It is thought that the movement tried to take advantage of political unrest such as the akuto (people who rebelled against shoen owners and the government) that were active in the Kinki area, and the conflict between the Ando family and Ezo in Oshu around the middle of the 13th century.
13世紀中ごろから畿内などでの活動が活発であった悪党や、奥州での安東氏と蝦夷の対立など、政情不安に乗じてのものだとも考えられている。