Famous waka poets such as FUJIWARA no Toshinari or Saigyo (secular name Norikiyo SATO) who was originally a samurai appeared and facilitated to develop a new style in "Shinkokin Wakashu" (New Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry); they played a big role to develop waka during the medieval period.
おもな歌人として藤原俊成や武士出身の西行（俗名佐藤義清）があらわれ、『新古今和歌集』の新風形成に影響を与え、中世和歌の形成に大きな役割を果たした。