In 1107, when Emperor Toba ascended the throne at the age of five, an uncle on his mother's side, FUJIWARA no Kinzane insisted that he himself would be the regent, and Shirakawa-in, who was Kinzane's cousin, wondered what would be the right decision.
嘉承2年（1107年）、5歳の鳥羽天皇が即位した際、天皇の外伯父藤原公実が自ら摂政就任を主張し、公実と従兄弟にあたる白河院は悩んだ。