Kaoru, who had a strong pessimistic view of life, got interested in Hachi no Miya, 'the saint who is still in this world', began correspondence with him and later he himself paid a visit to Uji and deepened friendship with him.
厭世心の強い薫は「俗聖」八の宮に興味を持って文通を始め、後には自身で宇治に訪れて親交を深めるようになった。