According to the custom at that time, usually a person worked as a Kurodo (Chamberlain) and would be transferred to a Benkan (Oversight Department (a division of the Dajokan responsible for controlling central and provincial governmental offices), he was promoted in the opposite direction (after assuming a position in Ushoben, he also assumed the position of the Kurodo), and, therefore, it aroused criticism in the Imperial Court that Tsunetada's promotion was unfair treatment, showing favoritism towards close aides to the retired emperor.
当時の慣例では蔵人出身者が弁官に転じる順序であった筈なのに、逆の経路（右少弁就任後に蔵人兼務）を辿ったために当時の朝廷では、上皇の側近偏重人事であるとして物議を醸した。