December 12, 1573, he wrote that 'Nobunaga's government will not continue for five or three years. He seems to become a court noble around next year. I think he will be subverted after that. Tokichiro (Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI) is really something.'
天正元年（1573年）12月12日付山県越前守・井上春忠宛書状で、｢信長之代、五年、三年は持たるべく候。明年辺は公家などに成さるべく候かと見及び申候。左候て後、高ころびに、あおのけに転ばれ候ずると見え申候。藤吉郎さりとてはの者にて候｣と書いてある。