The most established opinion among scholars is based on the following part in the preface to the "Kojiki" (The Records of Ancient Matters), 'Nochino yo ni Tsutaen to hofu' (it is wanted to be told in the future), which is understood to mean 'a collection of poems that should be handed down forever', taking 'yo' (leaves, 葉) as 'yo' (generation, 世).
研究者の間で主流になっているのは、『古事記』の序文に「後葉（のちのよ）に流（つた）へむと欲ふ」とあるように、「葉」を「世」の意味にとり、「万世にまで末永く伝えられるべき歌集」と取る考え方である。