Also, it has been pointed out since Masataka UWAYOKOTE that Sanetomo was planning to adopt a shogun from the Imperial Court as his successor, and there is one view that the promotion of his official rank was preparation for that (an official rank over ministers was necessary to be a father of an imperial family even on paper) (Shosuke KOUCHI's theory).
また、上横手雅敬以来、実朝には自らの後継として皇族将軍（宮将軍）を猶子に迎える構想があったことが指摘され、官位の昇進をその環境づくりの側面もあった（形式上でも皇族の父親となる以上、大臣級の官位を必要とした）とする見方がある（河内祥輔説）。