"Chuyu-ki", a diary written by a kuge (court noble) at that time, made reference to a rumor that 'the reason for someone with the rank of saigebon (the lowest rank in the nobility) being appointed to the position of Dai-ikkoku might be that he served the Cloistered Emperor closely.'
当時の公家の日記『中右記』は「最下品の者が、第一国に任じられたのは院に近侍しているからだろう」との世評を載せている。