He was recognized as a talented person and favored by the Emperor Shomu, however, the most powerful of his contemporaries was FUJIWARA no Nakamaro (EMI no Oshikatsu) and the most prosperous family was the Southern House of the Fujiwara clan.
聖武天皇に才能を認められ寵愛を得るものの、同時代の有力者は藤原仲麻呂（恵美押勝）で、最も栄えていたのは藤原南家であった。