For example, black Inoko mochi were given to Court nobles or other lower ranked retainers, and red ones to retainers of higher ranks than Court nobles but not higher than shihonno tenjobito (the fourth-ranked courtiers allowed into Imperial Court).
亥の子餅の色は、公卿までは黒色の餅・四品の殿上人までは赤色の餅などである。