At the time when Isshi Coup occurred, the Nakatomi clan, from which Kamatari came, was a prestigious clan which was in charge of jingi (worshipping) at court, but its past records in politics were inferior to those of the Soga clan, the Otomo clan or the Abe clan.
乙巳の変の当時、鎌足の出身である中臣氏は朝廷の神祇を司っている名門の家柄ではあったが、政治的実績では蘇我氏や大伴氏・阿倍氏などと比較すると一段劣っていた。