The Otoshiyo post was the second-highest one of those of female servants in O-oku, but the persons in this post were the most powerful in O-oku, controlling everything in inner halls, being equivalent to Roju in Omotemuki (literally, the front halls: indicating governmental operations).
御年寄は大奥女中の位の中では第二位に当たるが、奥向の万事を差配する大奥随一の権力者で、表向の老中に匹敵する役職であった。