The story passed down in the oral tradition holds that Sanefusa was the husband of SEN no Rikyu's younger sister Soen, and that even though there is no supporting documentation, this account is recognized by the Omotesenke school and the Takakura Hisada family.
口伝により実房は千利休の妹宗円の夫であるとされ、資料はないながらも表千家と高倉久田家の間では了解されている。