On the abdication of Emperor Yozei, there was a dispute about the succession, and although Toru insisted that he was one of the descendant of an Emperor, he was pushed aside by FUJIWARA no Mototsune.
なお、陽成天皇の譲位で皇位を巡る論争が起きた際、自分も皇胤の一人であると主張したが藤原基経に退けられたという。